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AEI Compiles Results of Taxpayer Polls

JUN. 26, 2008

AEI Compiles Results of Taxpayer Polls

DATED JUN. 26, 2008
DOCUMENT ATTRIBUTES
PUBLIC OPINION ON TAXES

 

AEI STUDIES IN PUBLIC OPINION

 

 

http://www.aei.org/publicopinion6

 

updated June 26, 2008

 

 

                       Table of Contents

 

 

 What the Data Show

 

 

 Tax Issues

 

 Tax Burden

 

 Most Important Problem

 

 Value For Your Money

 

 Tax Fairness

 

 Tax Fairness (And The Rich)

 

 Progressivity

 

 Taxes and Deficits

 

 

 Tax Politics

 

 Party Best Able to Handle Taxes

 

 Presidential Candidates and Taxes, 1960-2008

 

 Approval of the President's Job on Taxes: Trends

 

 Bush Making Tax Cuts Permanent

 

 Politicians' Credibility on Taxes

 

 Taxes as a Voting Issue

 

 

 Tax Changes

 

 Estate Tax

 

 Reforming the Tax System

 

 Doing Your Taxes

 

 

 Polling Issues in Surveys on Taxes

 

 

 The most comprehensive collection of polls

 

 ever compiled on the subject of taxes

 

 

What The Data Show:

** In seventy years of surveys there has been no instance when people said their federal income taxes were too low.

** At publication, Barack Obama leads John McCain in Gallup/ USA Today's June 2008 poll on who would do a better job on taxes, 44-35 percent.

** Every time Gallup has asked people whether their taxes will go up in the next year, large majorities have said they would.

** Majorities usually say what they pay in federal income taxes is fair. In Gallup's 2008 question, 60 percent gave that response.

**When the question is asked in a straightforward manner, people almost always say they favor a cut in federal income taxes.

**Voters in presidential contests who say taxes are the most important issue to them in casting their ballots (from 5 to 17 percent of the electorate in exit polls conducted from 1984-2004) vote for Republican presidential candidates by overwhelming margins. In the Los Angeles Times national exit poll from 2004, 9 percent said taxes were one of the issues that mattered most to them in casting their votes. They voted 61 to 38 percent for Bush over Kerry.

**On taxes, the GOP has a problem with being seen as the party favoring the rich. The Democrats have a problem as the party too willing to raise taxes.

** People aren't knowledgeable about progressivity. They like the idea of the rich paying a greater percentage of their income in taxes. A handful of questions asked in the 1990s shows that people think Americans should not pay more than 25 percent of their total income in taxes.

**The GOP may have an advantage on holding taxes down or keeping them down, but not on taxes in general. In many recent polls Democrats have the advantage in party-to-party comparisons.

**Although people say the deficit is important, it has little intensity as a political issue. People always say the deficit is a serious matter (but it is rarely the most serious issue). They rarely want their taxes raised to reduce the deficit. In the early 1980s and in polls today, people have been willing to postpone tax cuts that have not gone into effect.

** Most don't think they will benefit from reductions in the estate tax. Still, a substantial proportion wants this tax eliminated. In questions asked by CBS News/ New York Times pollsters after the estate tax threshold was raised to $3.5 million, around four in ten said the tax should be eliminated altogether. In a 2006 question by Harris Interactive for the Tax Foundation, people said the estate tax was the worst federal tax, ahead of the federal income tax.

** People would prefer a root canal to an IRS audit. The IRS's ratings have improved a little since 1997: a period of intense scrutiny for the agency.

**People seem to pay closer attention to the levels of state and local taxes than they do to the federal income tax. Although this document does not contain state level data, we reviewed a lot of it, as well as data on the actual outcome of tax initiatives. The Initiative and Referendum Institute (www.iandrinstitute.org) examined voter behavior on 130 tax initiatives between 1978 and 1999. They characterized eighty-six initiatives as anti-tax (designed to cut, abolish, or limit taxes) and twenty-seven initiatives as pro-tax (designed to raise or extend taxes). Forty-one of the eighty-six anti-tax initiatives passed (48 percent). Ten of the twenty-seven pro-tax ones did. The pass rate for the anti-measures has gone up recently. Forty-three percent of them passed between 1978 and 1989, and 53 percent passed between 1990 and 1999 (67 percent from 1996 to 1999). The polls we reviewed suggest that tax dissatisfaction at the state level, especially with the personal property tax, is rising again

 

TAX ISSUES

 

______________________________________________________________________

 

 

TAX BURDEN: In seventy years of surveys, we can find no instance in which more than a tiny percentage of Americans said the amount they paid in taxes was too low. In most polls, pluralities or majorities say the amount is too high. In 2008 Gallup data, 52 percent said they paid too much and 42 percent about the right amount. On ten occasions since 1959, Gallup has asked people whether their taxes would rise or fall in the next year. On each occasion, more than 60 percent said that their taxes would rise.

Surveys suggest that the local property tax is now seen as more onerous than the federal income tax. Thirty-six percent in February-March 2003 told Kaiser/NPR/Harvard that local property tax was the tax they disliked the most, followed by 29 percent who chose the income tax. Gallup shows a substantial jump since the late 1980s in the proportion of people mentioning the local property tax as the worst or least fair tax. In their April 2005 poll, 42 percent gave that response. Twenty percent said the federal income tax was the worst tax. Harris Interactive, in a 2006 poll for the Tax Foundation, asked about federal and state/local taxes separately. People thought the estate tax was the worst federal tax. The property tax was the worst state or local tax.

_____________________________________________________________________

 

 

  • You pay a part of your income in taxes, either directly or as part of the cost of what you buy. Do you think that you and other taxpayers are paying too much, too little, or about the right amount for what the government provides out of tax money?

 

                                    Given What Govt. Provides

 

                                         Out Of Tax Money

 

 

                                   -----Amount You Pay------

 

 

                                    Too       About     Too

 

                                    Much      Right     Little

 

 

 Nov. 1938      Roper/Fortune        49        42         2

 

  • Do you consider the amount of federal income tax you have to pay as too high, about right, or too low?

 

                               ----Amount of Fed. Income Taxes You Pay----

 

 

                                         Too       About     Too

 

                                         High      Right     Low

 

 

 Mar. 1947           Gallup               54        40        0

 

 Nov. 1947           Gallup               63        32        0

 

 Mar. 1948           Gallup               57        38        1

 

 Mar. 1949           Gallup               43        53        1

 

 Feb. 1950           Gallup               57        40        0

 

 Feb. 1951           Gallup               52        43        1

 

 Feb. 1952           Gallup               71        26        *

 

 Feb. 1953           Gallup               59        37        *

 

 Feb. 1956           Gallup               55        35        1

 

 Apr. 1957           Gallup               61        31        *

 

 Mar. 1959           Gallup               51        40        2

 

 Feb. 1961           Gallup               46        45        1

 

 Feb. 1962           Gallup               48        45        0

 

 Jun. 1962           Gallup               63        32        1

 

 Jan. 1963           Gallup               52        38        1

 

 Feb. 1964           Gallup               56        35        1

 

 Feb. 1966           Gallup               52        39        0

 

 Mar. 1967           Gallup               58        38        1

 

 Mar. 1969           Gallup               69        25        *

 

 Feb. 1973           Gallup               65        28        1

 

 Feb. 1976           NORC                 58        33        1

 

 Feb. 1977           NORC                 65        28        1

 

 Feb. 1980           NORC                 68        27        *

 

 Feb. 1982           NORC                 69        26        *

 

 May. 1982           Gallup               60        32        *

 

 Feb. 1984           NORC                 63        33        1

 

 Feb. 1985           NORC                 60        32        *

 

 Jun. 1985           Gallup               63        32        1

 

 Feb. 1987           NORC                 59        35        1

 

 Feb. 1988           NORC                 55        39        1

 

 Feb. 1989           NORC                 56        37        1

 

 Feb. 1990           NORC                 59        37        *

 

 Mar. 1990           Gallup               63        31        2

 

 Feb. 1991           NORC                 55        39        1

 

 Mar. 1991           Gallup               55        37        2

 

 Mar. 1992           Gallup               56        39        2

 

 Feb.-Apr. 1993      NORC                 55        41        1

 

 Mar. 1993           Gallup               55        41        2

 

 Jan.-May. 1994      NORC                 63        33        1

 

 Apr. 1994           Gallup               56        42        *

 

 Dec. 1994           Gallup               66        30        1

 

 Feb.-May 1996       NORC                 65        31        1

 

 Apr. 1996           Gallup/CNN/USA

 

                     Today                64        33        1

 

 Mar. 1997           Gallup/CNN/USA

 

                     Today                58        38        1

 

 Feb.-Jun. 1998      NORC                 63        31        1

 

 Apr. 1998           Gallup/CNN/USA

 

                     Today                66        31        1

 

 Apr. 1999           Gallup/CNN/USA

 

                     Today                65        29        2

 

 Jul. 1999           Gallup/CNN/USA

 

                     Today                60        37        *

 

 Sep. 1999           Gallup/CNN/USA

 

                     Today                68        28        1

 

 Feb.-Jun. 2000      NORC                 64        31        1

 

 Apr. 2000           Gallup/CNN/USA

 

                     Today                63        33        1

 

 Apr. 2001           Gallup/CNN/USA

 

                     Today                65        31        1

 

 Feb.-Jun. 2002      NORC                 59        37        1

 

 Jan. 2003           Gallup/CNN/USA

 

                     Today                47        50        1

 

 Feb.-Mar. 2003      Kaiser/NPR/

 

                     Harvard              51        43        3

 

 Apr. 2003           Gallup/CNN/USA

 

                     Today                50        46        2

 

 Apr. 2004           Gallup/CNN/USA

 

                     Today                50        43        3

 

 2004                NORC 61 38 1

 

 Apr. 2005           Gallup/CNN/USA

 

                     Today                51        44        2

 

 Oct. 2005           The Hotline/

 

                     Diageo               43        48        3

 

 Apr. 2006           Gallup               48        44        2

 

 Apr. 2007           Gallup               53        41        2

 

 Mar.-Apr. 2008      Gallup               52        42        2

 

 

 NOTE: In April 2003, the Associated Press asked, "How do you feel

 

 about the income taxes you currently pay? Do you think your taxes are

 

 too high, too low, or about right" Fifty-one percent said "too high,"

 

 43 percent said "about right," and 1 percent said "too low." In

 

 December 2002, TIPP/Investor's Business Daily/Christian Science

 

 Monitor asked, "Now moving on to the topic of taxes. When it comes to

 

 your federal income tax, do you think that the amount you currently

 

 pay is too little, too much, or just about right" Forty-nine percent

 

 said "too much," 44 percent said "just about right," and 4 percent

 

 said "too little." In December 2002, Fox News/Opinion Dynamics asked

 

 registered voters, "Do you think too much of your paycheck goes to

 

 taxes, too little goes to taxes, or do you think you pay the right

 

 amount in taxes" Fifty-three percent said "too much," 36 percent said

 

 the "right amount," and 2 percent said "too little."

 

  • Next, I'm going to read some aspects of life in America today. For each one, please say whether you are -- very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied. How about the amount Americans pay in federal taxes?

 

                         Very       Somewhat       Somewhat      Very

 

                         satisfied  satisfied      dissatisfied  dissatisfied

 

 

 Jan. 2001      Gallup         4         22             35          36

 

 Jan. 2002      Gallup         6         32             32          28

 

 Jan. 2003      Gallup         5         28             31          32

 

 Jan. 2004      Gallup         4         30             34          30

 

 Jan. 2005      Gallup         6         32             31          29

 

 Jan. 2006      Gallup         6         32             30          31

 

 Jan. 2007      Gallup         7         33             28          29

 

 Jan. 2008      Gallup         5         29             32          30

 

  • Do you consider the amount of federal income taxes that you have to pay as . . .?

 

                                              Too High  About Right    Too Low

 

 Mar.-Apr. 2005 Harris Interactive/Tax

 

                 Foundation                       55         33            2

 

 Mar. 2006       Harris Interactive/Tax

 

                 Foundation                       59         30            1

 

 Mar. 2007       Harris Interactive/Tax

 

                 Foundation                       58         31            2

 

  • Now, we'd like to get your predictions for next year. Pleas say whether you think each of the following will or will not happen in 2007. How about Congress will increase federal income taxes?

 

                                              Will happen       Will not

 

 

 Dec. 18-20, 2006         Gallup                   62              37

 

  • Turning to taxes, do you consider the amount of federal income taxes that you pay now as too high, about right, or too low?

 

                               Too High       About Right      Too Low

 

 

 Sept. 1-2, 2004 SRB/Time           49             45             3

 

  • And thinking about your personal situation, do you think the taxes you pay are too high, too low, or about right?

 

                                    Too High       About Right      Too Low

 

 

 Apr. 2004 Fox News/Opinion Dynamics     51             44              1

 

 Mar. 2005 Fox News/Opinion Dynamics     54             40              3

 

  • As far as you and your family are concerned, do you feel you have reached the breaking point on the amount of taxes you pay or not?

 

                                         ------Amount of Taxes You Pay--------

 

 

                                              Reached         Not Reached

 

                                              Breaking Point  Breaking Point

 

 

 Feb. 1970      Harris Interactive                 60            29

 

 Mar. 1971      Harris Interactive                 64            25

 

 Oct. 1971      Harris Interactive/Virginia Slims  58            32

 

 Mar. 1977      Harris Interactive                 66            26

 

 Jun. 1978      Harris Interactive                 66            30

 

 Oct. 1993      Harris Interactive                 67            28

 

 Jun. 2003      Harris Interactive                 52            41

 

  • As far as you and your family are concerned, do you feel you have reached the breaking point on the amount of federal taxes you pay or not?

 

                               ------Amount of Federal Taxes You Pay--------

 

 

                                         Reached          Not Reached

 

                                         Breaking Point   Breaking Point

 

 

 Jun. 2003      Harris Interactive            51             40

 

  • As far as you and your family are concerned, do you feel you have reached the breaking point on the amount of state or property taxes you pay or not?

 

                          -----Amount of State/Property Taxes You Pay--------

 

 

                                    Reached             Not Reached

 

                                    Breaking Point      Breaking Point

 

 

 Jun. 2003 Harris Interactive            56                35

 

  • Thinking back over the past year, would say that each of the following has -- gone up a lot, gone up a little, remained about the same, gone down a little, or gone down a lot? How about . . .?

 

 May 22-24, 2006          Gallup

 

                                    Total gone     Remain      Total gone

 

                                         up        the same       down

 

 

 The price you pay for a gallon of

 

 gasoline                                96             1           *

 

 The amount you pay for home

 

 utilities such as

 

 heating/electricity/water               78            15           2

 

 The price you pay for food and other

 

 groceries                               72            25           1

 

 The value of your home (asked of

 

 home owners)                            71             16          6

 

 Your local property taxes               60             24          2

 

 The amount of money you pay

 

 out-of-pocket

 

 for healthcare/Rx drugs                 58             30          5

 

 The amount you pay for health

 

 insurance coverage                      57             28          4

 

 Your state taxes                        41             39          2

 

 Your federal income taxes               37             44          8

 

 Your rent (asked of renters)            36             51          4

 

 Your take home pay after taxes

 

 and deductions                          32             34         19

 

 The amount of money you are able to

 

 put away in savings each month          18             33         43

 

  • Are you very angry about the amount of federal income taxes you and your family paid last year, or fairly angry, or fairly satisfied, or very satisfied -- or don't you have any feeling one way or the other about the amount of federal income taxes you or your family paid last year?

 

                    ----------Feelings About Federal Income Taxes --------

 

 

                     Very     Fairly   No         Fairly         Very

 

                     Angry    Angry    Feeling   Satisfied      Satisfied

 

 

 Jan. 1985      LAT    6       21        23            40         7

 

 Feb. 1986      LAT   11       23        19            38         5

 

 

 NOTE: Asked of those who filed a federal income tax return last year.

 

  • Are you very angry about the amount of federal income taxes you or your family paid last year, or fairly angry, or fairly satisfied, or very satisfied?

 

                     ---------Feelings About Federal Income Taxes --------

 

 

                     Very      Fairly    Fairly         Very

 

                     Angry     Angry     Satisfied      Satisfied

 

 

 Apr. 1991 LAT        11        28            52           8

 

 Apr. 1994 LAT        14        29            44           9

 

 

 NOTE: Asked of those who filed a federal income tax return last year.

 

  • Which of the following taxes is the most unjust?

 

           Jan. 1938           Roper/Fortune

 

                                                   Most Unjust

 

 

 General sales tax                                      33

 

 Tax on real estate                                     16

 

 Taxes on gasoline                                      13

 

 Social Security and

 

 unemployment tax                                       11

 

 Income taxes                                            8

 

 Taxes on cigarettes                                     4

 

 Tax on beer and liquor                                  2

 

 Tax on such items as

 

 jewelry, perfume, and

 

 theaters                                                2

 

  • Which do you think is the worst tax -- that is, the least fair?

 

                          ---------------Least Fair Tax-----------------

 

 

                                  Federal   State     State      Local

 

                                  Income    Income    Sales      Property

 

 

 Mar. 1972      ORC                 19        13        13          45

 

 May 1973       ORC                 30        10        20          31

 

 Apr. 1974      ORC                 30        10        20          28

 

 May 1975       ORC                 28        11        23          29

 

 May 1977       ORC                 28        11        17          33

 

 May 1978       ORC                 30        11        18          32

 

 May 1979       ORC                 37         8        15          27

 

 May 1980       ORC                 36        10        19          25

 

 Sep. 1981      ORC                 36         9        14          33

 

 Jun. 1982      ORC                 36        11        14          30

 

 May 1983       Gallup/ACIR         35        11        13          26

 

 May 1984       Gallup/ACIR         36        10        15          29

 

 May 1985       Gallup/ACIR         38        10        16          24

 

 May 1986       Gallup/ACIR         37         8        17          28

 

 Jun. 1987      Gallup/ACIR         30        12        21          24

 

 Jun. 1988      Gallup/ACIR         33        10        18          28

 

 Jun. 1989      Gallup/ACIR         27        10        18          32

 

 Jul. 1991      Gallup/ACIR         26        12        19          30

 

 Jun. 1993      Gallup/ACIR         36        10        16          26

 

  • Now, let me ask you the same question again. This time I will add a tax to the list. Which tax do you think is the worst tax -- that is, the least fair?

 

                               ------The Worst Tax, That Is Least Fair------

 

 

                               Federal  Social     State    State    Local

 

                               Income   Security   Income   Sales    Property

 

 

 Jun. 1988      Gallup/ACIR      26         17         9     15        24

 

 Jun. 1989      Gallup/ACIR      21         18         9     14        28

 

 May 1990       Gallup/ACIR      26         15        10     12        28

 

 Jun. 1992      Gallup/ACIR      25         10         9     16        25

 

 Jun. 1994      Gallup/ACIR      27         12         7     14        28

 

 Apr. 2003      Gallup/CNN/USA

 

                Today            21         11        11     13        38

 

 Apr. 2005      Gallup/CNN/USA

 

                Today            20         10         7     17        42

 

 NOTE: Possible answers were rotated in question asking.

 

  • What do you think is the worst tax -- that is the least fair -- federal income tax, federal Social Security tax, state income tax, state sales tax, or local property tax?

 

                     ------------The Worst Tax, That Is Least Fair--------

 

 

                          Federal   Social    State     State     Local

 

                          Income    Security  Income    Sales     Property

 

 

 Apr. 2005 Gallup/CNN/USA

 

           Today            20           12      14       14        35

 

 

 NOTE: Possible answers read in order as seen above.

 

  • Some of the biggest taxes that individuals have to pay are income taxes, Social Security taxes, sales taxes, and property taxes. No one likes to pay taxes, but thinking about these four taxes, I'd like you to rank them, starting with the one you dislike the most. Again, the four kinds of taxes are income tax, Social Security tax, sales tax, and property tax. Which of these do you dislike the most? And of the ones that you haven't mentioned, which do you dislike most?

 

                     -----------------Most Disliked Tax ----------------

 

 

                               Federal   Social         State     Local

 

                               Income    Security       Sales     Property

 

 

 Feb.-Mar. 2003  Kaiser/NPR/

 

                 Harvard         29           9           23        36

 

  • Some taxes are paid to the federal government in Washington and some are paid to state and local governments. Of the following federal taxes, which do you think is the worst tax -- that is, the least fair?

 

                                     ------Least Fair Federal Tax------

 

 

                                   Federal   Federal   Social    Federal

 

                                   Estate    Income    Security  Corporate

 

 

 Mar.-Apr. 2005 Harris

 

                Interactive

 

                /Tax Foundation      30         26          15       8

 

 Mar. 2006      Harris

 

                Interactive/

 

                Tax Foundation       31         25          14       7

 

  • Of the following state and local taxes, which do you think is the worst tax -- that is, the least fair?

 

                                  --------Least Fair State/Local Tax-----

 

 

                                      Local    State     Sales   State

 

                                     Property  Income    Tax     Corporate

 

 

 Mar.-Apr. 2005 Harris

 

                Interactive/Tax

 

                Foundation               38       19      18        7

 

 Mar. 2006      Harris

 

                Interactive/Tax

 

                Foundation               39       20      18        7

 

  • Which type of tax on this list would you say is most fair for you?

 

                                      -------Most Fair Tax-------

 

 

                               Federal Social      State     State    Local

 

                               Income  Security    Income    Sales    Property

 

 

 Jun. 1978      CBS/NYT          13      24          17       19        10

 

  • As I read a series of statements, please tell me which you think is more likely to be true of [coming year]? A year when taxes will rise or a year when taxes will fall?

 

                                      Taxes Will          Taxes Will

 

                                         Rise               Fall

 

 

 Dec. 1959      Gallup                    76                  10

 

 Dec. 1965      Gallup                    83                   7

 

 Dec. 1966      Gallup                    91                   4

 

 Dec. 1967      Gallup                    94                   3

 

 Dec. 1968      Gallup                    78                  12

 

 Nov. 1977      Gallup                    74                  10

 

 Dec. 1978      Gallup                    63                  25

 

 Nov. 1979      Gallup                    67                  19

 

 Jan. 1998      Gallup/CNN/USA Today      62                  32

 

 Dec. 1998      Gallup/CNN/USA Today      64                  27

 

  • Under the Bush administration would you say your federal income taxes have gone up, gone down, or not really changed?

 

                               Taxes     Taxes          Taxes

 

                               Gone Up   Gone Down      Not Changed

 

 

 Mar. 19-21, 2004    AP/Ipsos       22        26            48

 

  • In the last three years would you say your federal income taxes have gone up, gone down, or not really changed?

 

                                         Taxes        Taxes       Taxes

 

                                         Gone Up      Gone Down   Not Changed

 

 

 Mar. 19-21, 2004    AP/Ipsos                 25        28             43

 

  • Now, thinking about all kinds of federal, state and local taxes, in the last three years would you say the amount of taxes you pay overall has gone up, gone down, or not really changed?

 

                                         Taxes          Taxes       Taxes

 

                                         Gone Up        Gone Down   Not Changed

 

 

 Mar. 19-21, 2004         AP/Ipsos          49             13          36

 

_____________________________________________________________________

 

 

MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEM: Taxes or the deficit are rarely named as the single most important problem facing the nation, though economic concerns are frequently the number one issue.
_____________________________________________________________________

 

 

  • What do you think is the most important problem facing this country today? (Gallup)

  • What do you think are the two most important issues for the government to address? (Harris Interactive)

 

                                  Gallup

 

 

                          Percentage     Who Say        Top Response

 

                          "Taxes"        "Deficit"

 

 

 Jul. 1983                     *              5         Unemployment (48)

 

 Jan. 1984                     *             14         Unemployment (24)

 

 Jun. 1984                     *             11         Unemployment (25)

 

 Jan. 1985                    11             18         Fear of War (27)

 

 May  1985                    11             10         Fear of War (23)

 

 Jan. 1986                     8             11         Fear of War (30)

 

 Jul. 1986                     4             13         Unemployment (23)

 

 Jan. 1987                     2             10         Unemployment (16)

 

 May 1987                      *             12         Unemployment (13)

 

 Sep. 1988                     *             12         Deficit (12)

 

 May 1989                      *              7         Drug Abuse (27)

 

 Jun 1989                      *              6         Drug Abuse (27)

 

 Apr. 1990                     *              6         Drug Abuse (30)

 

 Jul. 1990                     1             21         Deficit (21)

 

 Jan. 1991                     2              4         Gulf Crisis (25)

 

 Jul. 1991                     2              6         Economy (16)

 

 Mar. 1992                     6              8         Economy (42)

 

 May 1992                      1              4         Economy (20)

 

 

           Gallup                               Harris Interactive

 

 

           Percentage  Who Say    Top           Percentage  Who Say   Top

 

           "Taxes"     "Deficit"  Response      "Taxes"     "Deficit" Response

 

 

 Jan. 1993      1         10      Economy (29)     7           19     Health

 

                                                                      Care (31)

 

 Jun. 1993                                        13           24     Health

 

                                                                      Care (29)

 

 Sep. 1993       6        15      Health Care (28)

 

 Jan. 1994       2         8      Crime (49)

 

 Feb. 1994                                         6            8     Health

 

                                                                      Care (45)

 

 May 1994                                          5           10     Health

 

                                                                      Care (42)

 

 Jul. 1994       1         3      Crime (21)

 

 Jan. 1995       3        12      Crime (19)

 

 Feb. 1995                                        12           22     Health

 

                                                                      Care (25)

 

 Jun. 1995                                        10           18     Crime

 

                                                                      (22)

 

 Jul. 1995       2         7      Crime (15)

 

 Jan. 1996       2        19      Deficit (19)

 

 Apr. 1996                                        11           22     Deficit

 

                                                                      (22)

 

 Jul. 1996       5         8      Crime (16)

 

 Jan. 1997       3         6      Crime (15)      12           15     Crime

 

                                                                      (16)

 

 Jun. 1997                                        11           19     Deficit

 

                                                                      (19)

 

 Aug. 1997       4        5       Crime (20)

 

 Jan. 1998                                        16           12     Taxes

 

                                                                      (16)

 

 Apr. 1998       6        5       Crime (20)      17            8     Education

 

                                                                      (20)

 

 Sep. 1998       4        2       Morality (15)

 

 Jan. 1999       4        2       Morality (13)    9            3     Impeach-

 

                                                                      ment (30)

 

 May 1999        3        1       Morality (18)

 

 Jun. 1999      10        3       Education (17)

 

 Jan. 2000      12        3       Education (20)

 

 Mar. 2000      11        4       Education (16)

 

 Jun. 2000       3        2       Morality (14)   14             3    Health

 

                                                                      Care (18)

 

 Jan. 2001       5        1       Morality (13)

 

 Feb. 2001                                        23             4    Education

 

                                                                      (30)

 

 Jun. 2001       4        1       Education (12)  19             3    Education

 

                                                                      (20)

 

 Jan. 2002       2        *       Terrorism (23)   9             1    Economy

 

                                                                      (32)

 

 Jun. 2002       1        1       Terrorism (33)   8             1    Terrorism

 

                                                                      (31)

 

 Jan. 2003       2        1       Fear of

 

                                  War (31)

 

 Feb. 2003                                         4              3   The war

 

                                                                      (38)

 

 Jun. 2003       2        3       Economy (30)    11              4   Economy

 

                                                                      (25)

 

 Jan. 2004       2        4       Economy (16)

 

 Feb. 2004       3        5       Economy (21)     5               5  Economy

 

                                                                      (31)

 

 Mar. 2004       1        5       Economy (21)

 

 Apr. 2004       2        2       War in Iraq (26)

 

 May 2004        2        2       War in Iraq (26)

 

 Jun. 2004       1        3       War in Iraq (27)

 

 Jul. 2004       1        1       War in Iraq (26)

 

 Aug. 2004       2        2       War in Iraq/Eco.

 

                                  (21)             4                2 Economy

 

                                                                      (32)

 

 Sept. 2004      1        3       War in Iraq (23) 5                1 Economy

 

                                                                      (30)

 

 Oct. 2004       2        3       War in Iraq (23) 8                2 The war

 

                                                                      (35)

 

 Nov. 2004       2        4       War in Iraq (26)

 

 Dec. 2004       2        3       War in Iraq (23)

 

 Jan. 2005       2        3       War in Iraq (25)

 

 Feb. 2005       2        5       War in Iraq (24)  5              10 Social

 

                                                                      Security

 

                                                                      (37)

 

 Mar. 2005      2         3       War in Iraq (25)

 

 Apr. 2005      1         3       War in Iraq (18)  6               6 Social

 

                                                                      Security

 

                                                                      (31)

 

 May 2005       1         3       War in Iraq (21)

 

 Jun. 2005      1         3       War in Iraq (22)   5              4 The war

 

                                                                      (24)

 

 Jul. 2005      1         1       War in Iraq (25)

 

 Aug. 2005      1         2       War in Iraq (27)   5              2 The war

 

                                                                      (41)

 

 Sept. 2005     1         2       War in Iraq (16)

 

 Oct. 2005      1         3       War in Iraq (21)

 

 Nov. 2005      1         *       War in Iraq (23)   9              7 The war

 

                                                                      (34)

 

 Dec. 2005      2         *       War in Iraq (22)  --             -- ---

 

 Jan. 2006      1         *       War in Iraq (23)   7              4 The war

 

                                                                      (26)

 

 Feb. 2006      1         1       War in Iraq (22)   6              2 The war

 

                                                                      (27)

 

 Mar. 2006      2         4       War in Iraq (20)   5              3 The war

 

                                                                      (21)

 

 Apr. 2006      1         3       War in Iraq (25)   5              3 The war

 

                                                                      (23)

 

 May 2006       2         3       War in Iraq (29)   5             -- The war

 

                                                                      (28)

 

 Jun. 2006      2         4       War in Iraq (27)   4             -- The war

 

                                                                      (27)

 

 Jul. 2006      1         1       War in Iraq (25)   4             -- The war

 

                                                                      (32)

 

 Aug. 2006      3         3       War in Iraq (26)   4             -- The war

 

                                                                      (28)

 

 Sep. 2006      1         2       War in Iraq (24)   4             -- The war

 

                                                                      (22)

 

 Oct. 2006      1         1       War in Iraq (28)   5             -- The war

 

                                                                      (29)

 

 Nov. 2006      3         2       War in Iraq (36)   5             -- The war

 

                                                                      (33)

 

 Dec. 2006      2         1       War in Iraq (29)   --            --

 

 Jan. 2007      1         2       War in Iraq (36)   --            --

 

 Feb. 2007      1         2       War in Iraq (38)    7            -- The war

 

                                                                      (29)

 

 Mar. 2007      1         2       War in Iraq (35)   --            -- ---

 

 Apr. 2007      2         2       War in Iraq (33)    5            -- The war

 

                                                                      (30)

 

 May 2007       *         2        War in Iraq (33)  --            --  --

 

 Jun. 2007      1         2        War in Iraq (34)  --            --  --

 

 Jul. 2007      1         1        War in Iraq (35)   1             1 The war

 

                                                                      (27)

 

 Aug. 2007      1         2        War in Iraq (32)  --            --  --

 

 Sep. 2007      1         2        War in Iraq (30)   3             3 The war

 

                                                                      (29)

 

 Oct. 2007      1         3        War in Iraq (33)   3             6 Health

 

                                                                      care (25)

 

 Nov. 2007      1         2        War in Iraq (24)

 

 Dec. 2007      2         1        War in Iraq (29)   6            -- The war

 

                                                                      (30)

 

 Jan. 2008      2         2        War in Iraq (25)  --            -- --

 

 Feb. 2008      1         3        The economy (34)   6             5 The

 

                                                                      economy

 

                                                                      (41)

 

 Mar. 2008      1         2        The economy (35)  --            --  --

 

 Apr. 2008      1         2        The economy (41)   4             2 The

 

                                                                      economy

 

                                                                      (47)

 

 May 2008       1         2        The economy (35)  --            -- --

 

 Jun. 2008      1         1        The economy (36)   4             2 The

 

                                                                      economy

 

                                                                      (38)

 

 

 NOTE: This is not a full chart of "most important problem" results.

 

 Gallup began asking respondents to identify the nation's most

 

 important problem in 1939. "Taxes" and "Deficit" were first coded as

 

 separate responses in 1983.

 

  • What do you think is the most important problem facing this country today?

 

 (Yearly compilations on most important problem provided by Gallup)

 

 

 Year                          Top Response

 

 

 1935                          Unemployment

 

 1936                          Unemployment

 

 1937                          Unemployment

 

 1938                          Keeping out of war

 

 1939                          Keeping out of war

 

 1940                          Keeping out of war

 

 1941                          Keeping out of war, winning war

 

 1942                          Winning war

 

 1943                          Winning war

 

 1944                          Winning war

 

 1945                          Winning war

 

 1946                          High cost of living

 

 1947                          High cost of living, labor unrest

 

 1948                          Keeping peace

 

 1949                          Labor unrest

 

 1950                          Labor unrest

 

 1951                          Korean war

 

 1952                          Korean war

 

 1953                          Keeping peace

 

 1954                          Keeping peace

 

 1955                          Keeping peace

 

 1956                          Keeping peace

 

 1957                          Race relations, keeping peace

 

 1958                          Unemployment, keeping peace

 

 1959                          Keeping peace

 

 1960                          Keeping peace

 

 1961                          Keeping peace

 

 1962                          Keeping peace

 

 1963                          Keeping peace, race relations

 

 1964                          Vietnam, race relations

 

 1965                          Vietnam, race relations

 

 1966                          Vietnam

 

 1967                          Vietnam, high cost of living

 

 1968                          Vietnam

 

 1969                          Vietnam

 

 1970                          Vietnam

 

 1971                          Vietnam, high cost of living

 

 1972                          Vietnam

 

 1973                          High cost of living, Watergate

 

 1974                          High cost of living, Watergate, energy

 

 1975                          High cost of living, unemployment

 

 1976                          High cost of living, unemployment

 

 1977                          High cost of living, unemployment

 

 1978                          High cost of living, energy problems

 

 1979                          High cost of living, unemployment

 

 1980                          High cost of living, unemployment

 

 1981                          High cost of living, unemployment

 

 1982                          Unemployment, high cost of living

 

 1983                          Unemployment, high cost of living

 

 1984                          Fear of war, unemployment

 

 1985                          Unemployment, recession, fear of war

 

 1986                          Unemployment, fear of war

 

 1987                          Fear of war, unemployment

 

 1988                          Budget deficit, drug abuse

 

 1989                          Drugs, poverty and homelessness

 

 1990                          Budget deficit, drugs

 

 1991                          Economy

 

 1992                          Economy

 

 1993                          Economy, health care

 

 1994                          Crime

 

 1995                          Crime

 

 1996                          Crime, federal budget

 

 1997                          Crime

 

 1998                          Ethics/moral decline, crime

 

 1999                          Crime, ethics/moral decline

 

 2000                          Education, ethics/moral decline

 

 2001                          Economy, terrorism

 

 2002                          Terrorism, economy

 

 2003                          Economy

 

 2004                          Not Available

 

 2005                          War in Iraq

 

_____________________________________________________________________

 

 

VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY: Solid majorities say government wastes a lot of the money we pay in taxes. People believe that 51 cents of every dollar the government collects in taxes is wasted according to a 2006 ABC News/ Washington Post survey. In 2005, 71 percent told Fox News/Opinion Dynamics interviewers that how their tax dollars were spent bothered them more than how much they paid.
_____________________________________________________________________

 

 

  • Do you think that people in government waste a lot of money we pay in taxes, waste some of it, or don't waste very much of it?

 

                                     How Much Does Govt. Waste

 

                          -----------Of Money We Pay In Taxes------

 

 

                                   A Lot        Some      Not Much

 

 

 1958        U. of Mich.            43           42          10

 

 1964        U. of Mich.            47           44           7

 

 1968        U. of Mich.            59           34           4

 

 1970        U. of Mich.            69           26           4

 

 1972        U. of Mich.            66           30           2

 

 1974        U. of Mich.            74           22           1

 

 1976        U. of Mich.            74           20           3

 

 1978        U. of Mich.            77           19           2

 

 Jun. 1978   CBS/NYT                78           17           2

 

 Sep. 1978   WP                     73           23           2

 

 1980        U. of Mich.            78           18           2

 

 1982        U. of Mich.            66           29           2

 

 Jun. 1983   NYT                    69           26           3

 

 Nov. 1983   NYT                    74           21           2

 

 1984        U. of Mich.            65           29           4

 

 Nov. 1984   CBS/NYT                67           27           3

 

 Feb. 1985   CBS/NYT                69           25           3

 

 Dec. 1985   NYT                    75           21           3

 

 1988        U. of Mich.            63           33           2

 

 Nov. 1988   CBS/NYT                71           24           3

 

 1990        U. of Mich.            67           30           2

 

 Oct. 1991   ABC/WP                 75           23           2

 

 1992        U. of Mich.            67           30           2

 

 Oct. 1992   CBS/NYT                76           20           1

 

 Jun. 1993   CBS/NYT                86           12           1

 

 Sep. 1993   Gallup                 86           12           1

 

 1994        U. of Mich.            70           27           2

 

 1996        U. of Mich.            60           38           1

 

 1998        U. of Mich.            61           34           4

 

 2000        U. of Mich.            59           38           3

 

 Oct. 2001   CBS/NYT                52           43           4

 

 2002        U. of Mich.            48           49           3

 

 2004        U. of Mich.            61           37           2

 

  • Out of every dollar the federal government collects in taxes, how many cents do you think are wasted?

 

                                            Of Every Dollar, How

 

                                       ----Many Cents Are Wasted?----

 

 

                                            Mean         Median

 

 

 Nov. 1979   Gallup                           --           40

 

 Jan. 1981   Gallup                           --           48

 

 Mar. 1981   Gallup                           --           40

 

 May 1984    Gallup                           --           45

 

 Jul. 1985   ABC/WP                           43           45

 

 Feb. 1989   Gallup                           --           50

 

 May 1990    ABC/WP                           46           50

 

 Sep. 1990   ABC                              44           50

 

 Sep. 1990   WP                               48           50

 

 Oct. 1991   ABC/WP                           49           41

 

 Feb. 1993   ABC/WP                           46           39

 

 Aug. 1993   ABC/WP                           47           40

 

 Jan. 1995   ABC/WP                           51           50

 

 Nov. 1996   Tarrance(R)/Lake(D)              49           --

 

 Jan. 1998   ABC                              56           --

 

 Apr. 2000   ABC                              46           --

 

 Apr. 2002   ABC                              47           --

 

 Apr. 2006   ABC News/Washington Post         51           --

 

  • How would you rate the value you personally get from the taxes you pay to the federal government . . . excellent, pretty good, only fair, or poor?

 

                                ---------Value You Get From Taxes---------

 

 

                              Excellent      Good           Fair       Poor

 

                              Value          Value          Value      Value

 

 

 Oct. 1993   Harris

 

             Interactive/

 

             Business Week       1           17             46          34

 

 Mar.-Apr.   Harris

 

 2005        Interactive/

 

             Tax Foundation      3           23             39          27

 

 

 Mar. 2006   Harris

 

             Interactive/        2           24             40          25

 

             Tax Foundation

 

 

 Note: In 2005, the category "good" changed to "pretty good."

 

  • What bothers you more -- how much you pay in taxes or how your taxes are spent?

 

                                     -----What Bothers You More?-----

 

 

                                    How Taxes                How Much

 

                                    Are Spent                You Pay

 

 

 Dec. 2002  Fox News/Opinion

 

            Dynamics                   75                       8

 

 Mar. 2005  Fox News/Opinion

 

            Dynamics                   71                      12

 

 

 NOTE: Asked of registered voters.

 

  • Which of the following bothers you most about taxes: the large amount you pay in taxes, the complexity of the tax system, or the feeling that some wealthy people get away not paying their fair share?

 

                                 --------------Bothers You Most-------------

 

 

                                   Large Amount   System's     Wealthy Don't

 

                                   You Pay        Complexity   Pay Fair Share

 

 Mar. 1999*  Fox News/Opinion

 

             Dynamics                  21             26            46

 

 Feb.-Mar.   2003 Kaiser/NPR/

 

             Harvard                   14             32            51

 

 

 NOTE: * Asked of registered voters. Question wording was, "the

 

 feeling that some rich people get away . . ."

 

  • Would you rather have more government services if it meant more taxes, less government services in order to reduce taxes, or services and taxes about as we have them now?

 

                               More Taxes/         Same         Less Taxes/

 

                               More Services       As Now Less  Services

 

 

 Dec. 1978*     LAT                  5                   21        67

 

 Apr. 1991      LAT                 12                   45        40

 

 Mar. 1993      Gallup              20                   35        40

 

 

 NOTE: *Asked of registered voters.

 

  • Which of the following statements do you agree with more . . . I'd rather pay higher taxes to support a larger government that provides more services, or I'd rather pay lower taxes and have a smaller government that provides fewer services?

 

                                         Higher Taxes/       Lower Taxes/

 

                                         Bigger Govt.        Smaller Govt.

 

 

 Jun. 1997  Fox News/Opinion Dynamics         31                 58

 

 Apr. 1998  Fox News/Opinion Dynamics         30                 58

 

 Oct. 2000  Fox News/Opinion Dynamics         32                 52

 

 May. 2003  Fox News/Opinion Dynamics         34                 50

 

 Jan. 2004  Fox News/Opinion Dynamics         38                 45

 

 Jan. 2006  Fox News/Opinion Dynamics         34                 52

 

 

 NOTE: Asked of registered voters.

 

_____________________________________________________________________

 

 

TAX FAIRNESS: In questions asked by Gallup during World War II, large majorities described the income tax they paid as fair. In April 2008, 60 percent regarded the income tax they paid as fair, and 35 percent said they did not.

Other organizations that ask more detailed questions find that only a small number say that the federal income tax system is "quite fair" to people like them; at the other end of the spectrum, in most polls, 25 to 30 percent describe it as "quite unfair." In a 2003 poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation, NPR, and the Kennedy School at Harvard that did not ask people to think about "people like them," 4 percent described the federal tax system as very fair and 16 percent as not fair at all.

In polls, Democrats usually have the edge when it comes to fairness issues, including tax fairness.

_____________________________________________________________________

 

 

  • Do you regard the income tax which you will have to pay this year as fair?

 

                                         -----Income Tax Fair?-----

 

 

                                               Yes       No

 

 

 Feb. 1943       Gallup                        85        15

 

 Feb. 1944       Gallup                        90        10

 

 Mar. 1944       Gallup                        87        13

 

 Mar. 1945       Gallup                        85        15

 

 Feb. 1946       Gallup                        62        38

 

 Nov. 1946       Gallup                        60        34

 

 Mar. 1997       Gallup/CNN/USA Today          51        43

 

 Apr. 1999       Gallup/CNN/USA Today          45        49

 

 Apr. 2001       Gallup/CNN/USA Today          51        46

 

 Apr. 2002       Gallup/CNN/USA Today          58        37

 

 Apr. 2003       Gallup/CNN/USA Today          64        33

 

 Apr. 2004       Gallup/CNN/USA Today          62        33

 

 Apr. 2005       Gallup/CNN/USA Today          61        34

 

 Apr. 2006       Gallup                        60        34

 

 Apr. 2007       Gallup                        60        37

 

 Mar.-Apr. 2008  Gallup                        60        35

 

  • For each statement, please tell me if you completely agree with it, mostly agree with it, mostly disagree with it, or completely disagree with it. The tax system is unfair to people like me.

 

                               Completely     Mostly    Mostly    Completely

 

                               Agree          Agree     Disagree   Disagree

 

 

 Aug. 2002   PSRA/Pew              24          29         34            9

 

 Aug. 2003   PSRA/Pew              22          28         35           10

 

 Dec. 2006-

 

 Jan. 2007   PSRA/Pew              19          29         37           10

 

  • Last year 43.4 million Americans -- that's one third of all tax payers -- paid no federal income tax after deductions and credits. Thinking about your own tax burden, do you think this is fair, or do you feel everyone should be required to pay some minimum amount of tax to help fund the government?

 

                                    Should be a         This is

 

                                    minimum amount      fair       Not sure

 

 

 Mar.-Apr.

 

 2005       Harris/Tax Foundation         59               21           20

 

 Mar. 2006  Harris/Tax Foundation         63               21           16

 

 Mar. 2007  Harris/Tax Foundation         61               24           15

 

  • Do you think the amount of taxes you pay is fair or unfair?

 

                           Very           Somewhat       Somewhat       Very

 

                           fair           fair           unfair         unfair

 

 

 Apr. 2007  AP/Ipsos/AOL    16                 37          20            25

 

  • When it comes to who pays what in taxes, do you think the federal income tax system is . . .?

 

                                         Basically           Basically

 

                                           Fair               Unfair

 

 

 Mar-Apr. 2005  Blum & Weprin/NBC News      40                54

 

  • Do you think you pay more than your fair share, less than your fair share, or just about your fair share in federal income taxes?

 

                               More Than           Less Than    Just About

 

                               Fair Share          Fair Share   Your Fair Share

 

 

 Apr. 2005  Blum &

 

            Weprin/NBC News         35                  2           61

 

  • How do you feel about the present federal income tax system -- do you feel it is quite fair to people like yourself, reasonably fair to people like yourself, somewhat unfair, or quite unfair to people like yourself?

 

                               -------Income Tax Fairness--------

 

 

                      Quite Fair/    Reasonably Fair/ Somewhat Unfair/ Quite

 

                                                                       Unfair/

 

                     People Like Me  People Like Me    People Like Me  People

 

                                                                       Like Me

 

 

 Apr. 1978  CBS/NYT       5              30                29            29

 

 Apr. 1980  CBS/NYT       7              31                29            30

 

 Apr. 1983  CBS/NYT       7              34                26            30

 

 May 1988   CBS/NYT       7              32                27            27

 

 Mar. 1992  CBS/NYT       6              33                31            28

 

 Feb. 1995  CBS/NYT       6              40                29            22

 

 Oct. 1996  CBS           5              35                30            28

 

 Apr. 1997  CBS           8              36                26            27

 

 Oct. 2000  CBS           6              38                27           24

 

  • We'd like to talk to you about the income tax system. How do you feel about the present federal income tax system -- do you feel it is quite fair to most people, or reasonably fair, or somewhat unfair, or quite unfair to most people?

 

                               Income Tax Fairness

 

 

                           Quite   Reasonably  Somewhat   Quite

 

                           Fair/   Fair/       Unfair/    Unfair/

 

                           Most    Most        Most       Most

 

                           People  People      People     People

 

 

 May 1977   Roper GfK-NOP   3       27           34        30

 

 Apr. 1978  Roper GfK-NOP   4       25           34        33

 

 May 1979   Roper GfK-NOP   4       28           36        29

 

 Jan. 1985  Roper GfK-NOP   3       32           31        29

 

 Apr. 1986  Roper GfK-NOP   3       33           38        23

 

 Apr. 1988  Roper GfK-NOP   5       35           29        24

 

 Aug. 1989  Roper GfK-NOP   5       27           32        30

 

 Dec. 1990  Roper GfK-NOP   4       26           32        30

 

 Mar. 1993  Roper GfK-NOP   4       32           33        22

 

 Jul. 1996  Roper GfK-NOP   4       39           29        24

 

  • How fair do you think our present federal tax system is? Overall, would you say that our tax system is . . . very fair, moderately fair, not too fair, or not fair at all?

 

                                    Federal Tax System Fairness

 

 

                                   Very     Moderately    Not Too   Not Fair

 

                                   Fair       Fair         Fair      At All

 

 

 Feb.-Mar. 2003 Kaiser/NPR/Harvard  4          47           32         16

 

  • Compared with other taxpayers, is it your impression that you pay more taxes than you probably should, or about the right amount, or that you pay less than you probably should?

 

                               Compared to Other Taxpayers

 

 

                     More Taxes          Right          Less Taxes

 

                   Than You Should       Amount       Than You Should

 

 

 Jan. 1985 LAT          35                 57                4

 

  • Do you feel you pay more than your fair share in federal income taxes, less than your fair share, or is the amount you pay about right?

 

                            More than    Less than    About     Don't

 

                            fair share   fair share   right     file

 

 

 Apr. 1997        CBS News    49            2         47         1

 

 Apr. 6-9, 2006   CBS News    34            1         58         4

 

 Apr. 9-12, 2007  CBS News    37            1         55         5

 

  • We'd like to know about the federal taxes you or your family paid last year and whether you think everyone in the United States pays his or her fair share. Do you think our system of federal taxes is basically fair, or not? (If fair) Would you say it's essentially fair, or would you say it needs some improvement? (If not fair) Would you say it needs many improvements, or would you say it's essentially unfair and needs a fundamental overhaul?

 

                               Feelings About Tax System

 

 

                   Fair     Fair/ Some     Unfair/Many     Unfair/Needs

 

                          Improvements     Improvements      Overhaul

 

 

 Jan. 1985  LAT    12          27              16              40

 

 Apr. 1991  LAT    12          28              18              40

 

  • When two families have the same income, do you think it is fair or unfair that one family pays less tax because they . . .?

 

 Feb.-Mar. 2003     Kasier/NPR/Harvard

 

 

                                                        Fair  Unfair

 

 

 Have more dependent children than the other family     76     23

 

 Have more medical expenses than the other family       71     27

 

 Give more to charity than the other family             62     36

 

 Have a home mortgage, while the other family does not  55     41

 

 Receive more of their income from investments than

 

 the other family                                       42     52

 

  • Do you think you get more than your fair share of tax deductions and credits, less than your fair share, or about your fair share of tax deductions and credits?

 

                                                  Tax Deductions

 

 

                                      More Than       About          Less Than

 

                                      Fair Share      Fair Share     Fair Share

 

 

 Feb.-Mar. 2003   Kaiser/NPR/Harvard      4              57              35

 

  • Regardless of how you usually vote, do you think the Republican Party or the Democratic Party is more likely to make sure the tax system is fair?

 

                                           More Likely To Make

 

                                           Tax System Fair

 

 

                                     Democratic             Republican

 

                                       Party                  Party

 

 

 Aug. 1996              CBS/NYT          49                    33

 

 Aug. 1996              CBS              40                    38

 

 Aug. 1996              CBS/NYT          45                    38

 

 Aug. 1996              CBS              46                    36

 

 Sep. 1998              CBS/NYT          43                    31

 

 Nov. 1999              CBS/NYT          46                    37

 

 Jul. 2000              CBS/NYT          42                    33

 

 Jan. 2002              CBS/NYT          49                    36

 

 Oct. 2002              CBS/NYT          47                    34

 

 May 2003               CBS/NYT          46                    36

 

 May 2006               CBS/NYT          55                    27

 

_____________________________________________________________________

 

 

TAX FAIRNESS (AND THE RICH): Since the questions were first asked more than thirty years ago, people have told pollsters that the tax system helps the rich. Over that time, Republicans have been saddled with the image that their policies benefit upper-income people. George W. Bush did better on this score than his father did. Around 60 percent in a Gallup, CNN, USA Today survey thought the senior Bush's policies benefited the rich; a majority in 2003 said the son's plans did, but around 40 percent say they benefited all people equally.

More say the rich pay too little in taxes than say middle-income families pay too much. In the April 2007 Gallup/USA Today poll, 44 percent said middle income people pay their fair share in taxes, 47 percent said they paid too much. Sixty-three percent said upper income people paid too little.

_____________________________________________________________________

 

 

  • Now I want to read you some things some people have told us they have felt from time to time. Do you feel or not feel the rich get richer and the poor get poorer?

 

                               Rich Get Richer/Poor Get Poorer

 

 

                             Yes                                 Yes

 

 

 1972   Harris Interactive   67      1997    Harris Interactive   78

 

 1977   Harris Interactive   77      1998    Harris Interactive   72

 

 1985   Harris Interactive   79      1999    Harris Interactive   74

 

 1990   Harris Interactive   82      2000    Harris Interactive   69

 

 1991   Harris Interactive   83      2001    Harris Interactive   69

 

 1992   Harris Interactive   83      2002    Harris Interactive   72

 

 1993   Harris Interactive   81      2003    Harris Interactive   69

 

 1994   Harris Interactive   78      2004    Harris Interactive   68

 

 1995   Harris Interactive   79      2005    Harris Interactive   75

 

 1996   Harris Interactive   76      2006    Harris Interactive   72

 

  • I want to read off to you a number of things some people have told us they have felt from time to time. Do you tend to feel . . . the tax laws are written to help the rich and not the average man, or not?

 

                                 Tax Laws             Tax Laws Do

 

                                 Help Rich            Not Help Rich

 

 

 1972   Harris Interactive          68                     25

 

 1973   Harris Interactive          74                     21

 

 1974   Harris Interactive          75                     19

 

 1978   Harris Interactive          74                     18

 

  • I'd like to know whether the following statement describes or does not describe the way you feel: the present tax system benefits the rich and is unfair to the ordinary working man or woman?

 

                                   Tax System       Tax System Does

 

                                   Helps Rich       Not Benefit Rich

 

 

 Mar. 1983  Yankelovich/Time          75                   20

 

 Mar. 1995  Yankelovich/CNN/Time      74                   21

 

 Mar. 1997  Gallup/CNN/USA Today      69                   26

 

  • For each one would you tell me whether you think they have to pay too much in taxes, or too little in taxes or about the right amount . . . High-income families?

 

                                         High-Income Families Pay

 

 

                           Too Much      About           Too Little

 

                            In Taxes      Right            In Taxes

 

 

 May 1977   Roper GfK-NOP      8            10                75

 

 May 1978   Roper GfK-NOP      7             9                76

 

 Jul. 1978  Roper GfK-NOP      8             9                76

 

 May 1979   Roper GfK-NOP      8             9                75

 

 Jan. 1985  Roper GfK-NOP      5            10                80

 

 Apr. 1986  Roper GfK-NOP      7            10                77

 

 Jan. 1992  Roper GfK-NOP      9            10                72

 

  • For each one would you tell me whether you think they have to pay too much in taxes, or too little in taxes or about the right amount . . . Middle-income families?

 

                                      Middle Income Families Pay

 

 

                                Too Much      About     Too Little

 

                                In Taxes      Right     In Taxes

 

 

 May 1977    Roper GfK-NOP         69           25           2

 

 May 1978    Roper GfK-NOP         74           20           2

 

 Jul. 1978   Roper GfK-NOP         77           17           2

 

 May 1979    Roper GfK-NOP         72           22           2

 

 Jan. 1985   Roper GfK-NOP         69           26           2

 

 Apr. 1986   Roper GfK-NOP         62           29           4

 

 Jan. 1992   Roper GfK-NOP         69           20           4

 

  • For each one would you tell me whether you think they have to pay too much in taxes, or too little in taxes or about the right amount . . . Low-income families?

 

                                 Low-Income Families Pay

 

 

                               Too Much     About       Too Little

 

                               In Taxes     Right       In Taxes

 

 

 May 1977    Roper GfK-NOP        54          32            5

 

 May 1978    Roper GfK-NOP        47          37            4

 

 Jul. 1978   Roper GfK-NOP        54          31            4

 

 May 1979    Roper GfK-NOP        45          39            5

 

 Jan. 1985   Roper GfK-NOP        57          34            4

 

 Apr. 1986   Roper GfK-NOP        53          31            4

 

 Jan. 1992   Roper GfK-NOP        54          30            5

 

  • As I read off some different groups, please tell me if you think they are paying their fair share in federal taxes, paying too much or paying too little . . . Upper-income people?

 

                                            Upper-Income People Pay

 

 

                                         Too Much     Fair       Too Little

 

                                         In Taxes     Share       In Taxes

 

 

 Mar. 1992   Gallup                          4         16           77

 

 Mar. 1993   Gallup                          5         16           75

 

 Apr. 1994   Gallup/CNN/USA Today           10         20           68

 

 Apr. 1996   Gallup/CNN/USA Today            9         20           68

 

 Apr. 1999   Gallup/CNN/USA Today           10         19           66

 

 Apr. 2003   Gallup/CNN/USA Today           10         24           63

 

 Apr. 2004   Gallup/CNN/USA Today            9         24           63

 

 Apr. 2005   Gallup/CNN/USA Today            7         22           68

 

 Apr. 2006   Gallup/USA Today                8         21           67

 

 Apr. 2007   Gallup                          9         21           66

 

 Apr. 2008   Gallup                          9         24           63

 

  • As I read off some different groups, please tell me if you think they are paying their fair share in federal taxes, paying too much or paying too little . . . Middle-income people?

 

                                                 Middle-income People Pay

 

 

                                              Too Much    Fair     Too Little

 

                                              In Taxes    Share    In Taxes

 

 

 Mar. 1992   Gallup                               57       36         5

 

 Mar. 1993   Gallup                               54       39         5

 

 Apr. 1994   Gallup/CNN/USA Today                 57       39         3

 

 Apr. 1996   Gallup/CNN/USA Today                 58       34         5

 

 Apr. 1999   Gallup/CNN/USA Today                 59       35         4

 

 Apr. 2003   Gallup/CNN/USA Today                 40       51         7

 

 Apr. 2004   Gallup/CNN/USA Today                 46       47         4

 

 Apr. 2005   Gallup/CNN/USA Today                 41       52         4

 

 Apr. 2006   Gallup/USA Today                     43       50         5

 

 Apr. 2007   Gallup                               47       44         7

 

  • As I read off some different groups, please tell me if you think they are paying their fair share in federal taxes, paying too much or paying too little . . . Lower-income people?

 

                                                 Lower-Income People Pay

 

 

                                              Too Much    Fair    Too Little

 

                                              In Taxes    Share   In Taxes

 

 

 Mar. 1992  Gallup                               57         32       8

 

 Mar. 1993  Gallup                               51         37       9

 

 Apr. 1994  Gallup/CNN/USA Today                 42         43      13

 

 Apr. 1996  Gallup/CNN/USA Today                 48         40       9

 

 Apr. 1999  Gallup/CNN/USA Today                 51         34      11

 

 Apr. 2003  Gallup/CNN/USA Today                 49         36      12

 

 Apr. 2004  Gallup/CNN/USA Today                 49         35      12

 

 Apr. 2005  Gallup/CNN/USA Today                 51         36      10

 

 Apr. 2006  Gallup/USA Today                     46         36      12

 

 Apr. 2007  Gallup                               45         34      17

 

  • As I read off some different groups, please tell me if you think they are paying their fair share in federal taxes, paying too much or paying too little . . . Corporations?

 

                                                        Corporations

 

 

                                           Too Much     Fair      Too Little

 

                                           In Taxes     Share     In Taxes

 

 

 Apr. 2004  Gallup/CNN/USA Today                5         19         69

 

 Apr. 2005 Gallup/CNN/USA Today                 4         21         69

 

 Apr. 2006 Gallup/USA Today                     5         18         70

 

 Apr. 2007 Gallup                               5         19         71

 

  • Do you think that the income tax structure in your country correctly taxes those who earn the highest incomes?

 

 Jul. 2007           Financial Times/Harris Interactive

 

 

                No, they should        No, they should

 

 Yes            be taxed more          be taxed less       Not sure

 

 

 12                   61                    10                 17

 

  • Do you think that the income tax structure in your country correctly taxes those who earn the lowest incomes?

 

 Jul. 2007           Financial Times/Harris Interactive

 

 

                No, they should          No, they should

 

 Yes            be taxed more            be taxed less          Not sure

 

 

 19                     6                      59                 17

 

  • I'm going to read you a list of groups. Please tell me if you think they pay more than their fair share, less than their fair share, or about their fair share in federal taxes . . .?

 

 Jun. 2003   Public Interests Project/Greenberg, Quinlan, Rosner (D)

 

 

      High-Income Families Pay      Middle-Income Families Pay

 

 

 More Than      About      Less Than    More Than    About       Less Than

 

 Fair Share   Fair Share   Fair Share   Fair Share   Fair Share  Fair Share

 

 

   15            25           57           59           34            3

 

 

                                                You & Your Family Pay

 

            Low-Income Families Pay               In Federal Taxes

 

 

 More Than     About      Less Than      More Than     About        Less Than

 

 Fair Share   Fair Share  Fair Share     Fair Share    Fair Share   Fair Share

 

 

    36           40           20             45           48            3

 

  • Do you feel that President Reagan's economic policies such as his budget and tax cuts will be fair and equitable for people like you and your family, will be unfair and cause hardship to you, or will go too easy on you?

 

                                                Reagan's Budget & Tax Cuts

 

                                                      Fair to You?

 

 

                                         Fair        Unfair      Too Easy

 

 Feb. 1981   Harris Interactive           70           25           1

 

 May 1981    Harris Interactive           56           38           2

 

 Jun. 1981   Harris Interactive           54           39           3

 

 Aug. 1981   Harris Interactive           52           40           2

 

  • Do you feel that President Reagan's economic policies such as his budget and tax cuts will be fair and equitable for high-income people, will be unfair and cause hardship to them, or will go too easy on them?

 

                                                  Reagan's Budget & Tax Cuts

 

                                                  Fair to High-Income People?

 

 

                                          Fair       Unfair       Too Easy

 

 

 Feb. 1981   Harris Interactive            38          5             52

 

 May 1981    Harris Interactive            32          5             55

 

 Aug. 1981   Harris Interactive            38          6             50

 

  • From what you've heard so far, who do you think would benefit most from George W. Bush's tax cut plan -- rich people, poor people, or middle income people?

 

                                                  George W. Bush's Tax Cuts

 

                                                       Who Benefits?

 

 

                                          Rich       Middle Income    Poor

 

 

 Oct. 2000   CBS                           53              26           3

 

 Feb. 2001   CBS                           57              25           3

 

 Mar. 2001   CBS/NYT                       58              24           5

 

 Apr. 2001   CBS                           55              26           4

 

 Nov. 2002   CBS/NYT                       57              26           4

 

  • Do you think the tax cuts first enacted by the Bush Administration mostly benefit the rich, most benefited the middle class, most benefited the poor, or did the tax cuts benefit all groups equally?

 

                                                   George W. Bush's Tax Cuts

 

                                                       Mostly Benefited

 

 

                                  Rich   Middle Income   Poor  Everyone Equally

 

 

 Oct. 2004   CBS/NYT               60          8          2        24

 

  • From what you have heard so far, who do you think has benefited the most from the tax cuts -- rich people, poor people, or middle income people?

 

                                                 Bush's Tax Cuts

 

                                                 Who Benefits?

 

 

                                    Rich           Middle Income       Poor

 

 

 Nov. 2002   CBS/NYT                 62                20               3

 

  • In your view, do you think President Bush's economic plan mostly helps the rich, mostly helps the middle class or mostly helps the poor?

 

                                         Bush's Economic Plan

 

                                           Who Benefits?

 

 

                                   Rich            Middle Class        Poor

 

 

 Jan. 2003   Zogby International    57                 24                2

 

  • Generally speaking, who do you think has been helped more by the (Bush) tax cut: rich people, middle income people, or poor people?

 

                                              Bush's Tax Cuts

 

                                               Helped More

 

 

                                    Rich           Middle Class         Poor

 

 

 Jan. 2005   L.A. Times              58               25                  5

 

  • Do you think Bush's proposals on cutting taxes favor the rich, favor the middle class, favor the poor, or treat all people about equally?

 

                                    George W. Bush's Tax Cuts Favor

 

 

                                    Rich           Middle  Poor        All

 

                                                   Class             Equally

 

 

 Jan. 2003   ABC/WP                  61              7      2         23

 

 Feb. 2003   ABC/WP                  56             10      2         26

 

 Apr. 2003   ABC/WP                  57             11      2         26

 

  • Should recent tax cuts be eliminated for people who earn more than $200,000 a year or should recent tax cuts remain in place for people who earn more than $200,000 a year?

 

                               Tax Cuts Eliminated         Tax Cuts Kept For

 

                              For Incomes Over $200,000   Incomes Over $200,000

 

 

 Mar. 19-21, 2004  AP/Ipsos             53                        45

 

  • Do you think George Bush's policies favor the rich, favor the poor, favor the middle class, or are generally fair to all groups?

 

                                    George H.W. Bush's Policies Favor

 

 

                                    Rich       Middle     Poor         All

 

                                               Class                 Equally

 

 

 Jan. 1992   Gallup/CNN/USA Today    63          6          *          27

 

 Sep. 1992   Gallup/CNN/USA Today    61          6          1          27

 

  • Do you think George W. Bush's policies favor the rich, favor the middle class, favor the poor, or are generally fair to all groups?

 

                                    George W. Bush's Policies Favor

 

 

                                    Rich        Middle      Poor        All

 

                                                Class                 Equally

 

 

 Jul. 2002  Gallup/CNN/USA Today     48           7           *         41

 

 Jan. 2003  Gallup/CNN/USA Today     51           5           *         41

 

 Oct. 2003* CBS News/NYT             60          10           1         26

 

 Nov. 2003* CBS News                 63           9           1         23

 

 Jan. 2004* CBS News/NYT             57          11           1         25

 

 

 Note: * Question worded as, "In general, do you think the policies of

 

 the Bush Administration favor the rich, favor the middle class, favor

 

 the poor, or do they treat all groups equally?"

 

_____________________________________________________________________

 

 

PROGRESSIVITY: More than fifty years ago, two University of Chicago law school professors, Walter Blum and Harry Kalven, began a project to explore "how deeply the public was committed to progressive taxation and on what basis." At the time, a constitutional amendment was proposed that would limit income tax rates to a maximum of 25 percent, except in times of war. Their large-scale public opinion survey was never completed, but pilot studies were done. The professors found that among tax questions "the issue of distributing the tax burden ranked near the bottom." They found that people could understand "the concept of the wealthy paying more in tax than the less wealthy, but they did not comprehend the idea of the wealthy paying more than a proportionately greater tax than the less wealthy. Proportionate and progressive rate schedules simply were not seen as involving a choice of principles."

In 1996, a Roper GfK-NOP survey asked Americans about a handful of words and phrases people in government and the media use to talk about the economy. Thirty-two percent thought they had a pretty good idea what the person was talking about when he used the words "progressive tax," 26 percent said they had some idea, and 34 percent said "not much of an idea." More than 70 percent said they had a pretty good idea of what the words "depression," and separately, "inflation" and "recession" meant. In the February-March 2003 Kaiser Family Foundation, NPR, Harvard poll, 56 percent said they had not heard the term "progressive taxes." Of the remainder, 21 percent said they had heard it and knew what it meant, and 22 percent had heard it but did not know what it meant.

We have not been able to find copies of the Blum and Kalven pilot studies, only their commentary about them (see The Uneasy Case for Progressive Taxation, University of Chicago Press, 4th edition, 1963, introduction). What we have here are some questions about government's role in redistributing wealth and a handful of questions asked over sixty years that explore Americans' ideas in this area. We include two questions asked over time by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago about what the government's role should be in reducing income differences between the rich and the poor. In 1952, in a Gallup question, people were divided about a law that would prohibit the government from taking more than a quarter of a person's earnings; in the mid-1990s, people seemed comfortable with a limit of around 25 percent for top earners. In the 2007 Harris Interactive/Tax Foundation poll, people said that 14.7 percent (mean response) was the maximum percentage people should have to pay in all taxes.

_____________________________________________________________________

 

 

  • The President has stated that one-third of the population of the U.S. has less than a minimum of the necessities for a decent life. Do you agree with him?

 

                                    Yes                 No

 

 

 Oct. 1937    Roper/Fortune         71                  17

 

  • Do you think the federal government should follow a policy of taking money from those who have much and giving money to those who have little?

 

                                    Yes                 No

 

 

 Oct. 1937    Roper/Fortune         54                  41

 

  • Do you think that our government should or should not redistribute wealth by heavy taxes on the rich?

 

                                    Redistribute Wealth By

 

                                    Heavy Taxes on Rich?

 

 

                                    Should              Should Not

 

 

 Jun. 1939    Roper/Fortune          35                     54

 

 Prosperous                          17                     76

 

 Upper Middle Class                  28                     64

 

 Lower Middle Class                  34                     57

 

 Poor                                46                     40

 

 Apr.-May 1998 Gallup                45                     51

 

 Apr. 2007 Gallup                    49                     47

 

 

 NOTE: Fortune divided its sample into these four economic groups

 

 based on its own criteria.

 

  • Some people think that the government in Washington ought to reduce the income differences between the rich and the poor, perhaps by raising the taxes of wealthy families or by giving income assistance to the poor. Here is a card with a scale from 1 to 7. Think of a score of 1 as meaning that the government ought to reduce the income differences between rich and poor, and a score of 7 meaning that the government should not concern itself with reducing income differences. What score between 1 and 7 comes closest to the way you feel?

 

                     Govt. Should                       Govt. Shouldn't

 

                     Reduce Income                      Reduce Income

 

                     Differences                        Differences

 

                                       Points

 

 

                      1         2         3         4      5       6       7

 

 1973 NORC           36        12        10        11      6       7      15

 

 1978 NORC           19        11        17        21     11       8      12

 

 1980 NORC           17         9        16        20     12       7      16

 

 1983 NORC           20        11        16        17     11       8      14

 

 1984 NORC           21        12        15        17     13       8      12

 

 1986 NORC           23         9        17        21     11       6      12

 

 1987 NORC           19         9        17        21     13       6      14

 

 1988 NORC           20        10        18        20     12       8      11

 

 1989 NORC           18        13        19        20     11       7      10

 

 1990 NORC           21        12        18        21      9       6      10

 

 1991 NORC           20        12        17        20     12       7       9

 

 1993 NORC           17        12        19        18     12       8      12

 

 1994 NORC           14         9        16        21     15       8      15

 

 1996 NORC           17        10        16        21     12       8      12

 

 1998 NORC           15        10        17        21     11       8      16

 

 2000 NORC           16        12        16        20     14       9      13

 

 2004 NORC           20         8        18        19     13       8      14

 

 2005 NORC           20         8        18        19     12       7      14

 

  • What is your opinion of the following statement? It is the responsibility of the government to reduce the differences in income between people with high incomes and those with low incomes?

 

                                 Govt. Should Reduce Income Differences

 

 

                          Strongly Agree/   Neither Agree   Disagree Strongly/

 

                               Agree         Nor Disagree         Disagree

 

 

 1985 NORC                      30                20              50

 

 1990 NORC                      33                27              39

 

 1993 NORC                      31                21              46

 

 1994 NORC                      27                18              51

 

 1996 NORC                      32                24              42

 

 2000 NORC                      33                25              40

 

  • Do you agree or disagree with the following: It is the responsibility of government to reduce the differences in income between high-income people and middle-income people? Is that strongly or somewhat agree/disagree?

 

                                    Govt. Should Reduce Income Differences

 

                                   Between People With High & Middle Incomes

 

 

                                   Strongly   Somewhat    Somewhat    Strongly

 

                                    Agree      Agree       Disagree    Disagree

 

 

 Feb.-Mar. 2003 Kaiser/NPR/Harvard     35        21           16         24

 

  • Do you agree or disagree with the following: It is the responsibility of government to reduce the differences in income between people with high incomes and people with low incomes? Is that strongly or somewhat agree/disagree?

 

                               Govt. Should Reduce Income Differences

 

                               Between People With High & Low Incomes

 

 

                                   Strongly   Somewhat   Somewhat    Strongly

 

                                   Agree      Agree      Disagree    Disagree

 

 

 Feb.-Mar. 2003 Kaiser/NPR/Harvard   27        22           18         29

 

  • Do you feel that the distribution of money and wealth in this country is fair, or do you feel that the money and wealth in this country should be more evenly distributed among a larger percentage of the people?

 

                                            Wealth Distribution

 

 

                                         Is             Should Be More

 

                                         Fair          Evenly Distributed

 

 

 Dec. 1984   Gallup                       31                  60

 

 Apr. 1985   LA Times                     28                  61

 

 Dec. 1987   Gallup                       27                  66

 

 May 1990    Gallup                       28                  66

 

 Apr. 1996   Gallup                       33                  62

 

 May 1998    Gallup                       31                  63

 

 Sep. 2000   Gallup                       38                  56

 

 Oct. 2000*  WP/Kaiser/Harvard            32                  63

 

 Jan. 2003   Gallup                       31                  63

 

 

 NOTE: * Asked of registered voters.

 

  • For the past 68 years, the federal income tax has been based on the principle that higher-income people not only have to pay more in taxes but must pay a greater percentage of their income in taxes. Do you feel that principle is fair and equitable or not?

 

                                         Tax Progressivity

 

 

                                    Fair           Not Fair

 

                                  Principle       Principle

 

 

 Aug. 1981  Harris Interactive      58              38

 

  • Generally speaking, how does the federal income tax system work? Are people with higher incomes taxed at a higher percentage of their income than people who make less money? Or does everyone pay the same percentage of their income in income taxes? Or don't you know enough to say?

 

                                         High-Income People Pay

 

 

                                       Higher         Same      Don't

 

                                     Percentage    Percentage   Know

 

 Feb.-Mar. 2003 Kaiser/NPR/Harvard     60              11        28

 

  • Which comes closest to your view?

 

 Apr. 2005      AP/Ipsos

 

 

 People should pay the same rate of tax on their

 

 incomes, regardless of how much money they make             40

 

 

 People who earn more money should pay a higher

 

 tax rate on their incomes than people who earn less         57

 

  • People in government and the media use a lot of words and phrases when they talk about the economy. I'm going to read you some of them. For each one, would you tell me when you hear that word or phrase used, whether you have a pretty good idea of what the person is talking about, some idea, or not much of an idea of what that person is talking about?

 

 Mar.-Apr. 1996      Roper GfK-NOP

 

 

                                                  Know Words & Phrases

 

 

                                                 Good   Some   Not Much

 

                                                 Idea   Idea   Of An Idea

 

 

 Depression                                       76     19        4

 

 Inflation                                        76     18        5

 

 Recession                                        72     21        5

 

 Depreciation                                     55     26       15

 

 Downsizing                                       55     23       16

 

 Flat tax                                         46     28       22

 

 Federal Reserve Bank                             42     31       24

 

 Deregulation                                     41     30       23

 

 Balance of payments                              40     30       25

 

 Capital gains tax                                39     27       28

 

 Investment capital                               38     32       24

 

 Progressive tax                                  32     26       34

 

 Tight monetary policies                          26     27       37

 

 Supply-side economics                            22     23       43

 

 Sustainable development                          15     21       48

 

  • And now I want to read a brief list of terms that are related to taxes and the federal tax system. For each, please tell me if you have heard the term and know what it means, have heard the term but don't know what it means, or have not heard the term.

 

 Feb.-Mar. 2003      Kaiser/NPR/Harvard

 

 

                                        Heard Term/   Heard Term/   Have Not

 

                                        Knows What    Don't Know    Heard Term

 

                                         It Means       What It      Means

 

 

 Payroll taxes                              74            17            9

 

 Earned income tax credit                   61            28           11

 

 Progressive taxes                          21            23           56

 

 Value Added Tax                            20            20           59

 

  • In the United States, which group do you think pays the highest percentage of their income in total federal taxes: high-income people, middle-income people, or lower-income people, or don't you know enough to say? (Asked of half sample)

 

                                      Highest Percentage, Total Federal Taxes

 

 

                                      High-Income  Middle-Income  Lower-Income

 

                                        People         People        People

 

 

 Feb.-Mar. 2003   Kaiser/NPR/Harvard      24             52            11

 

  • In the United States, which group do you think pays the highest percentage of their income in federal income taxes: high-income people, middle-income people, or lower-income people, or don't you know enough to say? (Asked of half sample)

 

                                      Highest Percentage, Federal Income Taxes

 

 

                                       High-Income  Middle-Income  Lower-Income

 

                                         People        People         People

 

 

 Feb.-Mar. 2003   Kaiser/NPR/Harvard       26             51            11

 

  • How much do you think this family of four, with a total income of $100,000 a year -- that is $2,000 a week -- should pay in personal income tax next year?

 

                                    Family of Four, Income of $100,000,

 

                                    How Much In Taxes Should They Pay?

 

 

                                               Avg. Percent

 

 

 Mar. 1941      Gallup                             10

 

  • Many wealthy persons in the U.S. now pay as high as 90 percent of their income in Federal income taxes. Would you favor or oppose Congress passing a law so the Federal government could not take more than 25 percent, or one-fourth, of any person's income in taxes except in war-time?

 

                                         Law Setting Maximum

 

 

                                             Rate of 25%

 

 

                                          Favor      Oppose

 

 

 May 1952  Gallup                          47          45

 

  • I'd like to ask you some general questions about the amount of taxes people pay each year, and what would be fair. By taxes I mean not just federal income taxes, but all the taxes you pay to the federal, state, and local governments, including Social Security taxes, state income and sales taxes, and local property taxes. What's the highest amount, the highest percentage, of your income that you think would be fair to pay in all these taxes combined? Just your best guess is fine.

 

                                            What You Should Pay in All Taxes

 

 

                                                     Mean      Median

 

 

 Oct. 1995   Roper Center/Reader's Digest             19         19

 

  • I'd like to ask you some general questions about the amount of taxes people pay each year, and what would be fair. By taxes I mean not just federal income taxes, but all the taxes you pay to the federal, state, and local governments, including Social Security taxes, state income and sales taxes, and local property taxes. What's the highest percentage you think would be fair for a family of four making $25,000 a year to pay when you add their taxes together? Just your best guess is fine.

 

                                              Family of Four Making $25,000

 

                                                 Should Pay In All Taxes

 

 

                                                      Mean    Median

 

 

 Oct. 1995   Roper Center/Reader's Digest              13       10

 

  • I'd like to ask you some general questions about the amount of taxes people pay each year, and what would be fair. By taxes I mean not just federal income taxes, but all the taxes you pay to the federal, state, and local governments, including Social Security taxes, state income and sales taxes, and local property taxes. What's the highest percentage you think would be fair for a family of four making $50,000 a year to pay when you add their taxes together? Just your best guess is fine.

 

                                            Family of Four Making $50,000

 

                                               Should Pay In All Taxes

 

 

                                                    Mean    Median

 

 

 Oct. 1995   Roper Center/Reader's Digest            18       17

 

  • I'd like to ask you some general questions about the amount of taxes people pay each year, and what would be fair. By taxes I mean not just federal income taxes, but all the taxes you pay to the federal, state, and local governments, including Social Security taxes, state income and sales taxes, and local property taxes. What's the highest percentage you think would be fair for a family making $100,000 a year to pay when you add their taxes together? Just your best guess is fine.

 

                                                  Family Making $100,000

 

                                                  Should Pay In All Taxes

 

 

                                                      Mean     Median

 

 

 Oct. 1995   Roper Center/Reader's Digest              23       20

 

  • I'd like to ask you some general questions about the amount of taxes people pay each year, and what would be fair. By taxes I mean not just federal income taxes, but all the taxes you pay to the federal, state, and local governments, including Social Security taxes, state income and sales taxes, and local property taxes. Let's talk now about a family of four -- a husband, wife, and two children -- that makes a high income. What's the highest amount, highest percentage you think would be fair for any family of four to pay in all their taxes combined, no matter how high their income? Just your best guess is fine.

 

                                             Family of Four with High Income

 

                                                 Should Pay In All Taxes

 

 

                                                     Mean     Median

 

 

 Oct. 1995   Roper Center/Reader's Digest             23       20

 

  • I'd like to ask you some general questions about the amount of taxes people pay each year, and what would be fair. By taxes I mean not just federal income taxes, but all the taxes you pay to the federal, state, and local governments, including Social Security taxes, state income and sales taxes, and local property taxes. What's the highest percentage you think would be fair for a family making $200,000 a year to pay when you add their taxes together? Just your best guess is fine.

 

                                              Family of Four Making $200,000

 

                                                 Should Pay In All Taxes

 

 

                                                      Mean    Median

 

 

 Oct. 1995   Roper Center/Reader's Digest              27       25

 

  • What is the maximum percentage of a person's income that should go to taxes -- that's all taxes, state, federal, and local? Out of every dollar, what's the highest percentage anybody should have to pay?

 

                                               Maximum In All Taxes

 

 

                                                  Mean     Median

 

 

 Mar. 1999      Fox News/Opinion Dynamics          15        10

 

 Mar. 2001      Fox News/Opinion Dynamics          17        10

 

 Jan. 2003      Fox News/Opinion Dynamics          17        10

 

  • What is the maximum percentage of a person's income that should go to taxes -- that is, all taxes, state, federal, and local?

 

                                                          Mean

 

 

 Mar.-Apr. 2005    Harris Interactive/Tax Foundation        16

 

 Mar. 2006         Harris Interactive/Tax Foundation        15

 

 Mar. 2007         Harris Interactive/Tax Foundation      14.7

 

  • Out of every dollar, what's the highest percentage anybody should have to pay in taxes?

 

 Mar.-Apr. 2005      Harris Interactive/Tax Foundation

 

 

 Mean                16

 

  • In realty, what percentage of income do you think the typical American actually pays in taxes -- that is, all taxes, state, federal and local?

 

 Mar.-Apr. 2005      Harris Interactive/Tax Foundation

 

 

 Mean                29

 

_____________________________________________________________________

 

 

TAXES AND DEFICITS: Americans almost always say they favor a tax cut when the question is asked in a straightforward manner as the questions below show. Identical Gallup questions asked in 1979 (when the economy was in bad shape) and in 1999 (when it was doing pretty well) suggest that how the economy is doing affects views of federal tax cuts. Americans also believe that the deficit is a serious matter, but it is rarely the most serious problem.

We reviewed more than 1,000 questions about taxes and the deficit from three periods -- the late 1940s, the early 1980s, and the 1990s on. Questions asked by Roper/Fortune in 1946 show that people thought that balancing the budget should be a higher priority than cutting taxes. But other questions in the series showed that people felt that seeing to it that our military forces were kept at the present strength was more important and also that sending food aid to needy countries was also more important than balancing the budget.

In the early 1980s, people said the deficit was a serious matter (but never the most serious). They always said it would be necessary to raise their taxes to reduce it substantially, but they did not want their taxes increased. They strongly preferred cutting government spending except when reminded of programs they liked. In 1982, Americans were willing to postpone the tax cuts that had been enacted. Reagan had negative ratings on handling the deficit at that time, but in 1984 people preferred him to Walter Mondale to deal with it.

Public opinion about the deficit today is similar to what it was in the early 1980s. The deficit has little intensity politically, though Americans say it is serious. Americans are opposed to raising their taxes to reduce the deficit, though, once again, depending on how questions are worded, they appear to support postponing tax cuts not yet enacted. They don't want their already enacted tax cuts taken away.

_____________________________________________________________________

 

 

  • Do you think it is necessary to increase taxes to reduce the budget deficit?

 

                                       Should not increase     Should

 

 

 Mar. 2007      Harris Interactive             71                15

 

  • This year the U.S. budget deficit will be $244 billion or $1,789 per individual tax return. Some people say it is important to balance the budget. Thinking about your own situation, would you be willing to pay an additional $1,789 in federal taxes to eliminate the deficit and balance the budget?

 

                                                Yes      No

 

 

 Mar. 2007      Harris/Tax Foundation            10      76

 

 

      -- (If willing to pay) If you paid the extra $1,789 in

 

      additional taxes, how do you believe today's Congress would use

 

      it?

 

 

                                                       Deficit &       Increase

 

                                   Pay off deficit  increase spending  spending

 

 

 Mar. 2007  Harris/Tax Foundation         20             28               50

 

  • This year the U.S. budget deficit will be $340 billion or $2,470 per individual tax return. Some people say it is important to balance the budget. Thinking about your own situation, would you be willing to pay an additional $2,470 in federal taxes to eliminate the deficit and balance the budget?

 

                                                   Yes      No

 

 

 Mar. 2006      Harris/Tax Foundation               9       79

 

  • If you paid that extra $2,470 in additional taxes, which one of the following do you believe today's Congress would do: mostly increase spending and not pay off the deficit, pay off part of the deficit and increase spending with the rest, pay off the entire deficit?

 

                                   ---------Today's Congress Would---------

 

 

                                  Increase      Pay off part       Pay off debt

 

                                  spending  and increase spending   entirely

 

 

 Mar. 2006  Harris/Tax Foundation    63              20                17

 

  • There have been all sorts of ideas suggested for things we should do in this country after the war, and we'd like to know how you feel about some of them . . . Taking them one at a time, do you think it is a good idea or not such a good idea to . . . reduce taxes on personal income?

 

                                         -----Reduce Taxes-----

 

 

                                            Good    Not Good

 

                                            Idea      Idea

 

 

 May 1945       Roper/Fortune                66        23

 

  • Do you think that personal income taxes for the coming year should be reduced greatly, reduced a little, or left about as they are?

 

                                      --------Taxes Should Be--------

 

 

                                      Reduced      Reduced      Left

 

                                      Greatly      A Little     As Are

 

 

 Dec. 1946    Roper/Fortune              20           46          27

 

 Dec. 1947    Roper/Fortune              30           41          21

 

 Apr. 1948    Roper/Fortune              24           43          28

 

  • Are you in favor of a cut in federal income taxes or not?

 

                                          -----Income Tax Cut------

 

 

                                              Favor     Oppose

 

 

 Sep. 1963*     Gallup                          61        24

 

 Nov. 1963*     Gallup                          64        23

 

 Jan. 1977      Gallup                          79        12

 

 Aug. 1979      Gallup                          74        18

 

 Dec. 1994      Gallup/CNN/USA Today            80        17

 

 May 1996+      Gallup/CNN/USA Today            70        25

 

 Mar. 1999      Gallup/CNN/USA Today            72        25

 

 Sep. 2000      Gallup/CNN/USA Today            74        23

 

 

 NOTE: *Question wording was, "How do you, yourself, feel? Do you

 

 favor or oppose a cut in income taxes now?" +Question wording was,

 

 "Would you generally favor or oppose a proposal to cut federal income

 

 taxes?"

 

  • Next we'd like to ask you whether you agree or disagree with a statement about taxes. If you do not have an opinion about the statement feel free to say so. "The government ought to cut taxes even if it means putting off some important things that need to be done?"

 

                                                  Cut Taxes Even If

 

                                           ----Other Things Get Put Off----

 

 

                                                  Agree      Disagree

 

 

 Jan. 1979      Gallup                              62          12

 

 Aug. 1999      Gallup/CNN/USA Today                21          59

 

 

1940s
  • Which of these statements comes closest to describing your feelings -- the federal budget should be balanced immediately at all costs, the government should make whatever changes are necessary in spending and taxation to bring the budget into balance within a few years, or we should continue with an unbalanced budget until real recovery has set in?

 

                                           ------Balanced Budget------

 

 

                                        Balance     Balance in    Wait Until

 

                                      Immediately   Few Years      Recovery

 

 

 Jan. 1940      Roper/Fortune               9           48            17

 

  • If we can't do both at the same time, which do you think we should do first: reduce taxes or balance the national budget?

 

                                         ------Should Do First--------

 

 

                                             Balance        Cut

 

                                             Budget        Taxes

 

 

 Dec. 1946      Roper/Fortune                  55            34

 

  • If we can't do both at the same time, which do you think we should do first: continue making loans to foreign nations or balance the national budget?

 

                                       ------Should Do First--------

 

 

                                            Balance       Make

 

                                            Budget       Loans

 

 

 Dec. 1946      Roper/Fortune                 72           14

 

  • If we can't do both at the same time, which do you think we should do first: see that our military forces are kept at about their present strength or balance the national budget?

 

                                     ---------Should Do First---------

 

 

                                        Balance     Keep Military

 

                                        Budget        Strength

 

 

 Dec. 1946      Roper/Fortune             17             73

 

  • If we can't do both at the same time, which do you think we should do first: continue to send food to needy countries or balance the national budget?

 

                                            ------Should Do First--------

 

 

                                                Balance       Send

 

                                                Budget        Food

 

 

 Dec. 1946      Roper/Fortune                      32          58

 

 

1980s
  • Do you think that federal budget deficits are a very serious problem, somewhat serious, or not very serious problem?

 

                                          ---------Deficits Are---------

 

 

                                           Very     Somewhat     Not

 

                                          Serious   Serious    Serious

 

 

 Feb. 1984      Penn/Schoen (Dem.)          63         30         4

 

 Jun. 1984      Penn/Schoen (Dem.)          59         31         6

 

 Oct. 1984      Penn/Schoen (Dem.)          59         33         6

 

 Dec. 1984      Penn/Schoen (Dem.)          64         28         5

 

  • It has been estimated that the federal deficit for next year will be more than $100 billion. Would you approve or disapprove if your taxes were increased to help offset this deficit?

 

                                           To Reduce Deficits

 

                                       -------Increase Taxes-------

 

 

                                           Approve    Disapprove

 

 

 Aug. 1982      Gallup                       25          65

 

  • The country's deficits for this year and 1983 are forecast to be greater than ever before. Do you think President Reagan should stick to his promise to provide an income tax cut this year as he did last year, or keep income taxes at their present levels for another year, or should he increase taxes to reduce the deficit?

 

                                     ---------What Should Reagan Do?----------

 

 

                                          Another   Keep Taxes   Increase

 

                                          Tax Cut     As Are      Taxes

 

 

 Mar. 1982     Time/Yankelovich             31          53          10

 

  • To help reduce the federal budget deficits in the next few years, the Reagan administration and Congress have been trying to develop a compromise economic plan they can all support. Here is a list of some actions that have been proposed as ways of reducing these budget deficits for the next few years. Please tell me whether you favor or oppose each of them . . . Postpone for 1 year or more the 10 percent cut in federal income taxes that is to go into effect on July 1, 1983?

 

                                                To Reduce Deficits

 

                                            -----Postpone Tax Cuts-----

 

 

                                               Favor    Oppose

 

 

 Oct. 1982      Cambridge Reports               45        42

 

  • There was a major cut in Federal income taxes passed last year, and it is being phased in over a three-year period. Would you be willing to postpone this tax cut in order to reduce the Federal deficit?

 

                                                  To Reduce Deficits

 

                                             ------Postpone Tax Cuts-------

 

 

                                                Willing    Not Willing

 

 

 Mar. 1982      Gallup/Newsweek                    70          22

 

  • Financial experts say the government now has the largest federal budget deficit in history. Do you think the government should increase taxes to reduce the budget deficit, or not?

 

                                    ------To Reduce Deficit-------

 

 

                                      Increase     Don't Increase

 

                                       Taxes           Taxes

 

 

 Feb. 1982*     ABC/WP                   21             72

 

 Jan. 1983      ABC/WP                   29             66

 

 Jan. 1984      ABC/WP                   24             70

 

 Sep. 1984      ABC/WP                   36             61

 

 Oct. 1984*     ABC/WP                   29             64

 

 Jan. 1985      ABC/WP                   18             79

 

 Mar. 1985      ABC/WP                   22             76

 

 May 1985       ABC/WP                   24             72

 

 Jun. 1985      ABC/WP                   22             75

 

 Jul. 1985      ABC/WP                   24             72

 

 Feb. 1986      ABC/WP                   30             68

 

 Jan. 1987      ABC/WP                   26             72

 

 

 NOTE: *Question wording was, "Do you think the government should

 

 increase taxes to reduce the budget deficit, or not?"

 

  • Some people say that the best way to reduce the federal deficit is cut back on government spending. Others say that the way to do it is to increase taxes. Which solution would you favor -- cutting government spending or increasing taxes?

 

                                      ------To Reduce Deficit------

 

 

                                            Cut       Increase

 

                                          Spending     Taxes

 

 

 Feb. 1984      CBS/NYT                      82          8

 

 Feb. 1985      CBS/NYT                      81          9

 

 Nov. 1985      CBS/NYT                      83          7

 

 

1990s-Present
  • Which do you think is the more important priority for the country today -- reducing taxes or reducing the budget deficit?

 

                                    -------More Important--------

 

 

                                         Reduce    Reduce

 

                                         Deficit   Taxes

 

 

 Dec. 1994      NBC/WSJ                    58       35

 

 Jan. 1995      NBC/WSJ                    65       28

 

  • If you had to choose, would you prefer reducing the federal budget deficit or cutting taxes?

 

                                         --------Prefer To----------

 

 

                                            Reduce       Cut

 

                                            Deficit     Taxes

 

 

 Apr. 1995      CBS/NYT                       56          40

 

 Jun. 1996      CBS/NYT                       50          45

 

 Aug. 1996      CBS/NYT                       51          43

 

 Aug. 1996      CBS                           55          39

 

 Aug. 1996      CBS/NYT                       55          41

 

 Sep. 1996      CBS/NYT                       57          34

 

 Sep. 1996      CBS                           53          40

 

 Oct. 1996      CBS                           55          40

 

 Oct. 1996      CBS/NYT                       51          43

 

 Oct. 1996      CBS                           55          41

 

 Nov. 2002      CBS/NYT                       45          44

 

 Jan. 2003      CBS/NYT                       48          44

 

 Jul. 2003      CBS/NYT                       50          46

 

  • Which do you think should be the higher priority right now -- cutting taxes or reducing the federal budget deficit?

 

                                   -------Highest Priority-------

 

 

                                         Reduce       Cut

 

                                         Deficit     Taxes

 

 

 Nov. 2004      CBS/NYT                    67          28

 

  • Thinking about the trade-offs the government must make when creating a federal budget, would you rather see the government give a higher priority to reducing the federal budget deficit or cutting federal income taxes?

 

                                         -----Greater Priority------

 

 

                                              Reduce       Cut

 

                                              Deficit     Taxes

 

 

 Jan. 2003   Gallup/CNN/USA Today               48          42

 

 May 2003    Gallup/CNN/USA Today               51          44

 

  • Which do you think should be a greater priority for the President and Congress this year -- stimulating the economy or controlling the federal budget deficit?

 

                                    -----Greater Priority-----

 

 

                                     Stimulating    Controlling

 

                                       Economy        Deficit

 

 

 Dec. 2002      NBC/WSJ                  56             24

 

 Jan. 2003      NBC/WSJ                  67             29

 

 Apr. 2003      NBC/WSJ                  72             22

 

 Jul. 2003      NBC/WSJ                  60             35

 

 Sep. 2003      NBC/WSJ                  61             33

 

  • What's more important to you -- balancing the federal budget, or cutting taxes?

 

                                      -------More Important--------

 

 

                                          Balanced    Cutting

 

                                           Budget      Taxes

 

 

 Aug. 1996 ABC/WP                            58         39

 

 Apr. 1997 ABC/Money                         50         45

 

 Dec. 2002 ABC/WP                            56         41

 

  • What's more important to you -- lowering your taxes, or keeping down the federal deficit?

 

                                          -------More Important--------

 

 

                                            Keep Deficit    Cutting

 

                                               Down          Taxes

 

 

 Feb.-Mar. 2003   Kaiser/NPR/Harvard            53             41

 

  • What's more important to you -- lowering your taxes, or maintaining spending levels on domestic programs such as education, health care, and Social Security?

 

                                         -------More Important--------

 

 

                                            Domestic     Cutting

 

                                            Programs      Taxes

 

 

 Feb.-Mar. 2003   Kaiser/NPR/Harvard           80           18

 

  • As you may know, President Bush has proposed large increases in the budget for military defense and homeland security. Which one of the following do you think is the best way to pay for these increases, if they are to happen . . . add to the budget deficit, reduce spending on domestic programs, or postpone or reduce last year's tax cuts?

 

                                            How To Pay for Defense/

 

                                      ----Homeland Security Increases-----

 

 

                                       Add To   Cut Domestic   Postpone/Reduce

 

                                       Deficit   Spending        Tax Cuts

 

 

 Feb. 2002      PSRA/Pew                 24         22             42

 

 Feb. 2003*     PSRA/Pew                 23         21             40

 

 Aug. 2003+     PSRA/Pew                 15         23             41

 

 Sept. 2003+    PSRA/Pew                 19         18             41

 

 Sept. 2004     PSRA/Pew                 11         19             47

 

 Jan. 2005      PSRA/Pew                 16         20             42

 

 

 NOTE: *Asked of half sample. +Question wording began, "Over the past

 

 year, the budget for military defense and homeland security has been

 

 increasing. Which one of the following . . .?"

 

  • As you may know, President Bush has proposed large increases in the budget for military defense and homeland security. Which one of the following do you think is the best way to pay for these increases, if they are to happen . . . add to the budget deficit, reduce spending on domestic programs, or increase taxes?

 

                                              How To Pay for Defense/

 

                                        ----Homeland Security Increases----

 

 

                                         Add To   Cut Domestic   Increase

 

                                         Deficit   Spending       Taxes

 

 

 Feb. 2003      PSRA/Pew                   31         28            23

 

 

 NOTE: Asked of half sample.

 

  • Which of the following do you think is the principal cause of our current budget deficit -- the government's inability to control its spending, the president's tax cut, or the war?

 

                                  ------------Cause of Deficit-----------

 

 

                                      Govt.    Tax      The

 

                                    Spending   Cut      War

 

 

 Mar. 2003    Andres McKenna           64       14       14

 

  • As you may know, Bush has proposed a $726 billion tax cut over the next 10 years. The Senate has voted to reduce that to $350 billion in order to help pay for the war, reduce the deficit and shore up the Social Security fund. Do you support or oppose this reduction in Bush's proposed tax cut?

 

                                    ----Reduce Bush's Tax Cut----

 

 

                                        Support      Oppose

 

 

 Mar. 2003      ABC/WP                     65          29

 

 

 (If Support) Would you support or oppose eliminating the tax cut

 

 entirely?

 

 

                                   ----Eliminate Tax Cut Entirely----

 

 

                                        Support      Oppose

 

 

 Mar. 2003      ABC/WP                     45          50

 

  • Do you think the tax cuts being proposed by George W. Bush would mostly help the U.S. economy, will have no effect, or mostly hurt the U.S. economy?

 

                                         -----Bush Tax Cuts On Economy-----

 

 

                                              Mostly    No      Mostly

 

                                               Help   Effect     Hurt

 

 

 Apr. 2003      Gallup/CNN/USA Today            36      31        26

 

 May 2003       Gallup/CNN/USA Today            47      19        31

 

 May 2003       Gallup/CNN/USA Today            36      23        30

 

 Jan. 2004*     Gallup/CNN/USA Today            41      35        20

 

 

 NOTE: *Question wording was, ". . . which passed and George W. Bush

 

 signed into law have mostly helped the U.S. economy, have had no

 

 effect, or have mostly hurt the U.S. economy in the past year?"

 

  • Thinking about the war in Iraq and the recent economic slowdown, which of the following comes closer to your view? Statement A: Congress should pass President Bush's tax cut plan because it is needed to stimulate economic growth or Statement B: Congress should not pass President Bush's tax cut plan because the federal budget is now in deficit and the costs of the war are unknown?

 

                                      -------Congress Should---------

 

 

                                              Pass            Not Pass

 

                                            Tax Cuts          Tax Cuts

 

                                          To Stimulate   Because of Deficits &

 

                                             Economy          War Costs

 

 

 Mar. 2003      NBC/WSJ                        38                 52

 

 Apr. 2003      NBC/WSJ                        43                 49

 

  • Here are four taxes that could be cut. Please tell me if you think cutting each would stimulate the economy or not. If you don't know enough about any one to say, just say you don't know. First would . . . stimulate the economy or not?

 

 Feb.-Mar. 2003      Kaiser/NPR/Harvard

 

 

                                                Yes, Stimulate   Not Stimulate

 

                                                   Economy          Economy

 

 

 An across-the-board cut in federal income

 

 taxes                                                54              28

 

 A tax rebate of $300 for every taxpayer              43              46

 

 A cut in taxes on dividends companies to

 

 stockholders                                         35              40

 

 A temporary cut in Social Security and

 

 Medicare taxes                                       24              64

 

  • Do you think it is more important to pass additional tax cuts to give people more money to spend and stimulate the economy, or do you think it is better to hold off on tax cuts to avoid making budget deficits worse and ensure there is adequate money for the war with Iraq?

 

                                       ---------More Important--------

 

 

                                            Pass       Better

 

                                          Tax Cuts     To Wait

 

 

 Apr. 2003      AP                            31          61

 

  • Do you think the tax cuts being proposed by George W. Bush are a good idea or a bad idea at this time?

 

                                               ------Bush Tax Cuts------

 

 

                                                     Good     Bad

 

                                                     Idea     Idea

 

 

 Apr. 2003      Gallup/CNN/USA Today                  42       47

 

 May 2003       Gallup/CNN/USA Today                  52       41

 

 May 2003       Gallup/CNN/USA Today                  45       46

 

 Jun. 2003*     Gallup/CNN/USA Today                  47       43

 

 Sep. 2003*     Gallup/CNN/USA Today                  49       46

 

 

 NOTE: *Question wording was " . . .tax cuts recently signed into law

 

 by George W. Bush . . ."?

 

  • Do you think the current state of the economy makes the additional tax cuts President Bush proposes more necessary or more dangerous -- or that it doesn't make much difference either way?

 

                                         ---------Bush Tax Cuts----------

 

 

                                           More         No          More

 

                                         Necessary   Difference  Dangerous

 

 

 Mar. 2001      PSRA/Newsweek                26         39          30

 

 May 2003       PSRA/Newsweek                24         39          29

 

  • If you had to choose, would you prefer balancing the budget or cutting taxes?

 

                                       ---------Prefer To----------

 

 

                                            Balance       Cut

 

                                            Budget       Taxes

 

 

 Mar. 2004      AP/Ipsos                      61           36

 

  • If you had to choose, would you prefer balancing the budget or spending more on education, health care and economic development?

 

                                      ---------Prefer To----------

 

 

                                            Balance     Spend

 

                                            Budget      More

 

 

 Mar. 2004      AP/Ipsos                      36         62

 

  • Which one do you think is more effective in stimulating the nation's economy: an economic agenda focused on returning money to taxpayers through tax cuts, or an economic agenda focused on spending as health care and education?

 

                                              Tax   Health Care &

 

                                              Cuts     Education

 

 

 Jan. 2006      L.A. Times                     36         56

 

 Oct. 2007      LA Times/Bloomberg             36         52

 

 Jan. 2008      LA Times/Bloomberg             45         41

 

  • Which one do you think is more effective in stimulating the nation's economy: an economic agenda focused on returning money to taxpayers through tax cuts, or an economic agenda focused on reducing the federal deficit and paying down the national debt?

 

                                           Tax    Reducing

 

                                           Cuts   Deficit

 

 

 Jan. 2005      L.A. Times                  46      45

 

  • Which one do you think is more effective in stimulating the nation's economy: an economic agenda focused on returning money to taxpayers through tax cuts, or an economic agenda focused on spending for improvements to the country's infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and schools?

 

                                         Tax    Infrastructure

 

                                         Cuts      Spending

 

 

 Jan. 2005      L.A. Times                34          60

 

  • Now I am going to mention various areas that receive money from the federal government. For each one, please tell me if you would be willing to pay more in taxes to keep the program going at its current level, or if you would rather see funding for that area cut. Would you rather pay more in taxes or cut funding for . . .

 

 Feb. 28-Mar. 1, 2006 Fox News/Opinion Dynamics

 

 

                                                    Pay more    Cut funding

 

 

 Education                                             74            19

 

 Health care                                           69            21

 

 Public safety, such as police forces                  67            22

 

 Social Security                                       67            19

 

 The military                                          63            25

 

 Repairs on roads and bridges                          58            30

 

 Homeland security                                     56            32

 

 Hurricane relief programs                             53            32

 

 Iraq reconstruction                                   19            70

 

TAX POLITICS

 

 

_____________________________________________________________________

 

 

PARTY BEST ABLE TO HANDLE TAXES: Some surveys suggest that the Republicans have an advantage over the Democrats on "holding taxes down" or "holding the line on taxes." They do not have an advantage now on taxes in general. In the January 2008 NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, Democrats had an 5 percentage-point edge over Republicans when asked which party would do a better job. Other polls shows the Democrats with a larger edge.
_____________________________________________________________________

 

 

  • As you feel today, which political party, the Democratic or Republican, do you feel can handle each of these problems better . . . keeping taxes from getting too high?

 

                                                Party Best On

 

                                    ---Keeping Taxes From Getting Too High---

 

 

                                     Democratic   Republican   No Difference

 

                                       Party         Party         (Vol.)

 

 

 Sep. 1945*     Gallup                  37             26            23

 

 Jan. 1946      Gallup                  31             36            21

 

 Jun. 1946      Gallup                  31             36            20

 

 Oct. 1946      Gallup                  24             42            22

 

 May 1947       Gallup                  22             46            20

 

 

 NOTE: *Question wording was, "As you feel today, which political

 

 party, the Democratic or Republican, do you feel can handle each of

 

 these different problems . . . Seeing that taxes don't get too

 

 heavy?"

 

  • As you feel today, which political party, the Democratic or Republican, can handle each of these problems best . . . reducing federal income taxes?

 

                                                  Party Best On

 

                                          -----Reducing Income Taxes -----

 

 

                                         Democratic  Republican  No Difference

 

                                           Party        Party       (Vol.)

 

 

 Jul. 1952      Gallup                      23           44          22

 

 Apr. 1954*     Gallup                      33           39          21

 

 Sep. 1956+     Gallup                      30           28          26

 

 May 1957+      Gallup                      35           24          25

 

 Sep. 1957+     Gallup                      34           26          24

 

 

 NOTE: *Question wording was, "Which party do you feel is more

 

 interested in lowering income taxes for people like yourself . . .

 

 the Republican Party or the Democratic Party?" +Question wording was,

 

 "Which political party -- the Democratic or Republican Party -- do

 

 you think would do the best job of reducing taxes during the next

 

 four years?"

 

  • In your view, would the Republican Party or the Democratic Party do a better job of dealing with each of the following issues and problems . . . Taxes?

 

                                         -------Party Best On Taxes-------

 

 

                                               Democratic   Republican

 

                                                 Party         Party

 

 

 Sep. 1978*      Gallup                             31            25

 

 Jan. 1992       Gallup/CNN/USA Today               44            40

 

 Dec. 1992       Gallup/CNN/USA Today               45            37

 

 Dec. 1993       Gallup/CNN/USA Today               37            46

 

 Feb. 1994       Gallup/CNN/USA Today               40            45

 

 Mar. 1994       Gallup/CNN/USA Today               41            41

 

 Aug. 1994       Gallup/CNN/USA Today               36            44

 

 Oct. 1994       Gallup/CNN/USA Today               38            48

 

 Nov. 1994       Gallup/CNN/USA Today               30            57

 

 Oct. 1996       Gallup/CNN/USA Today               41            45

 

 Oct. 1997       Gallup/CNN/USA Today               43            42

 

 Oct. 1998       Gallup/CNN/USA Today               46            41

 

 Jan. 2002       Gallup/CNN/USA Today               40            52

 

 Jan. 2003       Gallup/CNN/USA Today               40            46

 

 Jan. 2004       Gallup/CNN/USA Today               48            44

 

 Oct. 2005       Gallup/CNN/USA Today               49            41

 

 June 2006       Gallup/USA Today                   50            36

 

 Nov.-Dec. 2007  Gallup/USA Today                   44            42

 

 

 NOTE: *Question wording was, "Which political party -- the Republican

 

 Party or the Democratic Party -- do you think can do a better job of

 

 holding taxes down?"

 

  • Which political party -- the Democrats or the Republicans -- do you feel can do a better job of keeping taxes down?

 

                                                 Party Best On

 

                                     ----------Keeping Taxes Down-----------

 

 

                                        Democrats   Republicans    Neither

 

                                                                   (Vol.)

 

 

 Jun. 1978      NBC/AP                      31          29           26

 

 Oct. 1978      NBC/AP                      33          31           21

 

 Nov. 1978      NBC/AP                      36          33           18

 

  • Let me read you some specific issues. When it comes to dealing with taxes, which party do you think would do a better job -- the Democratic Party, the Republican Party, both about the same, or neither?

 

                                         -------Party Best On Taxes--------

 

 

                                        Democratic   Republican   Both  Neither

 

                                           Party        Party     Same

 

 

 Nov. 1989*     NBC/WSJ                     29           36        16     12

 

 Jul. 1990*     NBC/WSJ                     25           34        11     14

 

 Oct. 1990*     NBC/WSJ                     38           25        17     14

 

 Mar. 1991*     NBCWSJ                      30           32        16     13

 

 Oct. 1991*     NBC/WSJ                     26           31        18     18

 

 Mar. 1992*     NBC/WSJ                     35           26        17     17

 

 Apr. 1992*     NBC/WSJ                     30           24        18     23

 

 May 1992*      NBC/WSJ                     29           24        17     22

 

 Jul. 1992*     NBC/WSJ                     29           20        20     25

 

 Oct. 1993      NBC/WSJ                     23           34        16     23

 

 Oct. 1994      NBC/WSJ                     23           38        17     18

 

 Nov. 1994      NBC/WSJ                     23           36        16     17

 

 Jun. 1995      NBC/WSJ                     22           35        15     22

 

 Dec. 1995      NBC/WSJ                     26           34        14     20

 

 May 1996*      NBC/WSJ                     25           34        17     19

 

 Oct. 1996      NBC/WSJ                     30           35        15     13

 

 Sep. 1997      NBC/WSJ                     26           31        20     16

 

 Sep. 1998      NBC/WSJ                     29           35        22     11

 

 Oct. 1998*     NBC/WSJ                     32           32        21     10

 

 Mar. 1999      NBC/WSJ                     29           35        20     12

 

 Dec. 1999      NBC/WSJ                     30           33        19     13

 

 Mar. 2000      NBC/WSJ                     29           34        19     13

 

 Jun. 2001      NBC/WSJ                     28           36        20     11

 

 Jun. 2002      NBC/WSJ                     27           33        20     15

 

 Oct. 2002*     NBC/WSJ                     31           36        17     11

 

 Dec. 2003      NBC/WSJ                     34           37        12      9

 

 Jan. 2004      NBC/WSJ                     35           37        16     10

 

 Nov. 2005      NBC/WSJ                     40           30        14     12

 

 Mar. 2006      NBC/WSJ                     35           26        21     15

 

 Jun. 2006      NBC/WSJ                     35           29        18     16

 

 Jan. 2007      NBC/WSJ                     38           30        18     12

 

 Jul. 2007      NBC/WSJ                     36           27        14     18

 

 Jan. 2008      NBC/WSJ                     36           31        17     12

 

 

 NOTE: *Registered voters.

 

  • And who do you trust to do a better job handling taxes?

 

                                         Democrats    Republicans

 

 

 Oct. 2-4, 2006      AP/Ipsos               49             37

 

 Jan. 16-18, 2007    AP/Ipsos               51             39

 

  • Which party do you think can do a better job of handling taxes?

 

                                       Democrats   Republicans   Both   Neither

 

 

 Apr. 8-11, 2006   LA Times/Bloomberg      41          29          4       14

 

 Sep. 16-19, 2006  LA Times/Bloomberg      44          36          4       10

 

  • Do you think the Republicans in Congress or the Democrats in Congress would do a better job of dealing with each of the following issues and problems? How about . . . taxes?

 

                                               Republicans    Democrats

 

                                               in Congress    in Congress

 

 

 Jun. 23-25, 2006    Gallup/USA Today              36             50

 

  • Which party would do a better job of managing tax policy?

 

                                           Republicans     Democrats

 

 

 Mar. 2006      Time/SRBI                       38            45

 

  • Which party do you think would do the best when it comes to dealing with the federal tax system, the Republicans or the Democrats, or don't you think there is a difference between them when it comes to taxes?

 

                                          ---------Party Best On Taxes--------

 

 

                                        Republicans   Democrats   No Difference

 

 

 Feb.-Mar. 2003    Kaiser/NPR/Harvard        25           28           39

 

  • Who do you trust more to handle the issue of taxes, Democrats or Republicans?

 

                                                Democrats    Republicans

 

 

 Mar. 19-21, 2004    AP/Ipsos                       44           42

 

  • Which political party, the Democrats or the Republicans, do you trust to a better job on . . . holding taxes down?

 

                                                  Best Party On

 

                                         -------Holding Taxes Down------

 

 

                                            Democratic     Republican

 

                                              Party          Party

 

 Nov. 1981        ABC/WP                        31            53

 

 Sep. 1982        ABC/WP                        38            41

 

 Feb. 1985        ABC/WP                        34            55

 

 Jan. 1990        ABC/WP                        37            47

 

 May 1990         ABC/WP                        35            53

 

 Jul. 1990        ABC/WP                        37            44

 

 Mar. 1991        ABC/WP                        35            44

 

 Dec. 1991        ABC/WP                        40            38

 

 Jan. 1992        ABC/WP                        41            45

 

 Feb. 1994        ABC/WP                        35            41

 

 Sep. 1994        ABC/WP                        36            47

 

 Oct. 1994        ABC/WP                        37            42

 

 Jan. 1998        ABC/WP                        45            44

 

 Jul. 1998        ABC/WP                        42            39

 

 Sep. 1998        ABC/WP                        47            44

 

 Mar. 1999        ABC/WP                        43            41

 

 Aug. 1999*       ABC/WP                        40            49

 

 Apr. 2001*       ABC/WP                        38            52

 

 Sep. 2002*       ABC/WP                        44            44

 

 Dec. 2002*       ABC/WP                        46            44

 

 Aug. 2003        WP                            43            40

 

 Nov. 2005^       ABC/WP                        48            38

 

 May 2006         ABC/WP                        52            38

 

 Oct.-Nov. 2007   ABC/WP                        46            40

 

 

 NOTE: *Question wording was "cutting taxes." ^Question wording was

 

 ". . . handling taxes."

 

  • Which political party, the Democrats or the Republicans, do you trust to a better job on . . . taxes?

 

                                                  Democrats    Republicans

 

 

 Sep. 2002      ABC News/Wash Post                   44             44

 

 Dec. 2002      ABC News/Wash Post                   46             44

 

 Nov. 2005      ABC News/Wash Post                   48             38

 

 May 2006       ABC News/Wash post                   52             38

 

  • Which political party -- the Republicans or the Democrats -- do you think would do the best job on each of the following issues . . . Keeping taxes down?

 

                                                      Best Party On

 

                                             -------Keeping Taxes Down------

 

 

                                                 Democrats     Republicans

 

 

 Feb. 1999    Fox News/Opinion Dynamics              33            44

 

 Jun. 1999    Fox News/Opinion Dynamics              32            45

 

 

 NOTE: Asked of registered voters.

 

  • Which political party -- the Republicans or the Democrats -- do you think would do a better job on each of the following issues . . . Taxes?

 

                                                 ----Best Party On Taxes----

 

 

                                                     Democratic   Republican

 

                                                        Party       Party

 

 

 Mar. 2001      Fox News/Opinion Dynamics                 35          47

 

 Feb. 2002      Fox News/Opinion Dynamics                 37          40

 

 Aug. 2002      Fox News/Opinion Dynamics                 41          40

 

 Oct. 2002*     Fox News/Opinion Dynamics                 37          45

 

 May 2003       Fox News/Opinion Dynamics                 38          40

 

 Feb. 2004      Fox News/Opinion Dynamics                 41          42

 

 Feb. 2006      Fox News/Opinion Dynamics                 43          38

 

 Oct. 2006      Fox News/Opinion Dynamics                 42          40

 

 

 NOTE: Asked of registered voters. *Asked of likely voters.

 

  • Concerning taxes, do you generally agree more with the Democrats or more with the Republicans?

 

                                            ------Agree More On Taxes-------

 

 

                                               Democratic    Republican

 

                                                 Party          Party

 

 

 Nov. 1996   Fox News/Opinion Dynamics             38            41

 

 May 2003    Fox News/Opinion Dynamics             36            42

 

 

 o If a _____ gets elected president in 2008, do you think your taxes

 

   will go up, down or stay about the same?

 

 

 Feb. 27-28, 2007 Fox News/Opinion Dynamics

 

 

                                       Up     Down     Stay the same

 

 

 A Democrat                            46       9           38

 

 A Republican                          44       5           45

 

  • I'm going to read you several positions on issues that some Democrats are running for Congress are taking. For each one please tell me whether, all other things being equal, you are more likely or less likely to vote for a Democratic candidate for Congress who takes that position, or whether it would make no difference to your vote either way.

 

 NBC News/Wall Street Journal    Sep. 30-Oct. 2, 2006

 

 

                                                   More    Less    No

 

                                                   likely  likely  difference

 

 

 Favors raising the minimum wage from

 

   five dollars fifteen cents to seven dollars

 

   and twenty-five cents an hour over the next

 

   couple of years.                                  65      15       19

 

 Favors a phased withdrawal of American troops

 

   from Iraq.                                        57      27       13

 

 

 Opposes making the federal tax cuts of the

 

   past few years permanent.                         39      36       22

 

 Opposes changing Social Security to allow

 

   workers to invest some of their Social

 

   Security taxes in the stock market.               37      36       25

 

  • Who do you have more confidence in when it comes to handling the following issues -- President Clinton or the Republicans in Congress . . . Taxes?

 

                                                     More Confidence

 

                                                ---------On Taxes---------

 

 

                                                    Clinton   Republicans

 

 

 Dec. 1994      Gallup/CNN/USA Today                   33         55

 

 Dec. 1994      Gallup/CNN/USA Today                   36         52

 

 Feb. 1995      Gallup/CNN/USA Today                   37         50

 

 Mar. 1995      Gallup/CNN/USA Today                   39         48

 

 May 1995       Gallup/CNN/USA Today                   42         45

 

 Aug. 1995      Gallup/CNN/USA Today                   39         45

 

 Mar. 1996      Gallup/CNN/USA Today                   43         45

 

 Apr. 1996      Gallup/CNN/USA Today                   44         41

 

 Nov. 1996      Gallup/CNN/USA Today                   42         44

 

 Feb. 1997      Gallup/CNN/USA Today                   44         46

 

 Jun. 1997      Gallup/CNN/USA Today                   43         40

 

 Mar. 1998      Gallup/CNN/USA Today                   50         38

 

 Feb. 1999      Gallup/CNN/USA Today                   51         40

 

 Aug. 1999      Gallup/CNN/USA Today                   48         42

 

  • Who do you have more confidence in when it comes to handling the following issues -- President Bush or the Democrats in Congress? . . . Taxes?

 

                                                     More Confidence

 

                                             ----------On Taxes--------

 

 

                                                  Democrats     Bush

 

 

 Jan. 2002      Gallup/CNN/USA Today                  34         58

 

  • Just your best guess, do you think the [Republican/Democratic] leaders in Congress want to raise taxes, keep taxes as they are now, or lower taxes?

 

                                      ---------Republican Leaders---------

 

 

                                           Raise   Keep As   Lower

 

                                           Taxes     Now     Taxes

 

 

 Jan. 2002      Gallup/CNN/USA Today         24      33        38

 

 

                                      --------Democratic Leaders---------

 

 

                                           Raise   Keep As   Lower

 

                                           Taxes     Now     Taxes

 

 

                                             40      34        20

 

  • I would like to read you a list of issues that some people from this part of the country have said are important for government to deal with. Please listen as I read the list and tell me, for each one, whether you have more confidence in -- the Democratic Party, or the Republican Party -- to deal with this issue . . . Holding the line on taxes?

 

                                                    Confidence On

 

                                            ----Holding Line On Taxes----

 

 

 Battleground Survey                           Democratic    Republican

 

                                                 Party         Party

 

 

 Apr. 1993      Tarrance(R)/Lake(D)               30             52

 

 Jun. 1993      Tarrance(R)/Lake(D)               24             50

 

 Aug. 1994      Tarrance(R)/Lake(D)               27             48

 

 Apr. 1995      Tarrance(R)/Lake(D)               26             47

 

 Jan. 1996      Tarrance(R)/Lake(D)               32             46

 

 Apr. 2001      Tarrance(R)/Lake(D)               36             45

 

 Jan. 2002      Tarrance(R)/Lake(D)               28             57

 

 Jun. 2002      Tarrance(R)/Lake(D)               29             54

 

 Sep. 2003      Tarrance(R)/Lake(D)               34             53

 

 

 NOTE: Asked of likely voters only.

 

  • Now, I would like to read you a list of issues that some people from this part of the country have said are important for the President and Congress to deal with. Please listen as I read the list and tell me, for each one, who would do a better job of handling this issue or better represents this quality -- the Republicans in Congress or the Democrats in Congress . . . .holding the line on taxes?

 

 Battleground Survey                          Democrats      Republicans

 

                                              in Congress    in Congress

 

 

 Mar. 2004      Tarrance(R)/Lake(D)                40             52

 

 Jun. 2004      Tarrance(R)/Lake(D)                38             53

 

 Mar. 2005      Tarrance(R)/Lake(D)                36             49

 

 Oct. 2005      Tarrance(R)/Lake(D)                40             49

 

 Feb. 2006      Tarrance(R)/Lake(D)                36             52

 

  • Please tell me if you think the Republican Party or the Democratic Party could do a better job in each of the following areas. Which party could do a better job of . . . dealing with taxes?

 

                                                     Best Party On

 

                                               ----Dealing With Taxes----

 

 

                                                  Democratic   Republican

 

                                                    Party         Party

 

 

 Oct. 1994      PSRA/Times Mirror                     34           43

 

 Mar. 1998      PSRA/Pew                              40           39

 

 Sep. 1998      PSRA/Pew                              37           41

 

 Jun. 1999      PSRA/Pew                              38           38

 

 May 2001       PSRA/Pew                              40           37

 

 Feb. 2006      PSRA/Pew                              46           35

 

 Sept. 2006     PSRA/Pew                              45           30

 

 Oct. 2006      PSRA/Pew                              40           32

 

 Feb. 2008      PSRA/Pew                              49           37

 

  • Do you think Republicans in Congress or the Democrats in Congress would do a better job of dealing with each of the following issues and problems? How about . . . taxes?

 

                                                     Better Job Dealing

 

                                                --------With Taxes--------

 

 

                                               Congressional   Congressional

 

                                                 Democrats      Republicans

 

 

 May 2002       Gallup/CNN/USA Today                 36             43

 

 Sept. 2002     Gallup/CNN/USA Today                 50             38

 

 Jan. 2003      Gallup/CNN/USA Today                 40             46

 

 Oct. 2005      Gallup/CNN/USA Today                 49             41

 

  • Now, I would like to read you a list of issues that some people from this part of the country have said are important for the President and Congress to deal with. Please listen as I read the list and tell me, for each one, who would do a better job of handling this issue or better represents this quality President George W. Bush or the Democrats in Congress. . . .holding the line on taxes?

 

                                           President         Democrats

 

                                              Bush          In Congress

 

 

 Mar. 2005      Tarrance(R)/Lake(D)            53                 34

 

 Oct. 2005      Tarrance(R)/Lake(D)            47                 39

 

 Feb. 2006      Tarrance(R)/Lake(D)            46                 44

 

  • Who do you trust to do a better job of handling taxes: George W. Bush or the Democrats in Congress?

 

                                              Bush            Democrats

 

 

 Jan. 2004      ABC/WP                         43                 46

 

 Jan. 2006      LA Times/Bloomberg             34                 43

 

 Dec. 2006      LA Times/Bloomberg             38                 47

 

  • Now I would like to mention a number of policy issues facing the country, and for each one, please tell me who you would prefer to have set the country's policy in that particular area President Bush and the Republicans or the Democrats in Congress?

 

                                             Bush/            Democrats

 

                                          Republicans        In Congress

 

 

 Jan. 2003      NBC/WSJ                        46                 44

 

 Apr. 2003      NBC/WSJ                        52                 38

 

 Jul. 2003      NBC/WSJ                        46                 45

 

  • When it comes to the current debate about federal tax cuts, whose views do you more closely share President Bush's views, or the Democrats' views?

 

                                              Bush            Democrats

 

 

 Feb.-Mar. 2003 Kaiser/NPR/Harvard             38                 40

 

_____________________________________________________________________

 

 

PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES AND TAXES 1960-2008: In 1988, George H.W. Bush had a clear advantage over Michael Dukakis on taxes, but during the 1992 campaign, he lost to Bill Clinton on the issue. In some polls in 1992, Ross Perot led both Clinton and Bush as the candidate who could best handle taxes. In 1996, Bob Dole was trusted more than Bill Clinton on taxes, but another poll showed that people thought Clinton would do a better job on them. George W. Bush had a big lead over Al Gore on "holding taxes down." In another poll that asked about "dealing with taxes," the margin was much closer. In some early 2004 polls about which candidate would do the best job "handling taxes," the margin between George W. Bush and John Kerry in some polls was close. Bush ended up doing better on the issue. In the June 2008 Gallup/USA Today poll, Barack Obama leads John McCain on the issue of who would do the best job on taxes, 44-35 percent.
_____________________________________________________________________

 

 

1960
  • Which of these two men, Nixon or Kennedy, if elected President, do you think would do the most effective job of handling these problems . . . preventing tax increases?

 

                                             Best Candidate On

 

                                         Preventing Tax Increases

 

 

                                   Richard      John      No Difference

 

                                    Nixon      Kennedy        (Vol.)

 

 

 Apr.-May 1960       Gallup           30          36            18

 

 Jun.-Jul. 1960      Gallup           36          30            21

 

 Oct. 1960           Gallup           36          30            22

 

 

1964
  • If you had to choose, which man running for President, Barry Goldwater or Lyndon Johnson, do you feel would do a better job . . . cutting federal taxes?

 

                                     Best Candidate On

 

                                       Cutting Taxes

 

 

                                     Barry       Lyndon

 

                                   Goldwater    Johnson

 

 

 Oct. 1964     Harris Interactive      52          48

 

 

1976
  • Both presidential candidates have been talking about taxes. Whose policy do you prefer Ford's or Carter's?

 

                                     Best Candidate On

 

                                           Taxes

 

 

                                     Gerald      Jimmy

 

                                      Ford       Carter

 

 Sep. 1976      CBS/NYT                40          40

 

 Oct. 1976      CBS/NYT                35          38

 

 

 NOTE: Asked of registered voters.

 

 

1980
  • In your opinion, which candidate John Anderson, Jimmy Carter, or Ronald Reagan has the best policy on . . . cutting taxes?

 

                                           Best Candidate On

 

                                              Cutting Taxes

 

 

                                    Ronald        Jimmy        John

 

                                    Reagan       Carter      Anderson

 

 

 Jul. 1980      LAT                    44          23            7

 

 

1984
  • Regardless of which candidates for president and vice president you happen to prefer right now Walter Mondale and Geraldine Ferraro, the Democrats, or Ronald Reagan and George Bush, the Republicans which ticket do you think would do the best job of handling taxes or don't you think there would be any difference between them? Best Candidate On

 

                                                          Handling Taxes

 

 

                                      Ronald     Walter   No Difference

 

                                      Reagan     Mondale      (Vol.)

 

 

 Feb. 1984      LAT                     44         30           12

 

 May 1984       LAT                     34         21           35

 

 Oct. 1984      LAT                     43         23           27

 

 

NOTE: Question wording varied slightly. Asked of registered voters.

1988

  • Which presidential candidate do you think would do the best job of holding down taxes: Michael Dukakis or George Bush or haven't you heard enough about that yet to say?

 

                                            Best Candidate On

 

                                              Handling Taxes

 

 

                                     George H.W. Michael      Haven't

 

                                        Bush     Dukakis       Heard

 

 

 Jul. 1988      LAT                      39         28           16

 

 Sep. 1988      LAT                      43         26           15

 

 Sep. 1988*     LAT                      46         23           14

 

 Sep. 1988*     LAT                      59         18           10

 

 Sep. 1988*     LAT                      53         21            7

 

 Oct. 1988*     LAT                      48         23           11

 

 Oct. 1988*     LAT                      56         24            5

 

 

NOTE: Question wording varied slightly. *Asked of registered voters who said they planned to or did watch the presidential debate.

1992

  • Regardless of which presidential candidate you support, please tell me whether you think George Bush or Bill Clinton would better handle each of the following issues . . . Taxes?

 

                                                  Best Candidate On

 

                                                        Taxes

 

 

                                               George H.W.      Bill

 

                                                   Bush       Clinton

 

 

 Mar. 1992      Gallup/CNN/USA Today                38           47

 

 Jul. 1992      Gallup/CNN/USA Today                30           49

 

 Aug. 1992      Gallup/Newsweek                     40           48

 

 Aug. 1992      Gallup/CNN/USA Today                43           46

 

 Sep. 1992      Gallup/CNN/USA Today                39           50

 

  • Regardless of which presidential candidate you support, please tell me whether you think George Bush, Bill Clinton, or Ross Perot would better handle each of the following issues . . . Taxes?

 

                                         Best Candidate On Taxes

 

 

                                    George H.W.    Bill        Ross

 

                                        Bush     Clinton       Perot

 

 

 Oct. 1992      Gallup/CNN/USA Today     34         39           13

 

 Oct. 1992      Gallup/Newsweek          29         39           18

 

 Oct. 1992*     Gallup/CNN/USA Today     34         34           30

 

 Oct. 1992      Gallup/CNN/USA Today     31         32           29

 

 Oct. 1992      Gallup/Newsweek          27         28           33

 

 

NOTE: *Asked of registered voters.
  • Who do you think would do the better job holding down taxes: Bill Clinton or George Bush?

 

                                              Best Candidate On

 

                                             Holding Down Taxes

 

 

                                    George H.W.    Bill       Neither

 

                                        Bush     Clinton       (Vol.)

 

 

 Mar. 1992      LAT                      39         25           11

 

 Aug. 1992      LAT                      34         36           14

 

 Aug. 1992      LAT                      44         31           12

 

  • Who do you think would do the better job holding down taxes: George Bush, Bill Clinton, or Ross Perot?

 

                                           Best Candidate On

 

                                           Holding Down Taxes

 

 

                                    George H.W.    Bill        Ross

 

                                        Bush     Clinton       Perot

 

 

 Jul. 1992      LAT                      23         21           26

 

 Aug. 1992      LAT                      39         26           10

 

 Oct. 1992      LAT                      41         25           15

 

 

1996
  • For each specific item I name, please tell me who you trust to do a better job handling that issue Bill Clinton or Bob Dole. Cutting taxes . . . who do you trust to do a better job handling that issue Clinton or Dole?

 

                                           Trust To

 

                                         Handle Taxes

 

 

                                        Bob        Bill

 

                                        Dole     Clinton

 

 

 Mar. 1996      ABC/WP                   49         38

 

 Aug. 1996      ABC/WP                   45         38

 

 Sep. 1996      ABC/WP                   48         35

 

  • Who do you think would do a better job on each of the following issues Bill Clinton or Bob Dole if he was elected President for the next four years . . . Taxes?

 

                                       Best Candidate On

 

                                             Taxes

 

 

                                        Bob        Bill

 

                                        Dole     Clinton

 

 

 May 1996       Harris Interactive       40         51

 

 Jul. 1996      Harris Interactive       41         48

 

 Sep. 1996*     Harris Interactive       44         50

 

 Oct. 1996*     Harris Interactive       46         46

 

 Nov. 1996*     Harris Interactive       46         47

 

 

NOTE: *Asked of likely voters.

2000

  • Which presidential candidate, Al Gore or George W. Bush, do you trust to do a better job on each of these issues . . . Holding taxes down?

 

                                           Trust To

 

                                       Hold Taxes Down

 

 

                                      George W.     Al

 

                                        Bush       Gore

 

 

 Oct. 1999      ABC                      53         34

 

 Mar. 2000      ABC/WP                   41         41

 

 Apr. 2000      ABC/WP                   51         35

 

 Jul. 2000      ABC/WP                   49         36

 

 Aug. 2000*     ABC/WP                   47         42

 

 Sep. 2000      ABC/WP                   47         41

 

 Sep. 2000      ABC/WP                   45         43

 

 Oct. 2000*     ABC/WP                   49         39

 

 Oct. 2000*     ABC/WP                   47         39

 

 Oct. 2000+     ABC                      50         37

 

 

NOTE: *Asked of registered voters. +Asked of likely voters.
  • Regardless of who you support, which one of the presidential candidates Al Gore or George W. Bush do you think would do the best job of . . . dealing with taxes?

 

                                     Best Candidate On

 

                                            Taxes

 

 

                                     George W.      Al

 

                                       Bush        Gore

 

 

 Mar. 2000      PSRA/Pew                 40         42

 

 Jun. 2000      PSRA/Pew                 38         34

 

 Aug. 2000      PSRA/Pew                 41         41

 

 Oct. 2000      PSRA/Pew                 39         42

 

 Oct. 2000      PSRA/Pew                 41         42

 

 Oct. 2000      PSRA/Pew                 45         41

 

  • From what you know or have read, whose proposals would cut taxes more: Al Gore's or George W. Bush's?

 

                                     George W.      Al

 

                                        Bush       Gore

 

 

 Aug. 2000      Gallup/CNN/USA Today     42         30

 

 Sep. 2000      Gallup/CNN/USA Today     44         32

 

  • From what you know or have read, whose plan to cut to cut taxes would you favor more: Al Gore's or George W. Bush's?

 

                                       George W.    Al

 

                                         Bush      Gore

 

 

 Aug. 2000      Gallup/CNN/USA Today      36        45

 

 Sep. 2000      Gallup/CNN/USA Today      37        45

 

 

2004
  • Which candidate, Bush or Kerry, do you trust more to handle tax policy?

 

                                         Bush     Kerry

 

 

 Aug. 2004        SRB/Time                43        47

 

 Aug. 2004        SRB/Time                44        45

 

 Aug. Sept. 2004  SRB/Time                49        40

 

 Sept. 2004       SRB/Time                50        41

 

 Sept. 2004       SRB/Time                46        40

 

 Oct. 2004        SRB/ Time               43        45

 

 Oct. 2004        SRB/Time                46        45

 

 Oct. 2004        SRB/Time                48        41

 

  • Regardless of how you intend to vote, who do you think would do a better job on taxes George W. Bush or John Kerry?

 

                                      George W.   John

 

                                         Bush     Kerry

 

 

 Mar. 2004      Quinnipiac                46        42

 

 

NOTE: Asked of registered voters.
  • Next, regardless of which presidential candidate you support, please tell me if you think John Kerry or George W. Bush would do a better job handling each of the following issues. How about taxes?

 

                                      George W.   John

 

                                         Bush     Kerry

 

 

 Mar. 2004      Gallup/CNN/USA Today      45        45

 

 July 2004      Gallup/CNN/USA Today      46        48

 

 August 2004    Gallup/CNN/USA Today      46        48

 

 August 2004    Gallup/CNN/USA Today      44        47

 

 October 2004   Gallup/CNN/USA Today      51        44

 

 October 2004   Gallup/CNN/USA Today      51        45

 

 

NOTE: *Half sample
  • Who do you trust to do a better job handling taxes-Bush or Kerry?

 

                                     George W.     John

 

                                        Bush      Kerry

 

 

 Mar. 2004      ABC/WP                   43         51

 

 Apr. 2004      ABC/WP                   49         43

 

 June 2004      ABC/WP                   40         53

 

 June 2004      ABC/WP                   41         53

 

 July 2004      ABC/WP                   49         43

 

 August 2004    ABC/WP                   43         49

 

 August 2004    ABC/WP                   48         46

 

 Sept. 2004     ABC/WP                   50         40

 

  • Regardless of which presidential candidate you support, please tell me if you trust George W. Bush or John Kerry to do a better job handling each of the following issues. First, what about taxes? Which do you trust to do a better job handling this issue, Bush or Kerry?

 

                                     George W.    John

 

                                        Bush      Kerry

 

 

 Mar. 2004      PSRA/Newsweek            45         44

 

 July 2004      PSRA/Newsweek            42         48

 

 Sept 2004      PSRA/Newsweek            52         38

 

 Sept. 2004     PSRA/Newsweek            47         42

 

 Oct. 2004      PSRA/Newsweek            49         42

 

 Oct. 2004      PSRA/Newsweek            47         45

 

 Oct. 2004      PSRA/Newsweek            49         43

 

  • Now, I would like to read you a list of issues that some people from this part of the country have said are important for the next President to deal with. Who would do a better job of handling the issue President George W. Bush or John Kerry?

 

                                      George W.    John

 

 

 Holding the line on taxes Bush Kerry

 

 

 Mar. 2004      Battleground              52        39

 

 

 Taxes

 

 

 Mar. 2004      Battleground              49        45

 

  • Which presidential candidate, Bush or Kerry, do you think is more likely to raise your taxes?

 

                                      George W.    John

 

                                         Bush     Kerry

 

 

 Apr. 2004      Fox News/Opinion Dynamics 31        46

 

  • Now I'd like you to compare George W. Bush and John Kerry on a few issues. For each one, please tell me whether you think that George W. Bush or John Kerry would be better on that issue. If you think that both would be equally good or that neither would be good on a particular issue, just say so . . . Taxes?

 

                                                                    Neither

 

                           George W. Bush John Kerry Both Would Be  Would Be

 

                                Better      Better    Equally Good    Good

 

 

 May.2004    NBC News/WSJ         40          35            10          6

 

 Sep 2004*   NBC News/WSJ         45          37             7          6

 

 Oct 2004*   NBC News/WSJ         43          37             8          8

 

 

NOTE: *Registered voters.
  • Who do you think would do the best job handling taxes: George W. Bush or John Kerry?

 

                                     George W.    John

 

                                        Bush      Kerry

 

 

 Sep. 2004      LA Times                 47         42

 

 Oct. 2004      LA Times                 45         47

 

 

2008
  • If you had to choose, who do you think would do a better job on taxes -- Barack Obama a or John McCain?

 

                                            Obama    McCain

 

 

 Jun. 15-19, 2008  Gallup/USA Today           44       35

 

  • Regardless of who you may support, who do you trust more to handle taxes -- Obama or McCain?

 

                                             Obama   McCain

 

 

 Jun. 12-15, 2008   ABC News/Washington Post   48       40

 

  • Regardless of who you support, which one of the presidential candidates John McCain or Barack Obama do you think would do the best job of dealing with taxes?

 

                                             Obama    McCain

 

 

 May 22-25, 2008  PSRA/Pew Research Center     39       44

 

___________________________________________________________________

 

 

APPROVAL OF THE PRESIDENT'S JOB ON TAXES, RECENT TRENDS: Perhaps surprisingly, trends on presidents' handling of taxes don't go back very far. In January 1999, for the first time in his presidency, Bill Clinton had solid majority support on handling taxes. In March 2007, 42 percent of those surveyed by CBS News/New York Times pollsters said that they were satisfied with how Bush was handling taxes. Forty-nine percent were not satisfied.
_____________________________________________________________________

 

 

  • Now thinking about some issues, do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill Clinton is handling . . . taxes?

 

                                      Clinton's Handling of Taxes

 

 

                                           Approve Disapprove

 

 

 Apr. 1993      Gallup/CNN/USA Today           34       59

 

 Aug. 1993      Gallup/CNN/USA Today           35       61

 

 Nov. 1993      Gallup/CNN/USA Today           29       64

 

 Jan. 1994      Gallup/CNN/USA Today           37       54

 

 Jan. 1994      Gallup/CNN/USA Today           42       50

 

 Apr. 1994      Gallup/CNN/USA Today           33       61

 

 Jul. 1994      Gallup/CNN/USA Today           31       61

 

 Dec. 1994      Gallup/CNN/USA Today           31       59

 

 Jun. 1995      Gallup/CNN/USA Today           36       56

 

 Jan. 1996      Gallup/CNN/USA Today           41       51

 

 Mar. 1996      Gallup/CNN/USA Today           35       58

 

 Aug. 1996      Gallup/CNN/USA Today           45       48

 

 Feb. 1997      Gallup/CNN/USA Today           39       48

 

 May 1997       Gallup/CNN/USA Today           41       48

 

 Jan. 1999      Gallup/CNN/USA Today           58       37

 

  • Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling . . . taxes?

 

                                         Bush's Handling of Taxes

 

 

                                            Approve       Disapprove

 

 

 Mar. 2001      Gallup/CNN/USA Today           56             35

 

 Apr. 2001      Gallup/CNN/USA Today           54             39

 

 Jul. 2001      Gallup/CNN/USA Today           60             33

 

 Mar. 2002      Gallup/CNN/USA Today           64             29

 

 Jan. 2003      Gallup/CNN/USA Today           49             45

 

 Feb. 2003      Gallup/CNN/USA Today           52             42

 

 Mar. 2003      Gallup/CNN/USA Today           52             41

 

 Aug. 2003      Gallup/CNN/USA Today           52             44

 

 Jan. 2004      Gallup/CNN/USA Today           57             38

 

 Jan. 2005      Gallup/CNN/USA Today           49             47

 

 Jan. 2006      Gallup/CNN/USA Today           49             47

 

  • Next, please tell me whether you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling each of the following aspects of his job. Do you approve or disapprove of the way he is handling taxes?

 

                                       Bush's Handling of Taxes

 

 

                                            Approve Disapprove

 

 

 Apr. 2001      PSRA/Newsweek                  48       40

 

 May 2001       PSRA/Newsweek                  54       27

 

 Aug. 2002      PSRA/Newsweek                  49       42

 

 Sep. 2002      PSRA/Newsweek                  49       38

 

 Apr. 2003      PSRA/Newsweek                  47       44

 

 May 2003       PSRA/Newsweek                  47       43

 

 May 2003       PSRA/Newsweek                  51       41

 

 Jul. 2003      PSRA/Newsweek                  48       45

 

 Sep. 2003      PSRA/Newsweek                  43       46

 

 Sep. 2003      PSRA/Newsweek                  42       50

 

 Sep. 2003      PSRA/Newsweek                  40       50

 

 Oct. 2003      PSRA/Newsweek                  43       47

 

 Nov. 2003      PSRA/Newsweek                  45       46

 

 Dec. 2003      PSRA/Newsweek                  46       45

 

 Dec. 2003      PSRA/Newsweek                  43       47

 

 Jan. 2004      PSRA/Newsweek                  45       47

 

 Feb. 2004      PSRA/Newsweek                  45       44

 

 Mar. 2004      PSRA/Newsweek                  43       49

 

 May 2006       PSRA/Newsweek                  39       56

 

  • Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling taxes?

 

                                       Bush's Handling of Taxes

 

                                           Approve Disapprove

 

 

 Dec. 2002      ABC/WP                         51       44

 

 Jan. 2003      ABC/WP                         50       45

 

 Feb. 2003      ABC/WP                         51       43

 

 Apr. 2003      ABC/WP                         50       46

 

 Aug. 2003      WP                             49       46

 

 Sep. 2003      ABC                            48       48

 

 Oct. 2003      ABC/WP                         41       53

 

 Jan. 2004      ABC/WP                         45       51

 

 Mar. 2004      ABC                            50       47

 

 Apr. 2004      ABC/WP                         48       49

 

 Jun. 2004      ABC/WP                         42       54

 

 Jul. 2004      ABC/WP                         49       46

 

 Aug. 2004^     ABC/WP                         49       48

 

 Jan. 2005      ABC/WP                         49       46

 

 Jan. 2006      ABC/WP                         45       52

 

 May 2006       ABC/WP                         42       54

 

 

 NOTE: ^ Registered voters.

 

  • In recent years, President Bush and Congress have made major cuts in federal income tax rates. Do you approve or disapprove of these tax cuts?

 

                                           Approve Disapprove

 

 

 Aug. 2003      PSRA/Pew                       54       37

 

 Mar. 2004      PSRA/Pew                       53       38

 

 Jan. 2005      PSRA/Pew                       51       41

 

 Jan. 2006      PSRA/Pew                       50       38

 

  • Do you approve or disapprove of the job President George W. Bush is doing on the following issues . . . Setting tax policy?

 

                                        Bush's Setting Tax Policy

 

                                           Approve Disapprove

 

 

 Mar. 2001      Fox News/Opinion Dynamics      54       31

 

 Jun. 2001      Fox News/Opinion Dynamics      59       29

 

 Jan. 2002      Fox News/Opinion Dynamics      58       28

 

 Jan. 2003*     Fox News/Opinion Dynamics      49       39

 

 

Note: Asked of registered voters. *Question wording was, "Do you approve or disapprove of the job President George W. Bush is doing on the following issues . . . Taxes?"
  • Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling . . . Tax policy?

 

                                        Bush's Handling of Taxes

 

                                            Approve Disapprove

 

 

 Jun. 2002      PSRA/Pew                       45       39

 

 Feb. 2003      PSRA/Pew                       42       44

 

 Dec. 2005      PSRA/Pew                       37       52

 

 Feb. 2006      PSRA/Pew                       37       52

 

  • Are you generally satisfied or dissatisfied with how George W. Bush is handling taxes?

 

                                       Satisfied   Dissatisfied

 

 

 Mar. 2007      CBS News/NYT               42            49

 

 

 Note: Responses combined.

 

  • Have the tax cuts of the last few years benefited you personally, or not? If yes, have you benefited a lot or only a little?

 

                                     Benefited  Benefited     Haven't

 

                                        a lot    a little    benefited

 

 

 Jun. 2006      LA Times/Bloomberg        9         25           61

 

 Oct. 2007      LA Times/Bloomberg       10         19           65

 

____________________________________________________________________

 

 

MAKING BUSH'S TAX CUTS PERMANENT: When asked in a straightforward manner, people appear to want the Bush tax cuts made permanent, though the margin is often close. This is especially true when asked about tax cuts they may have received. People are willing to rethink tax cuts for the rich.
____________________________________________________________________

 

 

  • Many of the tax cuts passed in 2001 were temporary and are set to expire this year. Should those tax cuts be made permanent or should they be allowed to expire?

 

                                       Bush's Tax Cuts

 

 

                                        Make      Allow

 

                                      Permanent   Expire

 

 

 Jan. 2004*     CBS                      50         41

 

 Mar. 2004*     CBS/NYT                  39         44

 

 Nov. 2004*     CBS/NYT                  41         45

 

 Jan. 2005      CBS/NYT                  47         40

 

 Feb. 2005      CBS/NYT                  43         40

 

 Jan. 2007      CBS                      39         39

 

 Mar. 2007      CBS/NYT                  43         40

 

 

NOTE: *Question wording read, "passed in 2001 were temporary and are set to expire in 2005 . . .?
  • Which comes closer to your view about the tax cuts passed under President Bush over the past few years: all of the tax cuts should be made permanent, tax cuts for the wealthy should be repealed while others stay in place, all of the tax cuts should be repealed?

 

                                          Made     Repeal for  Repeal

 

                                       Permanent  wealthy only   all

 

 

 Sep. 2004      PSRA/Pew Research Center   27          31        27

 

 Dec. 2004      PSRA/Pew Research Center   28          35        25

 

 Apr. 2006      PSRA/Pew Research Center   25          36        28

 

 Oct. 2006      PSRA/Pew Research Center   26          36        26

 

 Oct. 2007      PSRA/Pew Research Center   24          31        30

 

  • As you may know, President Bush's tax cuts are scheduled to expire in 2010. Those who want to make the tax cuts permanent say they stimulate the economy and provide more long term growth. Those who oppose making the tax cuts permanent say they increase the budget deficit at a time when billions of dollars are being spent on the war in Iraq. Are you in favor of, or opposed to, making Bush's tax cuts permanent?

 

                                        Favor     Oppose

 

 

 Apr. 2007      LA Times/Bloomberg        44        41

 

  • As you may know, in 2001 President Bush and Congress significantly reduced taxes on investment income such as capital gains and profits from stock dividends. In your view, should these tax cuts be extended into the future, or not?

 

                                       Should   Should not

 

 

 Jan. 2006      PSRA/Pew Research Center  50        35

 

  • Do you think Congress should repeal George W. Bush's tax cuts for the wealthy and investors, or not?

 

                                         Should    Should not

 

 

 Dec. 8-11, 2006   LA Times/Bloomberg      56           35

 

  • As you may know, the federal income tax cuts passed into law last year are set to expire in 2011. Would you favor or oppose making those tax cuts permanent?

 

                                    Bush Tax Cuts Permanent

 

 

                                         Favor   Oppose

 

 

 Nov. 2002      Gallup/CNN/USA Today       64       29

 

 Dec. 2004*     Gallup/CNN/USA Today       52       40

 

 May 2007       CNN/ORC                    57       37

 

 Mar. 2008      CNN/ORC                    54       40

 

 

NOTE: *Question wording was ". . . tax cuts passed into law since George W. Bush became president are set . . ."
  • Would you favor new federal income tax cuts in addition to those passed last year, or do you think the tax cuts passed last year are sufficient?

 

                                         Bush's Tax Cuts

 

 

                                         Favor   Cuts Are

 

                                      More Cuts Sufficient

 

 

 Nov. 2002      Gallup/CNN/USA Today       40       52

 

  • How much do you approve or disapprove of President Bush's positions on the following issues . . . making the cuts permanent?

 

                           Strongly  Somewhat     Somewhat      Strongly

 

                           Approve    Approve    Disapprove    Disapprove

 

 

 Mar. 2005      Harris        30         21           14            25

 

  • As you may know, President Bush has passed income tax cuts totaling more than one trillion dollars over the last four years. These tax cuts will expire unless extended by Congress. Do you think Congress should make the tax cuts permanent, or should Congress allow the tax cuts to expire?

 

                                        Bush's Tax Cuts

 

 

                                         Make      Allow

 

                                      Permanent   Expire

 

 

 Jan. 2005      L.A. Times                54        35

 

  • Would you support making the tax cuts permanent if it means the federal budget would remain in deficit, or would you not support making the tax cuts permanent if it means the federal budget would remain in deficit

 

                                   Making Tax   Even If It Means

 

                                 Cuts Permanent  Budget Deficit

 

 

                                       Still            Not

 

                                      Support        Support

 

 

 Jan. 2005      L.A. Times               64             29

 

  • Now let me read you a number of proposals that are before the Congress. For each one, please tell me whether you feel that Congress should enact this proposal now, that Congress should enact this proposal but it is not a good time to do so now, or whether you feel that Congress should not enact this proposal . . . making permanent the tax cuts of the past few years, which are currently set to expire in twenty-ten?

 

                      Congress Should   Congress Should Enact  Congress Should

 

                          Enact Now   But Now Is Not Good Time     Not Enact

 

 

 Nov. 2005     NBC/WSJ        37                  22                   30

 

  • As you may know, the federal tax cuts enacted in 2001 are currently scheduled to expire in 2010. In 2011, tax rates would return to the level they were in 2000. With this in mind, would you favor or oppose making these tax cuts permanent?

 

                          Strongly     Somewhat      Somewhat      Strongly

 

                            Favor        Favor        Oppose        Oppose

 

 

 Oct. 2005    Battleground    34           18           13            26

 

  • Do you think additional reductions in federal taxes now would be good for the economy, bad for the economy, or wouldn't they make much difference?

 

                                              Additional Tax Cuts

 

 

                                       Good        Bad    No Difference

 

 

 Nov. 2004      CBS/NYT                  31         25           37

 

 Jan. 2005      CBS/NYT                  27         24           46

 

  • Do you think the Bush administration tax cuts have helped the nation's economy, hurt the economy, or have the tax cuts had no effect on the economy?

 

                                      Helped       Hurt      No Effect

 

 

 Sep. 2004   Fox News/Opinion Dynamics   35         32           25

 

 

NOTE: Likely Voters.

 

____________________________________________________________________

 

 

POLITICIANS' CREDIBILITY ON TAX ISSUES: We have examined scores of questions on tax promises and find very few instances when people believed them. Hardly anyone believes their taxes will go down as a result of presidential or congressional action on taxes.
_____________________________________________________________________

 

 

  • After federal taxes are collected from the American public, do you think Congress thinks of the money more as taxpayer money to spend carefully or as their money to spend as they wish?

 

                                                Taxpayer       Their

 

                                                  Money        money

 

 

 May 2003       Fox News/Opinion Dynamics           14           79

 

 Apr. 2006      Fox News/Opinion Dynamics           10           80

 

  • As I read a series of statements, please tell me which you think is more likely to be true of [coming year]? A year when taxes will rise or a year when taxes will fall?

 

                                       Taxes Will Taxes Will

 

                                         Rise          Fall

 

 

 Dec. 1959 Gallup                         76            10

 

 Dec. 1965 Gallup                         83             7

 

 Dec. 1966 Gallup                         91             4

 

 Dec. 1967 Gallup                         94             3

 

 Dec. 1968 Gallup                         78            12

 

 Nov. 1977 Gallup                         74            10

 

 Dec. 1978 Gallup                         63            25

 

 Nov. 1979 Gallup                         67            19

 

 Jan. 1998 Gallup/CNN/USA Today           62            32

 

 Dec. 1998 Gallup/CNN/USA Today           64            27

 

  • What's your best guess do you think Congress this year will increase taxes or decrease them?

 

                                                Congress Will

 

 

                                      Increase  Stay the Same  Decrease

 

                                        Taxes       (Vol.)       Taxes

 

 

 Jan. 1958      Gallup                    57          29            6

 

  • How about taxes do you expect the next president to increase or decrease the taxes we pay, or will there be in no change in your opinion?

 

                                              Next President Will

 

 

                                      Increase  Stay the Same  Decrease

 

                                        Taxes       (Vol.)       Taxes

 

 

 Nov. 1960      U. Mich                   44          38            5

 

  • Let me read you some statements about taxes. For each, tell me if you tend to agree or disagree . . . Politicians promise tax relief before an election and then do nothing about it when elected?

 

                                       Politicians Violate

 

 

                                           Tax Promises

 

 

                                         Agree   Disagree

 

 

 1969           Harris Interactive        86          7

 

 Mar. 1971      Harris Interactive        85         10

 

 Mar. 1977      Harris Interactive        85          7

 

 Jun. 1978      Harris Interactive        87         10

 

  • If Congress does pass a tax reform bill this year do you think it will cause your own personal taxes to increase, decrease, or stay about the same?

 

                                                Congress Will

 

 

                                       Increase    Same      Decrease

 

                                         Taxes                 Taxes

 

 

 Jan. 1978      Cambridge Reports         33        33           11

 

  • Of these groups, low-income people, high-income people, middle-income people, businesses and people like yourself, which do you feel would benefit the most (from the President's proposed tax cut?)

 

                                      Who Benefits from Carter Tax Cut?

 

 

                                High      Low      Middle   Business  People

 

                               Income    Income    Income     Like      Me

 

 

 Jan. 1978      Gallup            32       28        17        17        3

 

  • If Reagan's proposed tax cut is adopted, do you think it will or will not make a significant difference in the amount of money you have after taxes?

 

                                           Reagan's Tax Cut

 

 

                                      Will Make    Will Not Make

 

                                    A Difference   A Difference

 

 

 Apr. 1981      CBS/NYT                   35             52

 

 Jun. 1981      CBS/NYT                   41             47

 

 Sep. 1981*     CBS/NYT                   30             59

 

 Jan. 1982*     CBS/NYT                   29             62

 

 May 1982+      CBS/NYT                   27             63

 

 

NOTE: *Question wording was, ?Do you think that Ronald Reagan's tax cut will . . .?" + Question wording was, "Do you think that the federal tax cut in July will . . . ?"
  • If the Congress and President Reagan finally pass a personal income tax cut this year, what impact do you think it will have on you? Will the percentage of your income you pay next year as federal income taxes be higher, lower, or about the same as it is today?

 

                                              Reagan's Tax Cut

 

                                             Will Make My Taxes

 

 

                                        Higher     Same        Lower

 

 

 Apr. 1981      Cambridge Reports         11        43           31

 

  • As you probably know, on July 1 of this year the second stage of President Reagan's 3-year tax cut program will go into effect. How will this second stage of the 3-year tax cut program affect your income? When federal income taxes are deducted after July 1, will your income go up, go down, or will it stay about the same?

 

                                                Reagan's Tax Cut

 

 

                                               Will Make My Taxes

 

 

                                        Go Up      Same       Go Down

 

 

 Apr. 1982      Cambridge Reports         25        50            8

 

 Jul. 1982*     Cambridge Reports         24        49           10

 

 Apr. 1983+     Cambridge Reports         22        44           12

 

 Jul. 1983^     Cambridge Reports         24        52            7

 

 

NOTE: *Question wording was, ?how did this stage of the 3-year tax cut . . .?" +Question wording was, "the third stage of President Reagan's 3-year tax cut program will go into effect. How will this third stage . . .?" ^Question wording was, "the third stage of President Reagan's 3-year tax cut program went into effect. How did the third stage . . .?"
  • During his second term as President, do you think Ronald Reagan will, or will not, be able to make major cuts in taxes?

 

                                      Reagan's Second Term

 

 

                                      Will Cut    Will Not

 

                                        Taxes    Cut Taxes

 

 

 Jan. 1985      LAT                       32         58

 

  • If Congress passes President Reagan's tax reform proposal, do you think the amount of personal income taxes you pay the federal government will increase, decrease, or stay about the same?

 

                                            Reagan's Tax Proposal

 

 

                                              Will Make My Taxes

 

 

                                      Increase  Stay the Same  Decrease

 

 

 Oct. 1985      Cambridge Reports         39         36          13

 

 Jul. 1986*     Cambridge Reports         32         38          16

 

 Oct. 1986 +    Cambridge Reports         36         32          18

 

 Jul. 1987+     Cambridge Reports         44         35           9

 

 Apr. 1988+     Cambridge Reports         49         31          11

 

 Apr. 1989+     Cambridge Reports         50         29           7

 

 

NOTE: *Question wording was, "If the tax reform proposals now being considered by Congress became law, do you think the amount . . .?" +Question wording was, "When the tax reform bill is fully implemented in a few years, do you think the amount . . .?"
  • When a presidential candidate says he will never raise taxes, do you believe he will try not to raise them, but might change his mind later, or don't you believe him at all, or do you believe he will never raise taxes?

 

                               When Candidates Says He Won't Raise Taxes

 

 

                                     Believe,    Will Try       Don't

 

                                   Never Raise Not to Raise    Believe

 

                                       Taxes       Taxes

 

 

 Jul. 1988      CBS/NYT                   3          60          32

 

  • George Bush has said that if he is elected president, he will not permit any new taxes. Do you believe what he says, or do you think he might accept new taxes?

 

                                   Believe Bush's Tax Promise?

 

 

                                       Believe    Might Accept

 

                                         Him       New Taxes

 

 

 Oct. 1988      NBC/WSJ                   21          71

 

  • If George Bush were elected president, do you think it is likely that your federal income taxes would go up, go down, or stay about the same?

 

                                              Under Bush, Taxes Will

 

 

                                         Go Up  Stay the Same   Go Down

 

 

 Aug. 1988      NBC/WSJ                   43           47           4

 

  • If Michael Dukakis were elected president, do you think it is likely that your federal income taxes would go up, go down, or stay about the same?

 

                                             Under Dukakis, Taxes Will

 

 

                                        Go Up    Stay the Same   Go Down

 

 

 Aug. 1988      NBC/WSJ                   54           33           5

 

  • Now let me read you those issues again. This time, please tell me whether you feel that, in the next twelve months . . . federal taxes . . . will increase, decrease, or stay about the same?

 

                                         In Next 12 Months, Taxes Will

 

 

                                      Increase   Stay the Same  Decrease

 

 

 Nov. 1978*     NBC/AP                    41           46          10

 

 Mar. 1991+     NBC/WSJ                   59           30           7

 

 Jun. 1991 +    NBC/WSJ                   62           33           3

 

 Jan. 1992 +    NBC/WSJ                   47           37          12

 

 Feb. 1992+     NBC/WSJ                   50           40           7

 

 

NOTE: *Question wording was, "Do you expect your federal taxes to increase next year, decrease next year, or remain about the same?? +Asked of registered voters.
  • If a presidential candidate took a pledge not to raise taxes if elected, would you or would you not believe him?

 

                                      Candidate Who Says He

 

                                          Won't Raise Taxes

 

 

                                        Believe   Not Believe

 

                                          Him          Him

 

 

 Feb. 1992      NBC/WSJ                    8            86

 

  • In his convention speech, President Bush said he made a mistake by agreeing to tax increases in his first term and said that he will not do it again. Do you believe Bush will not raise taxes if he is elected to a second term, or do you believe that he will raise taxes?

 

                                             Bush Says He

 

                                          Won't Raise Taxes

 

 

                                      Believe     Not Believe

 

                                         Him           Him

 

 

 Aug. 1992      Gallup/CNN/USA Today      32            61

 

  • Bill Clinton says he's less likely than past Democratic candidates to raise taxes and increase government spending. Do you believe this, or not?

 

                                          Clinton Says He

 

                                         Won't Raise Taxes

 

 

                                      Believe   Not Believe

 

                                         Him        Him

 

 

 Sep. 1992      CBS/NYT                   26         63

 

  • If George Bush is re-elected, do you think your taxes will go up, go down or stay about the same?

 

                                              Under Bush, Taxes Will

 

 

                                          Go Up  Stay the Same   Go Down

 

 

 Oct. 1992      Harris/Business Week        61          37           1

 

  • If Bill Clinton is elected, do you think your taxes will go up, go down or stay about the same?

 

                                              Under Clinton, Taxes Will

 

 

                                            Go Up   Stay the Same   Go Down

 

 

 Oct. 1992      Harris/Business Week          64           29           6

 

  • By the end of President Bill Clinton's term in office, do you expect taxes on the middle class to have been reduced, or not?

 

                                        At End of Clinton's Term

 

 

                                     Expect Taxes     Do Not Expect

 

                                       To Be Cut     Taxes To Be Cut

 

 

 Jan. 1994      CBS/NYT                     15             80

 

  • Did President Clinton's economic plan increase your taxes, decrease your taxes, or didn't it affect your taxes at all?

 

                                              Clinton's Plan

 

 

                                    Increased  Didn't Affect  Decreased

 

                                     My Taxes     My Taxes     My Taxes

 

 

 Sep. 1994      CBS/NYT                  46           45          3

 

  • With the Republicans in control of both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, do you think your taxes will . . . go up, stay about the same, or go down?

 

                                       With Republicans In Control

 

 

                                     Taxes Will      Stay    Taxes Will

 

                                        Go Up      Same Go      Down

 

 

 Nov. 1994      CBS                       42          46          9

 

  • If your federal income tax cut was cut by $500 dollars per year, how much of a difference would that make to you financially . . . a big difference, somewhat of a difference, not much of a difference, or no difference?

 

                                                    $500 Tax Cut

 

 

                                      Big      Somewhat   Not Much      No

 

                                  Difference  Difference Difference Difference

 

 

 Dec. 1994    Gallup/CNN/USA Today     20          35         32        13

 

 Mar. 1999    Gallup/CNN/USA Today     29          29         28        14

 

  • Do you think your family's taxes will go up, go down or stay about the same next year as a result of the decisions made in Washington?

 

                      ----------------------- Next Year ----------------------

 

 

                          Taxes Will          Stay           Taxes Will

 

                          Go Up               Same           Go Down

 

 

 Oct. 1995      AP           55               33                6

 

  • If Bill Clinton is re-elected president in November, do you think your taxes would increase, decrease, or stay about the same?

 

                     ------------------If Clinton Is Elected------------------

 

 

                          Taxes Will          Stay           Taxes Will

 

                          Increase            Same           Decrease

 

 

 Oct. 1996      CBS/NYT      44               47                 3

 

  • If Bob Dole is elected president in November, do you think your taxes would increase, decrease, or stay about the same?

 

                       -----------------If Dole Is Elected--------------------

 

 

                          Taxes Will          Stay           Taxes Will

 

                          Increase            Same           Decrease

 

 

 Oct. 1996      CBS/NYT      40               34                19

 

  • As a result of the budget agreement between Bill Clinton and Republicans in Congress which they say will balance the federal budget by the year 2002 and cut taxes for many Americans do you think the taxes you personally pay will go up, go down, or stay about the same?

 

                     ---------------------1997 Budget Plan--------------------

 

 

                          Taxes Will          Stay           Taxes Will

 

                          Go Up               Same           Go Down

 

 

 Jul. 1997   Yankelovich/

 

             CNN/Time        42               43                10

 

  • Do you believe politicians when they promise to lower taxes?

 

                                         Yes            No

 

 

 Mar. 1999 Fox News/Opinion Dynamics     9              87

 

 

 NOTE: Asked of registered voters.

 

  • When President Clinton talks about "targeted tax cuts," do you think he means you will get a tax cut or is he talking about giving somebody else a tax cut?

 

                                         Talking        Someone

 

                                         About Me       Else

 

 

 Mar. 1999 Fox News/Opinion Dynamics     18             62

 

 

 NOTE: Asked of registered voters.

 

  • Thinking about the federal income tax cuts President George W. Bush has proposed, do you expect your taxes to go down a lot, go down a little, or not go down at all?

 

                          ------------Under Bush Plan, Taxes Will-------------

 

 

                                 Go Down        Go Down           Not

 

                                 A Lot          A Little          At All

 

 

 Feb. 2001*     Gallup/CNN/USA

 

                Today              13             69              15

 

 Apr. 2001      AP                  6             50              36

 

 Mar. 2002+     AP                  4             36              54

 

 

 NOTE: *Asked of those who said they had watched Bush's Feb. 27, 2001

 

 speech before a joint session of Congress. +Question wording was,

 

 "Thinking about the federal income tax cuts Congress passed last

 

 year, do you expect . . .?"

 

  • With Republicans in control of Congress, do you think your taxes will increase, decrease, or stay about the same?

 

                          ---------------With Republicans In Control----------

 

 

                               Taxes Will          Stay      Taxes Will

 

                               Increase            Same      Decrease

 

 

 Nov. 2002      CBS/NYT           40               40           14

 

 Jan. 2003      CBS               38               43           14

 

  • As you may already know, last year the United States Congress enacted several federal tax cuts that had been proposed by President Bush. In thinking about your federal taxes do you now pay more in taxes or less in taxes? And, do you feel strongly about that?

 

                          Pay More,      Pay More   Pay Less     Pay Less,

 

                          Feel Strongly                          Feel Strongly

 

 

 Mar. 2004  Battleground      24            7          11            32

 

  • In thinking about your taxes, do you think you now pay more in federal taxes or less in federal taxes? And, do you feel strongly about that?

 

                          Pay More,      Pay More   Pay Less     Pay Less,

 

                          Feel Strongly                          Feel Strongly

 

 

 Mar. 2004   Battleground     30            12         10            27

 

  • If George W. Bush's proposed tax cut is adopted, do you think it will or will not make a significant difference in the amount of money you have after taxes?

 

                               ----------Bush's Tax Cut-----------

 

 

                               Will Make                Will Not Make

 

                               Difference               Difference

 

 

 Feb. 2001      CBS/NYT           39                      52

 

 Mar. 2001      CBS/NYT           39                      54

 

 Apr. 2001      CBS/NYT           36                      58

 

 Apr. 2001      CBS/NYT           36                      59

 

  • Looking ahead, how much of a difference would this tax cut make for you and your family -- a big difference, some difference, only a little difference, or no difference at all?

 

                     ----------------------Bush's Tax Cut----------------------

 

 

                       Big            Some             Only A       No

 

                       Difference     Difference       Little       Difference

 

 

 Feb. 2001 Gallup/CNN/

 

           USA Today      18             26              33            20

 

  • In the next several days, Congress may pass a plan that would cut taxes more than $1 trillion over the next ten years. If the tax cut is enacted, do you think it will mostly help you and your family, hurt you and your family, or do you think it will not make much difference?

 

                               ---------------Bush's Tax Cut----------------

 

 

                               Help                No                Hurt

 

                               Family              Difference        Family

 

 

 May 2001  Gallup/CNN/USA

 

           Today                 37                   34              11

 

  • As you may know, Congress passed and President Bush signed a law that would cut tax rates over the next 10 years. As part of the law, most taxpayers will receive a rebate check of $300 to $600 from the federal government in the next few months. How much of a difference will this tax rebate check make to you and your family -- a big difference, some difference, only a little difference, or no difference at all?

 

                       -------------------Bush's Tax Rebates-------------------

 

 

                         Big            Some           Only A       No

 

                         Difference     Difference     Little       Difference

 

 

 Jul. 2001 Gallup/CNN/

 

           USA Today        11             21            30            33

 

  • Have those tax cuts (enacted in 2001) made a significant difference in the amount of money you have after taxes, or not?

 

                                        -----------Bush's Tax Cuts----------

 

 

                                         Significant         Not Significant

 

                                         Difference              Difference

 

 

 Nov. 2002           CBS/NYT                17                      74

 

 Jan. 2003           CBS/NYT                20                      76

 

  • If George W. Bush is re-elected President in November, do you think your taxes will go up, go down, or stay about the same?

 

                                     ---If Bush is re-elected, my taxes will---

 

 

                                     Go Up      Go Down     Stay About the Same

 

 

 Aug. 2004         CBS News/NYT       36           5                 55

 

 Sep.  2004        CBS News/NYT       36           5                 55

 

 Oct. 2004         CBS News/NYT       31           5                 61

 

  • When you hear the President talk about income tax cuts, do you think you and your family will benefit financially from those cuts, or not?

 

                                         -------Benefit From Bush Tax Cuts-----

 

 

                                                      Yes             No

 

 

 Feb.-Mar. 2003     Kaiser/NPR/Harvard                 42             50

 

  • Do you think the new tax law will -- or will not -- help your family's financial situation?

 

                                         -------Benefit From Bush Tax Cuts-----

 

 

                                                       Yes             No

 

 

 May-Jun. 2003      Gallup/CNN/USA Today                35             56

 

 Jun. 2003          Gallup/CNN/USA Today                34             56

 

  • If John Kerry were to win the election in November, do you think your federal income taxes would go up, or not?

 

                                     -----If Kerry Wins, Taxes Will-----

 

 

                                            Go Up        Not Go Up

 

 

 Mar. 2004      Gallup/CNN/USA Today          58             27

 

  • If a _____ gets elected president in 2008, do you think your taxes will go up, down or stay about the same?

 

               Feb. 27-28, 2007      Fox News/Opinion Dynamics

 

 

                           Up           Down           Stay the same

 

 

 A Democrat                46             9                  38

 

 A Republican              44             5                  45

 

_____________________________________________________________________

 

 

TAXES AS A VOTING ISSUE: Voters who tell exit pollsters that taxes are the most important issue to them in casting their ballots, vote in overwhelming proportions for Republican presidential candidates. In presidential elections since 1984, the group that has selected taxes as most important to their vote (or one of the two issues in the Los Angeles Times national exit poll formulation) has ranged from a low of 5 percent in 2004 to a high of 17 percent (in 1984 and 2000) of the electorate.
_____________________________________________________________________

 

 

Taxes as a Voting Issue, 1984-2004
  • Which issues -- if any -- were most important to you in deciding whom to vote for? No issues really, civil rights, the federal budget deficit, foreign relations, government spending, environmental protection, farm problems, inflation, nuclear arms control, taxes, or unemployment? [accepted up to two responses] (LA Times, Nov. 1984)

  • Which issues mattered most in deciding how you voted? Punishing criminals, helping the middle class, environment and pollution, economic prosperity and jobs, the federal budget deficit, not raising taxes, defense spending, U.S.-Soviet relations, or abortion? [accepted up to two responses] (CBS/NYT, Nov. 1988)

  • Which one or two issues mattered most in deciding how you voted for president? Health care, federal budget deficit, abortion, education, economy/jobs, environment, taxes, foreign policy, or family values? [accepted up to two responses] (VNS, Nov. 1992)

  • Which issues -- if any -- were most important to you when deciding how you would vote for president today -- moral values, education, jobs/the economy, the environment, taxes, abortion, health care, poverty, federal budget deficit, crime/drugs, foreign affairs or none of the above? [accepted up to two responses] (LA Times, Nov. 1992)

  • Which one issue mattered most in deciding how you voted for president? Foreign policy, Medicare/Social Security, taxes, crime/drugs, economy/jobs, education, or the federal budget deficit? [accept only one response] (VNS, Nov. 1996)

  • Which issues, if any, were most important to you in deciding how you would vote for president today? Moral/ethical values, education, jobs/the economy, the environment, taxes, abortion, health care, poverty, federal budget deficit, crime/drugs, foreign affairs, or none of the above? [accepted up to two responses] (LA Times, Nov. 1996)

  • Which one issue mattered most in deciding how you voted for president? World affairs, Medicare/Prescription drugs, health care, economy/jobs, taxes, education, Social Security? [accept only one response] (VNS, Nov. 2000)

  • Which issues, if any, were most important to you in deciding how you would vote for president today? Moral/ethical values, education, jobs/the economy, the environment, taxes, abortion, health care, Social Security, budget surplus, Medicare/prescription drugs, foreign affairs, or none of the above? [accepted up to two responses] (LA Times, Nov. 2000)

  • Which one issue mattered most in deciding how you voted for president? Taxes, education, Iraq, terrorism, economy/jobs, moral values, health care? [accept only one] (NEP, Nov. 2004)

  • Which issues, if any, were most important to you in deciding how you would vote for president today? Moral/ethical values, jobs/economy, terrorism/homeland security, situation in Iraq, social issues such as abortion and gay marriage, education, taxes, health care, foreign affairs, Social Security, Medicare/prescription drugs, or none of the above? [accepted up to two responses] (LA Times, Nov. 2004)

 

 Year    National           Top Issue         --How Voters Who Selected Taxes--

 

       Exit Pollster   (Compared with Taxes)  -----As Their Top Issue Voted----

 

 

 1984  LA Times       Govt. Spending      22

 

                      Taxes               17   Reagan    80     Mondale     20

 

 

 1988  CBS/NYT        Helping the

 

                      middle class        25

 

                      Taxes               14   Bush      68     Dukakis     30

 

 

 1992  VNS            Economy/Jobs        42

 

                      Taxes               14   Bush      56     Clinton      25

 

 

 1992  LA Times       Economy/Jobs        56

 

                      Taxes               13   Bush      61     Clinton     24

 

 

 1996  VNS            Economy/Jobs        26

 

                      Taxes               14   Dole      73     Clinton     19

 

 

 1996  LA Times       Morals/

 

                      Ethical Values      40

 

                      Taxes               16   Dole      64     Clinton     25

 

 

 2000  VNS            Economy/Jobs        18

 

                      Taxes               14   Bush      80     Gore        17

 

 

 2000  LA Times       Morals/

 

                      Ethical Values      35

 

                      Taxes               17   Bush      71     Gore        27

 

 

 2004  NEP            Moral Values        22

 

                      Taxes                5   Bush      57     Kerry       43

 

 

 2004  LA Times       Morals/

 

                      Ethical Values      40

 

                      Taxes                9   Bush      61     Kerry       38

 

  • I'm going to read you several positions on issues that some Democrats are running for Congress are taking. For each one please tell me whether, all other things being equal, you are more likely or less likely to vote for a Democratic candidate for Congress who takes that position, or whether it would make no difference to your vote either way.

 

 NBC News/Wall Street Journal       Sep. 30-Oct. 2, 2006

 

 

                                    More likely    Less likely    No difference

 

 

 Favors raising the minimum wage

 

 from five dollars fifteen cents

 

 to seven dollars and twenty-five

 

 cents an hour over the next

 

 couple of years.                        65             15             19

 

 

 Favors a phased withdrawel of

 

 American troops from Iraq.              57             27             13

 

 

 Opposes making the federal tax

 

 cuts of the past few years

 

 permanent.                              39             36             22

 

 

 Opposes changing Social Security

 

 to allow workers to invest some

 

 of their Social Security taxes

 

 in the stock market.                    37             36             25

 

TAX CHANGES

 

 

_____________________________________________________________________

 

 

THE ESTATE TAX: In November 2002, CBS News/New York Times pollsters asked two questions about the estate tax, telling people that the tax would apply only to estates worth $3.5 million in a few years and would be eliminated altogether in 2010. They then asked whether the estate tax should be eliminated altogether or whether it should only be applied to the very largest estates. In the first question, 41 percent said it should be eliminated altogether, and 54 percent wanted it applied only to the very largest estates. The results were 44-47 percent when the pollsters associated the proposal with George W. Bush. In the 2005 and 2006 Harris Interactive/Tax Foundation polls, people thought the federal estate tax was the worst tax, ahead of the federal income tax. Although the estate tax has never been an issue that people volunteer spontaneously as a critical issue, it appears to be another tax that many people just don't like with nearly two-thirds in the 2007 Harris Interactive/Tax Foundation survey favoring its elimination.
_____________________________________________________________________

 

 

  • How much do you think one person should be allowed to inherit -- none, $100,000 or less, $100,000 to $1 million, $1 million to $10 million, or no limit?

 

                           --How Much Should A Person Be Allowed to Inherit?--

 

 

                            None   $100,000   $100,000-    $1 Million-    No

 

                                   Or Less    $1 million   $10 Million    Limit

 

 

 Jul. 1935   Roper/Fortune

 

 

             Total            1        14          16             2        52

 

             Prosperous       1         8          16             2        59

 

             Upper Middle     1        13          16             3        51

 

             Lower Middle     1        16          16             2        51

 

             Poor             1        17          15             2        47

 

  • Some taxes are paid to the federal government in Washington and some are paid to state and local governments. Using a scale of 1 to 5, where one means "very fair" and five means "not at all fair," please indicate what you think of these federal taxes in terms of fairness.

 

 Mar. 2007                    Harris/Tax Foundation

 

 

                                                                        Not at

 

                                     Very fair           Fair          all fair

 

                                         1        2       3      4        5

 

 

 Cigarette, beer, and wine taxes        29       12      24     15       21

 

 Corporate income taxes                 16       10      32     17       25

 

 Social security payroll taxes           8        9      42     21       19

 

 Gas taxes                               6        7      24     28       35

 

 Estate taxes                            5        6      23     25       42

 

 Federal income taxes                    4        9      39     31       17

 

  • If taxes had to be raised in order to increase revenues, how would you feel about raising the following types of federal taxes?

 

 Mar. 2007                Harris Interactive

 

 

                         --------Should--------     ------Should not-------

 

 

                         Definitely    Probably     Probably     Definitely

 

 

 Cigarette taxes            52            21            8            16

 

 Beer and alcohol taxes     42            31            9            15

 

 Estate taxes               11            19           25            39

 

 Gas taxes                   4            11           22            60

 

 Income taxes                3            12           26            55

 

 Social security taxes       2            10           22            61

 

 Medicare taxes              1             7           24            63

 

  • I'm going to read you some positions that someone running for Congress could take. For each, please tell me whether you would be more likely to vote for a candidate for Congress who takes this position, less likely to vote for this candidate, or would it not make a difference to you either way? Favors repealing the estate tax.

 

                                    More likely    Less likely    No difference

 

 

 Jun. 9-12, 2006     NBC/WSJ             48             18              27

 

  • Here are some tax reductions that will be considered by Congress. For each one I mention, please tell me whether you think it will help you and your family a lot, help some, help very little, or not help at all. If you are not sure, please do not hesitate to say so . . . A reduction in the inheritance tax?

 

                                                   Inheritance Tax Cut

 

                                        --------Help You And Your Family-------

 

 

                                        A Lot     Some      Very Little    None

 

 

 Apr. 1997           NBC/WSJ             20        22           16          37

 

  • Please indicate whether you would generally favor or oppose each of the following proposals which might be included in the plan to balance the budget by the year 2002 . . . Reducing the taxes people must pay when they inherit money or property?

 

                                             ----Cut Inheritance Tax----

 

 

                                                Favor          Oppose

 

 

 May 1997       Gallup/CNN/USA Today              61             37

 

  • Do you think the inheritance tax on estates worth more than six hundred thousand dollars should be reduced, or not?

 

                                  ----Reduce Inheritance Tax----

 

 

                                    Should         Should Not

 

 

 Jun. 1997           NBC/WSJ          43               44

 

  • Thinking about the federal inheritance tax, do you consider this tax too high, about right, too low, or don't you know enough to say?

 

                                         ---------Inheritance Tax Is--------

 

 

                                         Too       About     Too       Don't

 

                                         High      Right     Low       Know

 

 

 Jan. 2000     Gallup/CNN/USA Today       41         5        1         53

 

  • Now, I would like to ask you a question about taxes that are paid on money or assets which are inherited when someone dies. As you may know, federal inheritance taxes currently apply to estates valued at more than $1 million. A new proposal would eliminate all inheritance taxes on estates over $1 million as well. Would you favor or oppose that proposal?

 

                                            ----Inheritance Tax Cut----

 

 

                                              Favor            Oppose

 

 

 Jun. 2000           Gallup/CNN/USA Today       60               35

 

  • If such a proposal (that would eliminate all inheritance taxes on estates valued at more than $1 million) were passed into law, do you think you would or would not personally benefit from such a law in the future, or don't you know enough about it to say?

 

                                      -------------Inheritance Tax Cut--------

 

 

                                      Personally     Not Personally      Don't

 

                                       Benefit           Benefit         Know

 

 

 Jun. 2000      Gallup/CNN/USA Today     17                 43            39

 

  • Candidate A believes that a large estate left to heirs should be taxed at a rate of 50 percent for anything over $1.2 million. Candidate B believes that the estate tax is unfair to heirs and should be eliminated. Who do you support?

 

                                         Candidate A/         Candidate B/

 

                                           Keep Tax             Eliminate

 

                                            As Is              Estate Tax

 

 

 Jul. 2000        Zogby International        15                    75

 

  • I would like to ask you a couple of questions about taxes that are paid on money or assets which are inherited when someone dies. As you may know, federal inheritance taxes currently apply only to estates valued at more than $1 million. Which of the following would you prefer to see Congress do this year -- change the laws to eliminate all inheritance taxes on all estates, eliminate inheritance taxes on small businesses and family farms but otherwise leave the taxes unchanged, or leave inheritance tax laws unchanged?

 

                                      -------Changes to Inheritance Tax-------

 

 

                                      Eliminate    Elim. For Small     Leave

 

                                         It           Biz/Farms      Unchanged

 

 

 Feb. 2001      Gallup/CNN/USA Today     39              30              25

 

  • Now, I would like to ask you a question about taxes that are paid on money or assets which are inherited when someone dies. As you may know, federal inheritance taxes currently apply only to estates valued at more than $1 million. Which of the following would you prefer to see Congress do: Change the laws to eliminate all inheritance taxes on all estates, or leave inheritance tax laws unchanged?

 

                                          -----Changes to Inheritance Tax-----

 

 

                                               Eliminate           Leave

 

                                                 Tax             Unchanged

 

 

 Nov. 2002           Gallup/CNN/USA Today         50                 46

 

  • Currently the federal government taxes the estates -- that is, the property and money -- people leave when they die. In a few years, that tax will only apply to estates worth more than $3.5 million, and by 2010 there would be no tax on any estate, no matter what it is worth. Which comes closer to your view? 1. There should be no tax on any estate or 2. The estate tax should be eliminated for most people, but kept in place for the very largest estates?

 

                                         No Estate      Tax Only

 

                                            Tax       Large Estates

 

 

 Nov. 2002           CBS/NYT                  41           54

 

 Mar.-Apr. 2008      CBS/NYT                  44           47

 

  • Currently the federal government taxes the estates -- that is, the property and money people leave when they die. In a few years, that tax will only apply to estates worth more than $3.5 million, and by 2010 there would be no tax on any estate, no matter what it is worth. Which comes closer to your view? 1. There should be no tax on any estate as George W. Bush proposes or 2. The estate tax should be eliminated for most people, but kept in place for the very largest estates as the Democrats propose?

 

                                         No Estate      Tax Only

 

                                            Tax       Large Estates

 

 

 Nov. 2002           CBS/NYT                  44            47

 

  • Do you favor or oppose each of the following economic proposals . . . eliminating the tax on estates, sometimes also called the "death tax"?

 

                                               ----Eliminate Estate Tax----

 

 

                                                   Favor          Oppose

 

 

 Jan. 2003           Fox News/Opinion Dynamics       67             21

 

  • There is a federal estate tax -- that is, a tax on the money people leave when they die. Do you favor or oppose eliminating this tax, or don't you know enough to say? (Asked of half sample)

 

                                            -----Eliminate Estate Tax------

 

 

                                            Favor     Oppose     Don't Know

 

 

 Feb.-Mar. 2003      Kaiser/NPR/Harvard       54        16           29

 

  • There is a federal estate tax that some people call the death tax. This is a tax on the money people leave when they die. Do you favor or oppose eliminating this tax, or don't you know enough to say? (Asked of half sample)

 

                                             ------Eliminate Death Tax-----

 

 

                                             Favor     Oppose    Don't Know

 

 

 Feb.-Mar. 2003      Kaiser/NPR/Harvard        60        15          26

 

 

 NOTE TO QUESTIONS ABOVE: When those who favored eliminating the

 

 estate tax in both samples were asked, "Why do you favor eliminating

 

 the estate tax as it is now? Is this a reason or not. . . ?" 92

 

 percent agreed that "the money was already taxed once and shouldn't

 

 be taxed again," was a reason. Seventy-four percent agreed that "it

 

 might force the sale of small businesses and family farms" was a

 

 reason. Sixty-nine percent agreed that, "it might affect YOU someday"

 

 was a reason. Sixty-two percent agreed that "it affects too many

 

 people" was a reason. When those who opposed eliminating the estate

 

 tax in both samples were asked, "Why do you oppose eliminating the

 

 estate tax as it is now? Is this a reason or not. . . ?" 63 percent

 

 agreed that, "it is a good way for the government to raise revenues"

 

 was a reason. Fifty-eight percent agreed that, "it affects only the

 

 wealthiest Americans, who can afford to pay taxes the most," was a

 

 reason. Fiftythree percent agreed that, "it limits the power and

 

 influence of wealth," was a reason. Forty-six percent agreed that,

 

 "wealthy people should give something back to the country when they

 

 die," was a reason.

 

  • Do you personally favor or oppose completely eliminating the estate tax -- that is, the tax on property left by people who die?

 

                                                        Favor        Oppose

 

 

 Mar-Apr. 2005    Harris Interactive/Tax Foundation      68            17

 

 Mar. 2006        Harris Interactive/Tax Foundation      68            19

 

 Mar. 2007        Harris Interactive/Tax Foundation      66            19

 

  • Some taxes are paid to the federal government in Washington and some are paid to state and local governments. Of the following federal taxes, which do you think is the worst tax -- that is, the least fair?

 

                                       -----------Least Fair Tax---------------

 

 

                                       Federal   Federal    Social     Federal

 

                                       Estate    Income    Security   Corporate

 

 

 Mar.-Apr. 2005  Harris Interactive/

 

                   Tax Foundation        30        26         15          8

 

 Mar. 2006       Harris Interactive/

 

                   Tax Foundation        31        25         14          7

 

  • Currently the federal government taxes the assets -- that is, the property and money -- someone leaves when they die if the assets are worth more than a certain amount of money. Do you favor or oppose placing this tax on assets when someone dies?

 

                                    Favor          Oppose

 

 

 Mar.2005       NYT                   17             76

 

 

 (Asked of those who opposed) What if the tax was only collected on

 

 estates worth more than $1.5 million? Then would you favor or oppose

 

 placing this tax on assets when someone die?

 

 

                                    Favor           Oppose

 

 

 Mar.2005       NYT                   27              46

 

  • Under the current law, the federal tax on estates will be phased out between now and 2010, when there will be no tax on estates at all. Unless Congress acts, the tax cut will then expire and the tax will again be collected on estates worth more than $1 million. Which comes closest to your opinion: 1. The federal government should tax estates worth more than $1 million, or 2. It should only tax estates worth more than $3.5 million, or 3. The federal tax on all inheritances should be permanently eliminated?

 

                                           More        More         Eliminate

 

                                         Than $1M   Than $3.5M   All Estate Tax

 

 

 Mar.2005       NYT                         23          20              50

 

_____________________________________________________________________

 

 

REFORMING THE TAX SYSTEM: Very few people think that the federal tax system is fine the way it is. In Harris's March 2007 question, 38 percent said it should be completely overhauled. How high a priority tax reform is depends on what it is being compared to.
_____________________________________________________________________

 

 

  • Which of the following statements best describes your opinion of the federal tax system: it is fine the way it is, it needs minor changes, it needs major changes, it should be completely overhauled?

 

                               Fine   Minor changes   Major changes    Overhaul

 

 Mar-Apr. 2005  Harris/Tax

 

                  Foundation     2          16              42             35

 

 Mar. 2006      Harris/Tax

 

                  Foundation     2          14              40             40

 

 Mar. 2007      Harris/Tax

 

                  Foundation     3          15              39             38

 

  • If you could choose one plan to collect all federal taxes, of these listed, which federal tax plan would you prefer: a flat-rate income tax with no deductions, the current graduated income tax with deductions, a national sales tax?

 

                                    Flat tax       Graduated    National sales

 

 

 Mar.-Apr. 2005      Harris/Tax

 

                       Foundation      37             19               19

 

 Mar. 2006           Harris/Tax

 

                       Foundation      33             21               20

 

  • There has been some talk about the federal budget deficit recently. Which one of the following do you think is the best way to reduce the federal budget deficit?

 

                                Increase     Reduce defense     Reduce domestic

 

                                  Taxes    & military spending      spending

 

 Feb. 2007  PSRA/Pew Research

 

              Center                9               33                 36

 

  • As I read you some things the new Congress might do over the next two years, please tell me if you think each should be one of their top priorities, a lower priority, or shouldn't be done at all. What about . . . major reform of the federal income tax system?

 

                                         ---------Reforming Tax System--------

 

 

                                         Top Priority   Lower Priority   Not

 

                                         For Congress    For Congress    Done

 

 

 Nov. 2002           PSRA/Newsweek            65              21           7

 

 

 NOTE: When ranked according to top priority, "major reform of the

 

 federal income tax system" ranked second out of eleven categories.

 

 The other items were "helping seniors pay for prescription drugs" (80

 

 percent), "creating the new Homeland Security department that

 

 President Bush wants, with a reduced role for federal employee

 

 unions" (43 percent), "making President Bush's 10-year, $1.3

 

 trillion dollar tax cut program permanent" (42 percent), "approval of

 

 conservative judges President Bush has nominated for the federal

 

 courts" (30 percent), "new tax cuts for investors, such as increasing

 

 deductions for investment losses or removing double taxation on stock

 

 dividends" (29 percent), "limiting or eliminating affirmative action

 

 preferences for minorities and women" (28 percent), "giving religious

 

 charities a bigger role in providing government social services" (26

 

 percent), "relaxing environmental regulations to allow oil drilling

 

 in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge" (26 percent), "Social

 

 Security reform to allow some of the tax money collected to be

 

 invested in the stock market" (24 percent), and "new laws to restrict

 

 abortion" (24 percent).

 

  • For each issue I named, please tell me what kind of priority you think Bush and the Congress should give it -- the highest priority, a high priority but not the highest, a middle priority, or a lower priority . . . Taxes?

 

                                       -----------Reforming Tax System---------

 

 

                                       Highest      High      Middle     Lower

 

                                       Priority   Priority   Priority  Priority

 

 

 Dec. 2002           ABC/WP               19         36         35        10

 

 

 NOTE: When ranked according to highest priority, "taxes" ranked ninth

 

 out of ten categories. The other items were "homeland security" (49

 

 percent), "the U.S. campaign against terrorism" (48 percent), "the

 

 economy" (41 percent), "the situation with Iraq and Saddam Hussein"

 

 (39 percent), "education" (34 percent), "the cost, availability, and

 

 coverage of health insurance" (28 percent), "Social Security" (26

 

 percent), "the cost of prescription drugs" (21 percent), and "the

 

 environment" (18 percent).

 

  • For each issue I name, please tell me what kind of priority you think Bush and Congress should give it -- the highest priority, a high priority but not the highest, or a lower priority than that . . . Taxes?

 

                                                -----Reforming Tax System-----

 

 

                                                Highest      High       Lower

 

                                                Priority   Priority   Priority

 

 

 Apr. 2003           ABC/WP                        30         51         17

 

 Jan. 2005           ABC/WP                        19         60         19

 

 Feb. 2005           Washington Post               27         54         17

 

 Jan. 2006           ABC/WP                        27         54         17

 

 

 NOTE: In the January 2005 survey, when ranked according to highest

 

 priority, "taxes" was tied for ninth out of twelve categories. The

 

 other items were "situation in Iraq" (61 percent), "the U.S. campaign

 

 against terrorism" (52 percent), "education" (44 percent), "the

 

 economy" (43 percent), "health care" (40 percent), "Social Security"

 

 (35 percent), "the federal budget deficit" (32 percent), "immigration

 

 issues" (20 percent), "the environment" (19 percent), "reducing

 

 political partisanship in Washington" (16 percent), and "restricting

 

 medical malpractice and class-action lawsuits (13 percent).

 

  • What would you say is the one most important problem you would like to see (George W.) Bush and the Congress deal with this year (2007)?

 

                                              Percentage who say taxes

 

 

 Jan. 2007           ABC News/Wash Post                   1

 

  • Finally, all things considered, do you think our federal tax system as it stands today has a lot of serious problems in it and needs a major overhaul, or has some problems that can be fixed with some relatively minor changes, or that, everything considered, the system is pretty much all right as it is now?

 

                                 -------------Feelings About Tax System--------

 

 

                                 Serious Problems/   Some Problems/   All Right

 

                                   Major Overhaul     Minor Changes     As Is

 

 

 Apr. 1986      Roper GfK-NOP            43                49             6

 

  • And, which political party -- the Republicans or the Democrats -- do you think is doing a better job reforming the nation's federal income tax system?

 

                                                  Best Party On

 

                                         -----Reforming Tax System-----

 

 

                                      Democratic               Republican

 

                                        Party                     Party

 

 

 Feb. 1985*       NBC                     37                       40

 

 Oct. 1985        NBC/WSJ                 30                       42

 

 Jun. 1986        NBC/WSJ                 24                       42

 

 Aug. 1986        NBC/WSJ                 25                       44

 

 

 NOTE: *Question wording was " . . . better able to deal more fairly

 

 with this country's income tax system?

 

  • There is much discussion about whether or not it is necessary to make major changes in America's institutions and systems. In each of the following areas, do you believe that major changes, minor changes, or no real changes are necessary?

 

 Nov. 1993           Roper GfK-NOP

 

 

                                        ------------System Needs-------------

 

 

                                         Major          Minor         No Real

 

                                        Changes        Changes        Changes

 

 

 Our health care system                   75             18              5

 

 Our welfare system                       73             18              5

 

 Our prison system                        66             22              6

 

 Our tax system                           64             27              6

 

 Our public education system              62             29              5

 

 Our legal system                         58             29              9

 

 Our social security system               40             35             18

 

 The way we elect our nation's leaders    35             31             30

 

  • Do you feel that the current income tax system is basically fair, or basically unfair? (If Unfair) Do you think the system could be made fair with some minor adjustments, or does it need a complete overhaul?

 

                          ----------------Feelings About Tax System----------

 

 

                          Fair       Unfair/          Unfair/       Unfair/

 

                                   Needs Minor      Needs Major     Not Sure

 

                                   Adjustments       Overhaul        (Vol.)

 

 

 Jul. 1994      NBC/WSJ    38          19               37             3

 

 Apr. 1995      NBC/WSJ    28          15               51             2

 

 Mar. 1996      NBC/WSJ    30          16               47             3

 

 

 NOTE: In Jan. 1994, NBC/WSJ asked, "Which of the following statements

 

 comes closer to your point of view? Statement A: It will be possible

 

 to control health care costs and cover all Americans by making

 

 changes in the current health care system. Statement B: It will not

 

 be possible to control health care costs and cover all Americans

 

 without a complete overhaul of our current health care system?"

 

 Twenty-seven percent chose Statement A and 68 percent chose Statement

 

 B. When NBC/WSJ asked the question in Mar. 1993, 22 percent chose

 

 Statement A and 74 percent chose Statement B.

 

  • Which of the following statements best represents what you feel about the federal tax system: It needs to be completely overhauled, it needs major changes, it needs minor changes, or it is basically fine the way it is?

 

                                      --------Feelings About Tax System--------

 

 

                                      Completely    Major    Minor    Basically

 

                                      Overhauled   Changes  Changes     Fine

 

 

 Nov. 1997    Gallup/CNN/USA Today        38          35       21         5

 

 Jan. 2000    Gallup/CNN/USA Today        26          35       28         9

 

 Dec. 2004    Gallup/CNN/USA Today        24          35       29        11

 

 

 NOTE: In Sep. 1993, Gallup asked, "Which of the following statements

 

 best describes your opinion of the nation's health care system: The

 

 health care system is fundamentally sound, or the health care system

 

 is fundamentally unsound? (If Sound) Do you think the system requires

 

 some minor changes or not? (If Unsound) Do you think the system needs

 

 to be completely rebuilt from scratch, or do we just need to make

 

 major changes in the system we now have?" Twenty-one percent said

 

 "unsound, start from scratch," 52 percent said "unsound, major

 

 changes," 18 percent said "sound, minor changes," and 3 percent said

 

 "sound, no changes."

 

  • Which of the following statements comes closest to expressing your overall view of the federal tax system in this country? (1) On the whole, the federal tax system works pretty well and Congress should make only minor changes to make it work better. (2) there is so much wrong with the federal tax system that Congress should completely change it?

 

                                          ----------Congress Should--------

 

 

                                              Completely     Make Minor

 

                                              Change It        Changes

 

 

 Feb.-Mar. 2003      Kaiser/NPR/Harvard          52              44

 

  • Do you think the federal tax system is too complicated, or not?

 

                                   Too            Not Too

 

                               Complicated     Complicated

 

 

 Mar. 1999      AP                  66             28

 

 Apr. 2005      AP/Ipsos            70             28

 

  • Would you be willing to give up some deductions and credits to make the tax simpler, or not?

 

                                              Yes       No

 

 

 Apr. 2005           AP/Ipsos                  45       51

 

 Mar.-Apr. 2006      Harris/Tax Foundation     54       21

 

 Mar. 2006           Harris/Tax Foundation     52       22

 

 

 Note: Harris wording does not include "and credits"

 

  • How complex do you think the current federal income tax system is? Do you think it is very complex, somewhat complex, not too complex or not complex at all?

 

                                         Very    Somewhat   Not Too  Not At All

 

                                        Complex   Complex   Complex    Complex

 

 

 Feb.-Mar. 2003   Kasier/NPR/Harvard      50        36         8          3

 

 Mar.-Apr. 2005   Harris/Tax Foundation   46        35         9          2

 

 Mar. 2006        Harris/Tax Foundation   48        32         9          1

 

 

 (Asked of those who think the current system is complex) Do you think

 

 it is complex because . . . ?

 

 

 Feb.-Mar. 2003   Kaiser/NPR/Harvard

 

 

                                                              Yes         No

 

 There are so many different kinds of deductions and

 

 tax credits, and so many rules about how to take them         95          3

 

 It requires too much record-keeping                           63         36

 

 There are too many different tax rates, such as 15%,

 

 25%, and 35%                                                  61         34

 

 The forms are too hard to fill out                            59         39

 

  • As you may know, President Bush has said that reforming the tax code will be one of his top priorities during his second term. Do you think Bush should reform the tax code, or not?

 

                                    --------Bush Should Reform Tax Code-------

 

 

                                              Yes               No

 

 

 Jan. 2005           L.A. Times                59               24

 

  • How much do you approve or disapprove of President Bush's positions on the following issues . . .simplifying the tax code?

 

                                  Strongly   Somewhat    Somewhat     Strongly

 

                                  Approve    Approve    Disapprove   Disapprove

 

 

 Mar. 2005        Harris             34        25           11           16

 

  • Regardless of whether you think Bush should reform the tax code, which of the following should be Bush's top priority in reforming the tax code: Maintaining the principle that wealthier families should pay a higher percentage of their income on taxes than middle or lower income families, or insuring that all taxpayers pay the same flat tax rate on their incomes, or eliminating the income tax and using just a sales and consumption tax or eliminating loopholes to insure that businesses pay all taxes they owe or cutting taxes on savings and investments such as capital gains from stocks?

 

 Jan. 2005                L.A. Times

 

 

 Wealthier families pay more                                  33

 

 Eliminating loopholes for businesses                         33

 

 All taxpayers pay the same flat tax rate                     27

 

 Eliminating income tax with sales tax                         8

 

 Cutting taxes on savings/investments                          6

 

  • When you hear people talk about federal tax reform or about reforming the federal tax system, what do you think that really means?

 

 Jan. 2005             Fox News/Opinion Dynamics

 

 

 Simplifying tax rules/tax forms                      14

 

 Making the system more fair                          13

 

 Changing the way taxes are calculated                12

 

 Lowering taxes                                       10

 

 Raising taxes                                         8

 

 Helping the rich/skeptical                            6

 

 Ending double taxation of savings/investments         2

 

 Changing to flat tax                                  1

 

 Not sure                                             31

 

  • The current income tax system taxes high income people at higher rates and lower income people at lower rates. Some people have proposed replacing that system with a flat tax, which would tax people at all income levels at one, flat tax rate. Would you favor or oppose replacing the current income tax system with one flat tax rate, or don't you know enough about it yet to say?

 

                                          Favor     Oppose    Don't Know Enough

 

 

 Jan. 2005           CBS/NYT                29        33              36

 

  • Would you favor or oppose a flat tax whereby everybody, whatever they earned, would pay income taxes on the same percentage of their income over some minimum level?

 

                                                      Favor          Oppose

 

 

 Mar-Apr. 2005  Harris Interactive/Tax Foundation       54             21

 

  • Which tax system would you prefer?

 

 Apr. 2005         Blum & Weprin/NBC News

 

 

 A system like the one we now have, with higher

 

 rates for people with higher incomes                    55

 

 A flat tax with the same rate for everyone and no

 

 deductions allowed                                      39

 

  • For each issue I've named, please tell me if you think Bush will or will not make substantial progress on it in the next four years. . . . .Taxes?

 

                                        -------Reforming Tax System-----

 

 

                                           Yes, Will      No, Will Not

 

                                         Make Progress   Make Progress

 

 

 Jan. 2005           ABC/WP                   52              46

 

  • To begin with, how important are each of the following issues for President Bush to deal with in his second term . . . Tax reform?

 

                                  ------------------Tax Reform-----------------

 

 

                                  Extremely     Very      Somewhat    Not Very

 

                                  Critical    Important   Important   Important

 

 

 Jan. 2005      SRB/Time             17          44          25           8

 

 

 NOTE: When ranked according to extremely critical, "taxes" ranked

 

 ninth out of nine categories. The other items were "war in Iraq" (45

 

 percent), "jobs and the economy" (37 percent), "homeland security"

 

 (36 percent), "education" (35 percent), "Social Security reform" (30

 

 percent), "the environment" (24 percent), "moral values issues, such

 

 as abortion and gay marriage" (19 percent), and "attempting to bring

 

 peace between the Israeli's and Palestinians" (18 percent).

 

  • Next, I have some questions about the Bush administration. Whether or not you support Bush, do you think the Bush administration will or will not be able to do each of the following in its second term in office . . . improve the federal tax system?

 

                                         Yes, Will      No, Will Not

 

 

 Jan. 2005      Gallup/CNN/USA Today         49              47

 

_____________________________________________________________________

 

 

DOING TAXES: Very few taxpayers tell pollsters they love doing their taxes. At the other end of the spectrum, roughly 25-30 percent say they hate doing them. When the IRS was in the congressional spotlight in the late 1990s, favorable views about the agency went down. They have improved a little since then. People would rather have a root canal than be audited. They are divided about whether they would rather have dental work or do taxes.
_____________________________________________________________________

 

 

  • All in all, which of the following best describes how you feel about doing your income taxes -- you love it, you like it, you dislike it, or you hate it?

 

                                      ----------Like Doing Your Taxes-------

 

 

                                      Love   Like   Dislike   Hate   Neither

 

                                                                     (Vol.)

 

 

 Mar. 1990    Gallup/CNN/USA Today      2     21      33       30      10

 

 Mar. 1991    Gallup/CNN/USA Today      2     22      40       25       8

 

 Apr. 2000    Gallup/CNN/USA Today      3     15      39       32       9

 

 Apr. 2001    Gallup/CNN/USA Today      3     21      35       31       6

 

  • Which comes closest to your status for filing your 2005 income tax return -- have you: 1. finished, already filed 2. started, but not finished, 3. not started yet 4. don't know

 

                                        Finished    Started, but    Not started

 

                                                    not finished        yet

 

 

 Apr. 2-3, 1997      Fox News/Opinion

 

                       Dynamics            58           24               13

 

 Apr. 7-8, 1998      Fox News/Opinion

 

                       Dynamics            67           19               10

 

 Apr. 5-6, 2000      Fox News/Opinion

 

                       Dynamics            64           20               10

 

 Apr. 2-3, 2002      Fox News/Opinion

 

                       Dynamics            62           20               13

 

 Apr. 4-5, 2006      Fox News/Opinion

 

                       Dynamics            65           19               12

 

  • If you receive a tax refund this year, what will you or did you do with most of the money you received? 1. Pay off bills 2. Buys something new 3. Save it 4. Invest it 5. Combination 6. Other/not sure 7. Never receive refund

 

                           Bills  Buy  Save  Invest  Combination  Other   Not

 

                                                                        Receive

 

 

 Apr. 2004   Fox News/

 

               Opinion

 

               Dynamics      29    8    17     10        10         6      20

 

 Mar. 2005   Fox News/

 

               Opinion

 

               Dynamics      31    7    22      8         9         6      18

 

 Apr. 2006   Fox News/

 

               Opinion

 

               Dynamics      32    7    19      9        10         8      17

 

  • Next I'm going to read some behaviors. For each, please tell me whether you personally believe that it is morally acceptable, morally wrong, or is it not a moral issue

 

 Feb. 1-5, 2006          PSRA/Pew Research Center

 

 

                                               Wrong   Acceptable      Not a

 

                                                                    moral issue

 

 

 Married people having an affair                88         3             7

 

 Not reporting all income on taxes              79         5            14

 

 Drinking alcohol excessively                   61         5            31

 

 Having an abortion                             52        12            23

 

 Smoking marijuana                              50        10            35

 

 Homosexual behavior                            50        12            33

 

 Telling a lie to spare someone's feelings      43        23            26

 

 Sex between unmarried adults                   35        22            37

 

 Gambling                                       35        17            42

 

 Overeating                                     32         6            58

 

  • All in all, which of the following best describes how you feel about doing your income taxes?

 

                                      --------Like Doing Your Taxes-----------

 

 

                                      Love   Like    Dislike    Hate   Neither

 

                                                                       (Vol.)

 

 

 Mar.-Apr. 2005  Harris Interactive/    1     11       45        25      19

 

                   Tax Foundation

 

  • People have strong feelings about some issues, and not so strong feelings about others. On this card there is a scale of feelings -- absolutely delighted, pleased, somewhat satisfied, no real feelings one way or the other, somewhat dissatisfied, angry, and boiling mad. Using this scale, how would you describe your feelings when you think about . . . the amount of taxes you pay?

 

                   ----------------------Feel About Doing Taxes----------------

 

 

                   Delighted  Pleased  Satisfied  None  Dissat.  Angry  Boiling

 

 

 Aug. 1996  Roper

 

            GfK-NOP    1          5        12      15     37       18     11

 

  • Does the process of paying your taxes make you feel mostly. . . ?

 

                         ----------------Process of Paying Your Taxes----------

 

 

                         Frustrated  Happy  Satisfied  Neutral  Anxious.  Angry

 

 

 Apr. 2005   Blum &

 

             Weprin/NBC

 

             News            17        4        15        41       10       7

 

  • I'm going to read you a short list of things that might make people feel stress. As I read each one, tell me if this is something that makes you feel a lot of stress, some stress, only a little stress, or no stress at all. How about . . . doing your taxes?

 

                                    -------Stress About Doing Taxes--------

 

 

                                      A Lot   Some    A Little      None

 

 Dec. 1999     PSRA/Kaiser             17      19        24          37

 

 

 NOTE: Doing your taxes ranked first out of four items in terms of a

 

 lot of stress. The other categories were dealing with your health

 

 insurance company (14 percent), dealing with your auto mechanic or

 

 the place that services your vehicle (12 percent), and dealing with

 

 your auto insurance company (7 percent).

 

  • About how many hours have you or will you spend doing your income taxes this year?

 

                               -------Time To Do Taxes-------

 

 

                       Less 1 Hr.   1-3 Hrs.   3-5 Hrs.  5-10 Hrs.   10+ Hrs.

 

 

 Mar. 1991   Gallup       12           34        15         13          9

 

  • Have you ever been reviewed by the IRS -- that is the Internal Revenue Service?

 

                     -----Reviewed by IRS-----

 

 

                           Yes        No

 

 

 Oct. 1997   NBC/WSJ        21        79

 

 

           (Asked of those who said they were reviewed) Do you

 

           believe that you were treated fairly or unfairly in your

 

           dealings with the IRS?

 

 

                          Treated   Treated

 

                          Fairly    Unfairly

 

 Oct. 1997      NBC/WSJ     57        42

 

 

           (Asked of those who said they were reviewed) There

 

           have been a number of incidents in which the IRS is alleged

 

           to have behaved unethically or treated people unfairly

 

           during audits. Do you believe that these were isolated

 

           incidents, or is this something you think occurs fairly

 

           regularly?

 

 

                          -------Abuse By IRS-------

 

 

                            Isolated       Occurs

 

                            Incidents     Regularly

 

 Oct. 1997      NBC/WSJ        19            70

 

  • How are your taxes usually prepared?

 

 Harris Interactive/Tax Foundation

 

 

                               Mar.-Apr. 2005    Mar. 2006      Mar. 2007

 

 

 I pay an outside tax preparer      35             36              34

 

 

 By me or someone in my house

 

 using software like TurboTax

 

 or TaxCut                          30             33              39

 

 

 By me or someone in my house

 

 using tax forms                    24             22              17

 

 

 By a friend or family

 

 member outside my house             6              5               5

 

 

 Other                               6              4               5

 

  • How do you prepare your taxes -- do you or someone else in your household use an account and/or tax preparer, a computer software program, a pencil and a calculator?

 

 Mar. 2005   Fox News/Opinion Dynamics

 

 

 Accountant or tax preparer    61

 

 Computer software program     19

 

 Pencil and a calculator       16

 

 Not sure                       3

 

  • Which of the following best describes how you do your income taxes?

 

 Apr. 2005      Blum & Weprin/NBC News

 

 

 You prepare and file them well ahead of the April 15 deadline       76

 

 You prepare and file them at the last minute                        19

 

 You get an extension from the IRS                                    4

 

  • Now let me ask you about a few specific agencies. Using this card, is your opinion of them highly favorable, moderately favorable, or not too favorable, or rather unfavorable . . . I.R.S. (Internal Revenue Service)

 

                          -----IRS-----

 

 

                              Total

 

                           "Favorable"

 

 

 1983      Roper GfK-NOP      51%

 

 1984      Roper GfK-NOP      60

 

 1985      Roper GfK-NOP      48

 

 1986      Roper GfK-NOP      49

 

 1992      Roper GfK-NOP      37

 

 1995      Roper GfK-NOP      36

 

 1996      Roper GfK-NOP      41

 

 1997      Roper GfK-NOP      34

 

 1998      Roper GfK-NOP      32

 

 1999      Roper GfK-NOP      37

 

 2000      Roper GfK-NOP      41

 

 2001      Roper GfK-NOP      46

 

 

           -------Aug. 1983-------                 -------Jul. 2001-------

 

 

        Highly  Not   Not   Highly  Don't      Highly  Not   Not   Highly Don't

 

                Too   Too                              Too   Too

 

        Fav.    Fav. Unfav. Unfav.  Know       Fav.    Fav. Unfav. Unfav. Know

 

 

 NPS     34      43     8     3      12         30      50     8      3     9

 

 FBI     29      46    14     5       6         14      45    23      8    10

 

 FDA     31      42    15     5       6         20      49    19      6     6

 

 USPS    --      --    --    --      --         31      47    14      6     2

 

 USFS    --      --    --    --      --         26      48     9      5    13

 

 CDC     --      --    --    --      --         27      45    11      3    13

 

 NASA    --      --    --    --      --         23      46    14      5    12

 

 FCC     18      47    13     4      17         12      45    17      5    20

 

 FAA     18      46    12     5      19         13      47    17      5    18

 

 FTC     10      50    14     4      21          7      46    15      5    27

 

 NIH     --      --    --    --      --         17      50    12      4    17

 

 USBC    --      --    --    --      --         16      54    14      4    13

 

 EPA     21      35    22    12       9         15      49    19      7    10

 

 FEMA    --      --    --    --      --         18      45    14      3    19

 

 SEC     13      42    12     3      30         11      40    13      3    32

 

 CIA     15      38    24     9      13         12      37    25      8    17

 

 IRS     12      38    28    16       6          7      39    30     20     5

 

 BATF    --      --    --    --      --         12      40    24     12    12

 

 SSA     --      --    --    --      --         14      46    24      9     7

 

 BLM     --      --    --    --      --          8      41    18      5    28

 

  • Overall, how would you rate the job the Internal Revenue Service or IRS does -- excellent, pretty good, only fair, or poor?

 

                                    -------IRS-------

 

 

                                          Total

 

                               "Excellent" or "Pretty Good"

 

 

 2000    Harris Interactive                44

 

 2001    Harris Interactive                63

 

 2003    Harris Interactive                51

 

 2004    Harris Interactive                54

 

 2007    Harris Interactive                55

 

  • How good a job do you think the IRS does in enforcing the tax laws so that everyone pays what they should pay? Would you say it does an excellent job, a good job, not too good a job, or a poor job of enforcing the tax laws so that everyone pays what they should pay?

 

                                    -------IRS-------

 

 

                                          Total

 

                                   "Excellent" or "Good"

 

 

 2005      Blum & Weprin/NBC News          52

 

  • There have been a number of incidents in which the IRS is alleged to have behaved unethically or treated people unfairly during audits. Do you believe that these were isolated, or is this more something you think occurs fairly regularly?

 

                                         Isolated       Fairly

 

                                         Incidents      Regular

 

 

 Apr. 2005      Blum & Weprin/NBC News      42            43

 

  • In your dealings with the IRS do you feel you have been treated fairly or unfairly, or have you not had enough experience with the IRS to say?

 

                                         Fairly    Unfairly   Not Enough To Say

 

 

 Apr. 2005      Blum & Weprin/NBC News     49         5            46

 

  • Do you think most people cheat on their taxes, many people cheat on their taxes, only a few people cheat on taxes, or do you think almost no one cheats on their taxes?

 

                                         Most      Many    Only A     Almost

 

                                         People    People   Few       No One

 

 

 Apr. 2005      Blum & Weprin/NBC News     9         30      51         4

 

  • Do you think any of your friends or neighbors cheat on their taxes?

 

                                              Yes       No      Not Sure

 

 

 Mar. 2005      Fox News/Opinion Dynamics     38        35       28

 

  • Have you ever been tempted to cheat on your taxes, or haven't you?

 

                                              Yes       No

 

 

 Apr. 2005      Blum & Weprin/NBC News        14        85

 

  • Do you believe it is becoming easier for someone to cheat on their income taxes, has there been no change, or is it becoming harder for someone to cheat on their income taxes?

 

                               Easier    No Change      Harder

 

 

 Apr. 2005      Gallup         21        35             30

 

  • Are you planning to, or did you already, send your tax return to the IRS by mail, or electronically by computer?

 

                          Mail      Electronically

 

 

 Mar. 1997      Gallup     77             15

 

 Apr. 1999      Gallup     66             20

 

 Apr. 2001      Gallup     62             28

 

 Apr. 2003      Gallup     52             34

 

 Apr. 2005      Gallup     43             44

 

  • If you had to make a choice, which of the following would you prefer, an audit by the IRS or root canal surgery?

 

                                         ------Personally Prefer-------

 

 

                                            Root Canal     IRS Audit

 

 

 Mar. 1997      The Polling Company           47              40

 

  • If you had a choice, do you think you would rather have a root canal at the dentist or be audited by the IRS?

 

                                         -------Personally Prefer-------

 

 

                                            Root Canal      IRS Audit

 

 

 Apr. 2000      Fox News/Opinion Dynamics     51               34

 

 

 NOTE: Asked of registered voters.

 

  • If you had to choose, which would you prefer: prepare taxes or go to the dentist?

 

                                         -------Personally Prefer-------

 

 

                                         Prepare Taxes     Go To Dentist

 

 

 Apr. 2005      AP/Ipsos                      48                49

 

 

 NOTE: Asked of registered voters.

 

  • If you could choose one person to have audited by the IRS, who would it be: your mother-in-law, your boss, or your congressman?

 

                                         -------Choose To Get Audited-------

 

 

                                         Mother-In-Law   Boss    Congressman

 

 

 Jan. 1998    Fox News/Opinion Dynamics       3           8          60

 

 Mar. 1999    Fox News/Opinion Dynamics       3           8          68

 

 

 NOTE: Asked of registered voters.

 

 

Polling Issues in Surveys on Taxes

From the 1930s to the 1970s, when a small number of national pollsters were in the field, it was relatively easy to compare their polling results and to make some sense of the findings. Today there are some fourteen national pollsters in the field regularly, and their tremendous output presents a serious challenge for any analyst. Changes in the polling industry compound the difficulty. Media-polling partnerships dominate the public polling business today, and the pollsters follow the media's ever-changing agenda. Some topics get serious attention for a short period of time, and then the media and their poll partners move on to something new. Many questions were asked about the Social Security payroll tax in the early 1980s, but such questions are hard to find today. Without trends, it is hard to know how or if attitudes are changing.

This document brings together trends from major survey organizations and commentary on the tax burden, value for tax dollars, tax fairness, progressivity, taxes and the deficit, politicians' credibility on taxes, and finally, views of the IRS and on preparing taxes. The collection here is comprehensive, but it is also full of unresolved contradictions making it difficult to know exactly what people are saying about taxes.

Pollsters approach the subject in different ways, of course, and this produces some of the confusion. That is why it is especially important to be attentive to question wording. Slight changes in wording can skew results. A series of identical questions from one pollster in 1996 showed that people thought Bob Dole would do a better job of handling taxes than Bill Clinton, but another pollster's questions asked at roughly the same time gave Clinton the edge. The first pollster asked people whether they "trusted" Bob Dole or Bill Clinton on taxes. Is it possible that people were responding to the issue of trust, on which Dole excelled, and not to the issue of taxes when answering the first question? Here is another example. Today many surveys show that people prefer reducing the deficit to additional tax cuts. But a change of emphasis calls those responses into question. In early 2003, NBC News and the Wall Street Journal pollsters asked whether stimulating the economy or controlling the deficit should be the greater priority for the president and Congress. Stimulating the economy was preferred by more than two-to-one. In February 2003, when the Pew Research Center asked two questions about how to pay for proposed increases in military and homeland defense spending, a plurality in one question said they preferred to pay for the increases by postponing or reducing tax cuts rather than reducing spending on domestic programs or adding to the budget deficit. In the other formulation, people were much less likely to want to raise taxes to pay for the increased expenditures and preferred to add to the deficit or reduce spending on domestic programs. Although it's tempting to say that you can prove whatever you want with poll questions about the deficit, our review of questions about it in three different periods (the mid-1940s, the early 1980s, and the late 1990s on) show that there is a structure to people's beliefs about it.

Studying question wording can yield interesting insights. The Republicans may have an advantage with the public on holding taxes down or holding the line on taxes, but not on cutting them. Recent questions show that neither party has a consistent advantage when people are simply asked about "taxes."

It is important in interpreting survey results to know how strongly or intensely people feel about things. In a Harris question asked six times since 1970, roughly 60 percent say that they have reached "the breaking point" on taxes -- a pretty serious indictment. Another question asked by Gallup more than thirty times since 1947, almost always shows that majorities say their taxes are too high. Yet, when Gallup asks people to name the most important problem facing the nation, taxes (or the deficit) hardly ever takes the top spot. In polls in early 2004, concern about the tax burden pales in comparison to concern about war, terrorism, or the economy.

Here's another area where intensity matters. Since the questions were first asked in the 1970s, as this document shows, people have consistently told pollsters that the rich do not pay their fair share of taxes. People have long told the pollsters that Republican policies favor the rich. In 2003, in every poll we've seen, substantial proportions give that response about President George W. Bush's tax plans. But it is hard to know how politically consequential the sentiment is. In the January 2004 Gallup, CNN, USA Today poll, 57 percent approved of the job George W. Bush was doing handling taxes. The March 2004 ABC News poll found 50 percent approving and 47 percent disapproving. The March 2004 Princeton Survey Research Associates/Newsweek poll found disapproval outweighing approval (49 to 43 percent). If people felt strongly that the Bush tax plan is a sop to the rich, wouldn't disapproval of his job on the issue consistently outweigh approval?

Timing is another important issue in surveys. In 1979, when the economy was in bad shape, Americans wanted to do whatever could be done to get it back on track again. Sixty-two percent told Gallup that it was important to cut taxes even if it meant postponing important things that needed to be done. Only 12 percent disagreed. When the economy was humming along in 1999 and the identical question was asked, 21 percent said we should cut taxes, but 59 percent disagreed.

Finally, the data in this report are national-level data, and they don't capture the views of partisans who often drive the debate on tax issues. If we were to look only at the views of self-identified Republicans or Democrats on tax issues, the results would look different. There are important differences between voters and national samples on tax questions, too.

For these reasons and others, polls shouldn't be used to make policy whether the issue is eliminating double taxation of dividends or going to war. They are simply too crude for that purpose. They are useful, however, to understand the general attitudes Americans bring to an issue as consequential as taxes. That is what this document intends to show. It will be updated regularly, and new sections will be added to it.

 

_____________________________________________________________________

 

 

In 2003, Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research Inc. (Dem.) conducted two

 

polls on peoples' attitudes toward taxes as part of a series in

 

National Purpose studies sponsored by Public Interests Projects.

 

Stanley Greenberg and Anna Greenberg provided commentary for the July

 

report, Transforming the Tax Debate and the November report,

 

Taxes, Government, and the Obligations of Citizenship. For more

 

information, go to

 

http://www.greenbergresearch.com/campaigns_us/publications.php

 

_____________________________________________________________________

 

 

Key

 

 

ACIR = U.S. Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations

 

SRBI = Schulman, Ronca, & Bucuvalas Inc

 

_____________________________________________________________________

 

 

The data in this report come from the archive of public opinion polls

 

at AEI and from

 

The Roper Center's archive at the University of Connecticut in

 

Storrs, Connecticut.

 

The Roper Center is the oldest and largest archive of public opinion

 

data in the world.

 

To learn more about the Roper Center, visit

 

http://www.ropercenter.uconn.edu/.

 

_____________________________________________________________________
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