These poll numbers were released yesterday by Rasmussen Reports -- "an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information."
Americans Evenly Divided Over Urgency of Health Care Reform
Friday, June 20, 2009
Forty-four percent (44%) of Americans say the Obama administration should wait on health care reform until the economy improves.
But 43% say health care reform should move ahead now, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of 10,000 adults nationwide. Twelve percent (12%) are not sure which course is best.
Despite the president's stepped-up efforts to promote his health care reform agenda with the public, these numbers have changed little from the beginning of the month when 46% favored moving ahead while 45% said wait until the economy improves. In early March, 49% said health care reform should wait for a better economy , but 42% wanted to go ahead.
As expected, the partisan divide is huge. Sixty-four percent (64%) of Democrats say the administration should go ahead with health reform , but 69% of Republicans favor waiting until the economy gets better. Among adults not affiliated with either party, 41% want to move ahead now, but 45% want to wait for a better economy.
Women favor moving ahead slightly more than men, as do younger Americans. Those working in the private sector favor waiting more than government employees.
Nearly half of all Americans (49%) agree with the President's statement, "I know there are some who believe that reform is too expensive, but I can assure you that doing nothing will cost us far more in the coming years." Thirty-five percent (35%) disagree and 16% are undecided.
Seventy-two percent (72%) of Democrats agree with Obama's statement, while 59% of Republicans disagree. A plurality of unaffiliated adults - by 11 points - think the president's right.
The health care reform debate in Congress heated up last week with the President's speech and a Congressional Budget Office estimate that one proposed reform will cost over a trillion dollars.
One controversial issue is whether or not the final plan should include a government health insurance company to compete with private health insurance companies. Among the public, 41% say it's a good idea and another 41% disagree.
On an issue raised by the President last week, 48% of Americans believe it's too easy to sue doctor's for malpractice while just 19% believe it's too hard. Forty-four percent (44%) favor putting caps on how much juries can award for malpractice .
Other recent polling data suggests Americans have similarly mixed feeling on the health care reform plan that is emerging from Congress.
Most Americans continue to believe that quality health care should be available to all Americans, but they draw the line at including illegal immigrants under universal coverage . They also oppose forcing all Americans to have health insurance.
Earlier this month, health care fell to its lowest level of importance as a voter issue in nearly two years of tracking.
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To view the original report, please use this link: We're Gonna Get Sick Over This