NEW POLL: Americans Favor Scrapping the $3.5 Trillion Spending Package All Together
Significant majorities fear middleclass tax hikes, accelerated inflation, weaker economy
TRENTON, N.J. – Americans favor scrapping the $3.5 trillion reconciliation package currently under consideration by Congress, according to a new YouGov poll commissioned by Americans for Prosperity on the public’s attitude toward the spending plan. The poll comes as President Biden and congressional leaders struggle to garner support for Sen. Bernie Sanders’ $3.5 trillion reconciliation package in the face of mounting concerns among key lawmakers and a broad swath of Americans across the country on the harms of the proposal.
By a 47-33 margin, Americans believe the spending bill would lead to more middle-class taxes and higher inflation and that the bill should be scrapped entirely. Similarly, 46 percent of Americans believe the bill will make the economy weaker, while just 35 percent say it will make the economy stronger. Almost half (45 percent) of Americans think they or their families would not benefit at all from this bill. The poll was conducted by YouGov between Sept. 26 – 28 among 800 representative U.S. adults.
In recent weeks, the grassroots group launched targeted digital ads as part of the End Washington Waste campaign that urged Reps. Andy Kim and Josh Gottheimer to stop the “Biden-Sanders” health care heist that would only pave the way for higher Medicare premiums.
AFP Senior Advisor Erica Jedynak issued the following statement:
“Our working families, seniors, and residents across the board are already overtaxed, and now we see costs of living rise, both at the gas pump and the grocery store. It should be abundantly clear to our lawmakers; however, we cannot afford an inflation tax with trillions in wasteful, partisan spending. We urge the New Jersey Federal Delegation and the rest of the members in the House to vote against this spending atrocity for the sake of Americans.”
Key Findings:
- Americans favor scrapping the reconciliation bill entirely. By a significant margin, 47 percent agree with a statement that the spending bill would lead to more middle-class taxes and higher inflation and that the bill should be scrapped, to 33 percent who agree with a statement that the bill is an important investment in America’s future and should be passed. The margin was even larger among independents, with 52 percent saying the bill should be scrapped and just 27 percent saying it should be passed.
- Similarly, Americans are more likely to regard the bill as a threat to the economy than a boon to it. 46 percent of Americans believe the bill will make the economy weaker, while 35 percent say it will make the economy stronger.
- Despite claims, strong majority believe tax hikes will hit the middle class. By a margin of 55% to 25%, people think that the middle class will end up paying higher taxes as well as a result of this bill. Nearly 60 percent of independents believe the middle class would pay more.
- Inflation concerns loom large. A staggering 73 percent have some concern this bill will cause higher inflation, with 57 percent expressing moderate or big concerns. Even among Democrats, just 38 percent say it will not lead to higher inflation. And among Independents, 58 percent say higher inflation is likely, compared to just 15 percent who say otherwise.
- Overall, the majority of Americans (51 percent) believe this bill is likely to cause higher inflation, with 21 percent saying it is unlikely, and 28 percent unsure.
- Americans believe benefits will go to special interests, not them. Almost half (45 percent) of people think they or their families would not benefit at all from this bill. A plurality (36 percent) feel special interests will greatly benefit, while 25 percent think special interests will somewhat benefit. Only 9 percent said they or their families would benefit “greatly.”
See the full results of the poll here. The poll was commissioned by Americans for Prosperity.
