According to a new poll released by Quinnipiac University, a majority of American voters now “mostly disapprove” of the proposed health care changes under consideration in Congress and an even larger majority oppose using public money to pay for abortion. The news comes even as the proponents of abortion attempt to ram the bill through before Christmas, following the defection of Senator Nelson to support of the bill.
The poll shows that 72% of voters think that abortions should not be paid for by public funds under a health care reform bill. Majorities of Democrats, women, and moderates also think that public funds should not be used to pay for abortions, as did every age group and every income group in the poll.
53% of voters mostly disapprove of the health care plan; a larger 64% of voters either oppose the current proposals being considered for health care reform but want reform of some kind, or simply think that no action should now be taken on health care reform.
Opinions so divergent from the efforts of President Obama have altered the public’s perception of him: a significant and possibly still-growing majority disagree with the way that the President is handling health care (See chart). Other indicators show that trust in President Obama still exists, but is decaying. From March 4 to December 22 the number of people who trust President Obama over the Republicans in Congress as regards the economy fell by 11 percentage points; from July 1 to December 22 the number of people who trust President Obama over the Republicans in Congress as regards health care fell by 8 percentage points.
“As President Barack Obama’s numbers on health care have declined so has his margin over Republicans on whom American voters trust most on the issue,” said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
Additionally, 73% of respondents say that they do not believe President Obama’s statement that health care reform will not add to the federal budget deficit over the next decade; a majority also thinks that if the health care plan significantly adds to the deficit, it should not be passed.
Quinnipiac University surveyed approximately 1,600 voters over 5 days for the poll; the expected margin of error is plus or minus 2.5 percentage points. Other polls have shown a similar lack of support for the health care plan.
