New survey from YouGov also finds an overwhelming bipartisan majority of Americans support reforms to keep Congress in Washington until a budget is completed.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On the cusp of a potential federal government shutdown, Americans for Prosperity (AFP) released new polling revealing that a majority of Americans (61%) agree that shutdowns are bad for Congress’s ability to help the country succeed. Additionally, the poll finds overwhelming support for legislation requiring Congress to remain in session until the budget is finished.
The YouGov poll, which surveyed 1,000 registered voters, showed that both parties oppose shutdowns and find them disruptive, but also that Democrats surveyed more consistently oppose them. More than half (64%) of seniors age 65+ believe the shutdown will harm the country and 87% of seniors surveyed support forcing Congress to stay in Washington and do their job finalizing the new legislation.
Congress should not shut the government down over expanding COVID-era temporary health care subsidies. As Republican leadership works to pass a clean continuing resolution, these findings indicate Democrats will face increasing pressure to come to the table and keep the government open, rather than holding the economy hostage with $1.5 trillion in additional government spending.
AFP Chief Government Affairs Officer Brent Gardner responded to the new poll, saying:
“The vast majority of Americans expect lawmakers to pass a budget and keep the government open and operating. Regardless of the issue or political Party, no one wins when the government shuts down. That’s why AFP has long-supported legislation to take these manufactured shutdown threats off the table for good. We strongly urge Democrats to listen to their own voters and the American people to stop playing politics with government funding and support this clean continuing resolution – and we urge members of both parties to support the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act to end this needless cycle of crisis-to-crisis governing.”
The Bottom Line: The American people do not support using government shutdowns as a bargaining tactic. Instead, voters across partisan, ideological, and demographic lines strongly favor accountability reforms that make our government work until budgets are complete. Members of Congress who emphasize constructive governance and accountability stand to align with overwhelming public opinion.
The Prevent Government Shutdowns Act would implement automatic continuing resolutions and require lawmakers to remain in Washington until appropriations work is complete. This commonsense legislation would end the cycle of manufactured crises and restore accountability to the budget process.
Click here to watch a video released earlier this week from AFP Senior Policy Fellow Kurt Couchman urging Democrats to support a continuing resolution.
Click here to watch American for Prosperity’s campaign telling Congress to end Biden’s COVID Credits.
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