Despite his assertion in his State of the Union address that "this tax relief is for everyone," 56 percent of Americans say Bush's 10-year, $670 billion tax-cut plan favors the rich; just a quarter think it treats all Americans equally. Sixty-seven percent would rather have the government spend more on domestic programs, and 53 percent would prefer deficit reduction to the Bush tax plan.
All are similar to their levels before Bush pushed the plan in his speech last week.
Neither did the public warmly greet Bush's proposal to provide prescription drug benefits only to Medicare recipients who join a private managed-care plan. Nearly two-thirds would prefer to see such coverage for all seniors.
Lags Behind on Domestic Issues
Bush's approval ratings on handling specific domestic issues lag well behind his ratings on terrorism, Iraq, and his performance more generally. On his response to terrorism — the basis for much of his support since Sept. 11, 2001 — 75 percent approve. His overall approval rating is 62 percent; on Iraq, 61 percent.
But on taxes, his approval rating is 51 percent; the federal budget, 47 percent; prescription drug benefits, 46 percent. On the economy and Medicare, he receives just 44 percent approval.
These are issues that are important to many Americans. Forty-four percent say the highest priority for Bush and Congress should be the economy or domestic issues such as Social Security, education and health care. Forty-one percent say it should be terrorism or Iraq. (Republicans are far more likely to cite terrorism; Democrats, the economy and domestic issues.)
Highest Priority for Bush and Congress |
| Economy/Domestic Issues | Terrorism/Iraq |
| All | 44% | 41 |
| Democrats | 53 | 33 |
| Independents | 46 | 34 |
Republicans | 32 | 57 | | |
Older Americans Not As Concerned About Medicare
Most Americans do agree that Medicare needs reform. Fifty-two percent say it has major problems, and 18 percent say it's in a crisis. These concerns subside a bit, to a combined total of 59 percent, among older (61+) adults; they rise to 73 percent among those 60 and younger.
This poll asked whether Medicare should continue not to cover most prescription drugs; provide prescription drug benefits for all seniors; or provide coverage only for seniors who agree to join a managed-care plan. The question doesn't factor in the cost of full coverage for all; nonetheless, it does test Bush's proposal against that ideal. The result: 64 percent say Medicare should cover drugs for all seniors; 21 percent favor the Bush suggestion of managed-care coverage only.
Bush's plan does best with younger adults, higher-income Americans and Republicans; but in all these groups, as well, majorities prefer drug coverage for all.
Partisanship also is a factor in assessments of Bush's tax plan. Three in four Democrats say it favors the wealthy; this falls to 57 percent of independents and drops further to 37 percent of Republicans. Seventy-seven percent of Democrats and 68 percent of independents would rather the money spent on domestic programs; half of Republicans agree. And 72 percent of Democrats would prefer deficit reduction to the tax cut, compared to 50 percent of independents and four in 10 Republicans.
Methodology This ABCNEWS/Washington Post poll was conducted by telephone Jan. 30-Feb. 1 among a random national sample of 855 adults. The results have a 3.5-point error margin. Field work was done by TNS Intersearch of Horsham, Pa.
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