These poll numbers were released earlier today by Rasmussen Reports -- "an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information."
President Gets Mixed Reviews for Plan on Sending $250 to All Seniors
Monday, October 19, 2009
Time Magazine refers to it as the Obama administration's "stealth stimulus," pumping more government money into the economy without packaging it as a politically unpopular second economic stimulus plan. One of the new ideas is a proposed one-time $250 payment to seniors who for the first time in years won't be getting a cost of living increase in their Social Security checks because inflation's down.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telphone survey finds that 50% of U.S. voters favor sending all Social Security recipients a $250 check to make up for the lack of a cost-of-living adjustment this year. Forty percent (40%) are opposed.
However, when voters learn that the plan is expected to cost taxpayers $13 billion, support falls. Upon learning the cost, just 41% favor the plan while 49% are opposed.
One interesting generational tidbit is that younger voters are more supportive of the idea than seniors. A majority of those under 30 support the idea. Among those age 65 and older, 43% are in favor while 49% are opposed. Senior citizens are also less supportive of the president's health care plan than younger voters.
Less surprising is the partisan difference. Even when told of the cost, 59% of Democrats like the idea while 67% of Republicans do not. Among those not affiliated with either major party, 39% are in favor while 48% are opposed.
Most men oppose the plan while women are evenly divided.
The president's proposal also would provide a one-time $250 payment to those receiving veterans benefits , disability benefits, railroad retirees and retired public employees who don't receive Social Security. Voters are less supportive of providing payments to those groups than to Social Security recipients.
Confidence in the $787-billion economic stimulus package approved by Congress in February has reached a new high. Thirty-six percent (36%) of voters now say the package has helped the economy , while 28% say it has hurt the economy. Another 28% say the stimulus has had no impact on the economy thus far.
However, 62% of voters oppose the passage of a second economic stimulus package this year .
Most voters believe that spending increases are bad for the economy and tax cuts are good for the economy .
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To view the original report, please use this link: Let's Throw Out Some More Money!