Narrative FAIL! POLL: More Americans want to prioritize new stimulus (38%) than repeal HCR (23%).

[jefferson_dem]

Democrats Favor New Stimulus; Republicans, Healthcare Repeal
Few Americans prioritize extending Bush-era tax cuts
by Frank Newport

PRINCETON, NJ -- Given a choice of four priorities for Congress after Tuesday's elections, Democrats overwhelmingly favor passing a new economic stimulus bill, while Republicans are most likely to favor repealing the new healthcare law and cutting federal spending. These partisan differences highlight the challenges that face the lame-duck Congress that will reconvene before the end of the year, as well as the new Congress that will take office in January.



Rank-and-file Democrats clearly look to the government as the appropriate agent to take further action to help the economy and generate jobs -- overwhelmingly choosing a new economic stimulus bill as the highest congressional priority going forward. Rank-and-file Republicans are more interested in pulling back on what government does, in terms of dismantling the healthcare reform bill passed last March and cutting federal spending. Independents' views are generally between those of the two major parties, and basically mirror the overall sentiments of all Americans.

This question about congressional priorities was asked in an Oct. 28-31 pre-election USA Today/Gallup poll. Overall, Americans' top choice among the four priorities for Congress is a new stimulus bill, chosen by 38%. More generally, most Americans choose one of three alternatives -- a new stimulus bill, cutting federal spending, and repealing the new healthcare law, in that order -- with relatively few prioritizing extending all Bush-era federal income tax cuts.

None of the four priorities is chosen by a majority of Americans as their top priority, again illustrating the difficult challenges facing Congress in the post-election period.

Implications

Americans' views about what the new Congress should prioritize underscore a consistent theme evident elsewhere in Gallup's research this year -- that Americans are deeply conflicted about the appropriate role of the federal government.

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http://www.gallup.com/poll/144164/Democrats-Favor-New-Stimulus-Republicans-Healthcare-Repeal.aspx

[DrToast]

1. Just to clarify

The respondents were asked to prioritize these items, so it's not quite accurate to say only x % support y.

[jefferson_dem]

3. Good point.

These are not necessarily mutually exclusive options, except that respondents must select the one that deserves the greatest priority. I've clarified the OP.

[DrToast]

4. It's still encouraging news.

[emulatorloo]

2. The Tax Cut numbers are interesting. Apparently 87% of Repubs don't give a rat's ass about

those Tax Cuts for the rich.

Very interesting stuff THANKS!

[Clio the Leo]

5. Strange but true facts! nt