POLL ANALYSES
August 22, 2001
Americans Generally Satisfied With Tax Cut
Plurality believes it will not make much difference, but more think it will be good rather than bad for country
by Jeffrey M. Jones
GALLUP NEWS SERVICE
PRINCETON, NJ -- A slow economy has experts predicting a smaller than anticipated budget surplus. As a result, some critics have argued that the recently enacted tax cut will force the government to use the Social Security trust fund to pay for many government programs. Some have suggested that the tax cut be repealed or scaled back. President Bush defends it by saying that, despite the tax cut and the slow economy, this year’s budget will still result in the second-largest surplus in history.
A new Gallup poll conducted August 16-19 shows that the public does not have major concerns about the tax cut. Only about one in six think it will be a bad thing for the country, and a similarly small percentage think that, in retrospect, the tax cut should have been smaller than it was. In fact, the percentage of Americans who think it will be a good thing for the country (36%) is about double the percentage who think it will be a bad thing (17%). A plurality of Americans, 44%, believes the tax cut will not make much difference. There has been little change in opinion since a July 19-22 poll, at which time 40% said the tax cut would be a good thing for the country, 18% a bad thing, and 39% said it would not make much difference.
Nearly every key subgroup holds a more positive than negative view of the tax cuts. The most notable exception is among self-described liberals who think, by a 32% to 23% margin, the tax cut will be bad for the country. By contrast, conservatives (by a 57% to 7% margin) are substantially more likely to think the tax cut will benefit the nation. Opposition to the tax cut is even muted among Democrats -- only 23% say the cut will be bad for the country while a similar percentage, 26%, say it will be good.
Public Believes Size of Tax Cut was About Right
The majority of Americans are either content with the size of the tax cut or prefer an even larger one, regardless of calls to scale back or repeal it. Forty-seven percent say the tax cut was "about right," 29% say it should have been bigger than it was, and only 17% agree with critics that it should have been smaller than it was.
Here again, most key subgroups believe that the tax cut should have been -- if anything -- bigger than it was. Even liberals are divided in their view -- 27% think it should have been smaller and an equal percentage think it should have been bigger. One exception is among high-income respondents. Those whose household income is $75,000 or more are actually slightly more likely to say the tax cut should have been smaller (32%) rather than bigger (25%). In all other income groups, more say the tax cut should have been bigger than smaller.
Bush Job Approval Ratings Unchanged
President Bush’s job approval ratings remain steady despite the recent criticism of the tax cut, which was a key element of his campaign platform, and his budget projections, which some Democrats charge are inaccurate and rely on accounting "tricks." Bush’s latest approval rating is 57%, unchanged from the prior week, and about the same as it has been throughout July and August. Currently, 34% disapprove of Bush, also similar to his recent scores.
gallup.com |
