W A S H I N G T O N, Feb. 7
— Americans broadly support paying special federal benefits to the families of victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, but more than half also favor the government's plan to deduct pensions and life insurance payouts from those benefits.
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While some victims' groups and elected officials have assailed the plan, a new poll finds 54 percent of Americans say federal benefits should be reduced for families that have other sources of benefits, such as pensions or life insurance. The ABCNEWS/Washington Post poll found 43 percent oppose any such reduction in federal benefits.
More broadly, the public by a nearly 3-1 margin supports having the government pay some special benefits, with 72 percent in favor. And 58 percent say families of victims of previous terrorist attacks should have also received funds from the government.
But most also say such compensation shouldn't be automatic. Two-thirds think these payments should be decided on a case-by-case basis; only two in 10 think federal benefits should be paid in all cases of terrorism.
Even fewer — about one in 10 — say the government should never pay special benefits to families of terrorist victims.
The victims' compensation fund set up by the government for families of the Sept. 11 victims has been fraught with controversy about the size of payments and the rules for payouts. Final rules are to be released this month; families who accept the compensation will waive their right to sue.
Benefits to Families of Terror Victims
Should pay 9/11 victims
72 percent
Future payments should be on case-by-case basis
66 percent
Should pay victims of past attacks
58 percent
Should pay less for those with other sources
54 percent
Majorities in all demographic groups support federal payment to victims of Sept. 11, but there is some variation in degree. Younger, less-educated and lower-income Americans are more supportive of the payments. These same groups are also far more apt to say victims of past attacks should have been paid, as are nonwhites, Democrats and women.
This ABCNEWS/Washington Post poll was conducted by telephone Jan. 24-27 among a random national sample of 1,507 adults. The results have a 2.5-point error margin. Field work was done by TNS Intersearch of Horsham, Pa.
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