Politics

Most Voters Oppose Lower Tax Rate for Capital Gains

The “fiscal cliff” deal keeps the tax rate on capital gains low compared to other income, but most voters don’t think that’s a good idea.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 55% of Likely U.S. Voters think capital gains should be taxed at about the same rate as other income. Thirteen percent (13%) believe capital gains should be taxed at a higher rate than other income. Twenty-five percent (25%) support the current policy of taxing those gains at a lower rate. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 27-28, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

New High: 51% Think U.S. Needs Stricter Gun Control Laws

For the first time, most Americans are calling for tougher anti-gun laws. Even more are calling for stricter enforcement of the gun control laws already on the books.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 51% of American Adults now support stricter gun control laws, the highest finding in over six years of tracking. Forty-two percent (42%) disagree and oppose tougher laws in this area. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on December 28-29, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

62% Favor Across-the-Board Spending Cuts, But 57% Think They’re Unlikely

Even as official Washington signs off on a “fiscal cliff” deal with $1 in spending cuts to every $41 in new taxes, most voters continue to favor across-the-board spending cuts but doubt they are likely to happen. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 39% of Likely U.S. Voters think it is even somewhat likely that government spending will be significantly reduced over the next few years. Fifty-seven percent (57%) see significant spending cuts as unlikely. This includes 11% who believe such cuts are Very Likely in the near future and 20% who say they are Not At All Likely. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 29-30, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Most Feel Safer with Armed Security Guard at Child's School

Fifty-four percent (54%) of American adults would feel safer if their child's school had an armed security guard. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 26% would feel safer if their child attended a school where no adults were allowed to have guns. Another 20% are undecided.

Among parents of school-aged children, support for armed guards is even higher. Sixty-two percent (62%) of such parents would feel safer with an armed security guard at the school, while 22% would feel safer if their child attended a gun-free school.  (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on December 28-29, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

60% Think Most Members of Congress Are Willing to Sell Their Vote

Voters continue to believe that most members of Congress are for sale and that their own representative is as guilty as the rest. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 60% of Likely U.S. Voters now believe that most members of Congress are willing to sell their vote for either cash or a campaign contribution.

While many in Washington dismiss such perceptions by claiming that people hate Congress but love their own representative, voters are skeptical of their own representative as well. In fact, 57) think it’s likely that their representative in Congress has traded votes for cash. That includes 28% who believe it’s Very Likely. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 27-28, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Only 25% Think Medicare Costs Can Be Reduced By Changing Medicare Alone

Most voters continue to hold a favorable opinion of Medicare, but they also believe it will take more than changes within the federal health care program for the elderly to bring down how much it costs. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 67% of Likely U.S. Voters view Medicare favorably, but that includes just 25% with a Very Favorable opinion. Still, only 24% regard the program unfavorably, with five percent (5%) who have a Very Unfavorable view of it. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 20-21, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

47% Have Favorable Opinion of John Kerry

President Obama has nominated Massachusetts Senator John Kerry to replace retiring Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and 47% of Likely U.S. Voters have a favorable opinion of the prospective new Cabinet member. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% view the unsuccessful 2004 Democratic presidential candidate unfavorably. 

These findings include 17% with a Very Favorable opinion of Kerry and 23% with a Very Unfavorable one. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 22, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

52% Favor Reducing or Eliminating Tax Deductions for Wealthier Americans

Voters tend to think income tax deductions help wealthier Americans more than taxpayers in the middle class, and most favor reducing or eliminating those deductions for those who earn more than $250,000 a year. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of Likely U.S. Voters believe tax deductions help upper-income Americans the most. Thirty-nine percent (39%) think those deductions are more beneficial to middle-class taxpayers. Sixteen percent (16%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 22, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

17% Say There Is Too Much Individual Freedom In America

The Bill of Rights was written to ensure every citizen in this country his or her personal freedoms, but 17% of Americans believe there is too much individual freedom in the United States today.

Sixty-six percent (66%) of Adults do not believe this to be true, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.  Another 18% are not sure.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The Rasmussen Challenge has a winner!   

The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on December 19-20, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

71% Think Mentally Ill Should Be Under Stricter Observation

Following the recent horrific elementary school shooting in Connecticut, most Americans think the mentally ill should be monitored more closely. But a majority doesn’t think government officials should be allowed to ban movies and games that feature excessive violence.A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 71% of Adults believe people diagnosed with a mental illness should be placed under stricter control and observation. Just 11% disagree, but another 18% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on December 19-20, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

46% Think America Overtaxed, 42% Disagree

Fewer voters than ever think the United States is overtaxed.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 46% of Likely U.S. Voters now believe the nation is overtaxed. But nearly as many (42%) disagree. Twelve percent (12%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 16-17, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

55% Favor Assault Weapons Ban, But 62% Oppose Complete Gun Ban

Most Americans favor taking semi-automatic and assault-type weapons off the market but also are wary of a society in which only the government has guns. Very few would opt for a neighborhood where they couldn’t own a gun. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 55% of American Adults think there should be a ban on the purchase of semi-automatic and assault-type weapons. Thirty-six percent (36%) disagree and oppose such a ban. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on December 19-20, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

59% Believe Tougher Gun Control Laws Are Coming

Americans are now evenly divided over the need for stronger anti-gun laws following last week's elementary school massacre, and most think such laws are at least somewhat likely. They're much less confident that limits will be placed on violent movies and video games. 

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of American Adults finds that 59% believe it’s at least somewhat likely that Congress and the president will create tougher gun control laws, but that includes just 22% who feel they are Very Likely.  Thirty-three percent (33%) view stricter anti-gun laws as unlikely, with 17% who say they are Not At All Likely. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on December 17-18, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

59% Think Tax Hikes on Millionaires Not Enough

Republican congressional leaders have given ground in the “fiscal cliff” negotiations and proposed raising taxes on those who make more than a million dollars a year, but most voters don’t think that goes far enough.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 62% of Likely U.S. Voters favor House Speaker John Boehner’s “Plan B” to extend the Bush administration tax cuts for everyone who makes less than a million annually. Just 24% are opposed, with 14% more undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 18-19, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Following School Shooting, 86% Want More Action to Identify and Treat Mental Illness

Americans want something done following the horrific news from Sandy Hook Elementary School last week, and a plurality believes a greater emphasis on mental health issues will be the most effective way to prevent such tragedies.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 48% of Americans believe more action to treat mental health issues will do the most to prevent incidents like last Friday’s school shootings in Newtown, Connecticut. Twenty-seven percent (27%) think stricter gun control laws will do the most to prevent such shootings, while 15% put the emphasis on limits on violent movies and video games. Ten percent (10%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on December 17-18, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

41% Think a Child Born in the U.S. to an Illegal Immigrant Should Be a Citizen

More voters than ever think that if a woman comes to the United States illegally and gives birth to a child here, that child should be a U.S. citizen. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 41% of Likely U.S. Voters share that view, up from September’s previous high of 37%. But 51% still disagree and do not think the child in that situation should be granted citizenship. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 14-15, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

41% Believe Economy is Fair to Middle Class, 56% Say It’s Not

Half of all voters believe the economy is fair to lower-income Americans but fewer think it is fair to the middle class.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 49% of Likely Voters believe the economy is at least somewhat fair to lower-income Americans, while 46% say it is not. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 12-13, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

47% Say U.S. Economy is Fair, 49% Disagree

American voters are evenly divided as to whether or not the economy is fair.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 47% believe the economy is fair and 49% disagree. Those figures include nine percent (9%) who say it is Very Fair and 13% who see the economy as Not at All Fair.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 12-13, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC . See methodology.

40% Favor Single-Payer Health Care System, 44% Oppose

Voters are now almost evenly divided over the establishment of a single-payer health care system under which the federal government provides coverage for everyone.

Forty percent (40%) of Likely U.S. Voters favor a single-payer system, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Forty-four percent (44%) oppose the creation of such a system. Sixteen percent (16%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 10-11, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Just 37% Now Call Themselves Fiscal Conservatives

Voters appear to be showing a slight ideological shift as fewer now consider themselves fiscal conservatives and more say they are both fiscal and social liberals.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 37% of Likely U.S. Voters now say they are conservative when it comes to fiscal issues such as taxes and government spending. That’s the first time that number has dipped below 40% in surveys dating back to November 2007. Thirty-nine percent (39%) consider themselves fiscally moderate. One-in-five (20%) now say they are fiscally liberal. That's up from 11% in January and the highest finding to date. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 6-7, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.