Even if the president and Congress can agree on a plan to raise the debt ceiling that raises taxes on the wealthy and cuts spending, less than half of America’s voters believe the spending cuts would actually happen.
It’s a long way to go until November 2012, and it’s unclear who the Republicans will nominate to challenge President Obama, but polls continue to show that the race would be very competitive if the election were held today.
The United States has defense treaties with a number of nations around the globe, and Rasmussen Reports is asking Americans periodically how they feel about going to bat for these countries if they're attacked. On the latest list of four nations, most Americans are only willing to defend one country, South Korea.
In a very early look at Election 2012, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama are essentially even.
Florida and Missouri have already passed measures that require some form of drug testing during the welfare application process, with Florida now requiring all applicants to be tested. A majority of voters nationwide agree with automatically testing all welfare applicants for illegal drug use.
If the government’s got to be involved in health care decisions, most voters think it’ll be cheaper if it’s states rather than the feds.
President Obama now earns his lowest level of support yet against a generic Republican candidate in a hypothetical 2012 election matchup.
More voters continue to favor tougher laws against employers who hire illegal immigrants than against landlords who rent to them. But support for strong sanctions against both employers and landlords are at record highs.
Voters think less government red tape and more competition are the best ways to bring down health care costs.
When politicians talk about cutting government spending and raising taxes on the wealthy, voters are skeptical about the spending cuts and expect middle class taxes to go up, too.
Nearly one-half of Americans now think the United States can make major cuts in defense spending without putting the country in danger. They believe even more strongly that there’s no risk in cutting way back on what America spends to defend other countries.
Most voters still favor repeal of the national health care law and believe it will increase the federal deficit at the very time President Obama and Congress are trying to find ways to make significant cuts in government spending.
Two-out-of-three (66%) Likely U.S. Voters think gaining control of the border is more important than legalizing the status of illegal immigrants already living in America when it comes to immigration reform policy.
President Obama continues to insist that tax increases be part of any deal to raise the federal debt ceiling before he agrees to the level of spending cuts Republicans are seeking. But most voters don’t see it that way.
Voters continue to say President Obama is doing a better job on national security issues than economic issues, but his marks in both areas have improved slightly over the past several weeks.
Voters remain slightly more conservative when it comes to fiscal policy than they are on social issues, while 29% still say they are conservative in both areas.
One-in-five Americans (20%) say they or someone they know has bought large quantities of traditional light bulbs to use when those bulbs disappear off store shelves next year under new federal light bulb regulations.
Voter optimism about U.S. involvement in Afghanistan has slipped back to levels measured before the killing of Osama bin Laden.
Consistent with trust in individual citizens rather than government officials, most adults nationwide still trust a jury over a judge to determine the innocence or guilt of a defendant. However, faith in juries is down a bit following the Casey Anthony verdict.
A generic Republican candidate earns the highest level of support yet against President Obama in a hypothetical 2012 election match up.
