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PEW RESEARCH CENTER PUBLICATIONS
PEW RESEARCH CENTER FOR THE PEOPLE & THE PRESS
While most Americans disapprove of Barack Obama's handling of the economy, far more think his administration's policies -- rather than those of the Bush administration -- would do more to improve economic conditions over the next few years. As Congress gears up for debate over the tax cuts passed when Bush was president, the public is divided, with roughly equal numbers in favor of keeping all of Bush's tax cuts, repealing only those for wealthy Americans, or scrapping them entirely.
In the latest Pew Research/National Journal Congressional Connection poll, sponsored by SHRM, conducted July 22-25 among 1,004 adults, 46% say that following the policies of Obama administration would do more to help the economy improve in the next few years, while 29% say that following the Bush administration's policies would do more to help. Nearly one-in-five (17%) volunteer that neither administration's policies would help.
More than eight-in-ten Democrats (84%) say the Obama administration's policies would do more to improve the economy; fewer Republicans (63%) say the same about the Bush administration's policies (84% vs. 63%). More independents see Obama's policies than Bush's policies helping (by 43% to 20%); a sizable minority (27%) of independents say neither administration's policies would help
While Obama's policies generally are viewed more positively than are Bush's, whites and older Americans are divided on this issue. About as many non-Hispanic whites say following the Bush administration's economic policies (38%) as Obama's policies (34%) would improve the economy in coming years; this also is the case among those 65 and older (38% Bush's policies, 40% Obama's policies).
Divided Over Bush's Tax Cuts
The survey finds a continuing three-way divide in opinions about Bush's tax cuts: 31% say all of the tax cuts passed when Bush was president should be repealed; 30% say all of the tax cuts should all remain in place; 27% say tax cuts for the wealthy should be repealed, while others should be maintained.
This represents a modest change from mid-October 2008, when a plurality (37%) favored a repeal of tax cuts for the wealthy, while keeping other tax cuts in place. At that time, 25% supported keeping all of Bush's tax cuts while the same percentage favored eliminating all of the tax cuts.
In the new survey, Democrats are divided between repealing all of the tax cuts (42%) or just the tax cuts for the wealthy (36%); just 11% say that all the tax cuts should remain in place. About half of Republicans (52%) support keeping all of Bush's tax cuts. About a third of independents (32%) favor a total repeal of Bush's tax cuts, while comparable numbers favor repealing the tax cuts for the wealthy (27%) and ending them entirely (27%).
There also are race, age and income differences in opinions on what to do about Bush's tax cuts. More than twice as many non-Hispanic African Americans (58%) as non-Hispanic whites (27%) favor repealing all of the tax cuts passed during Bush's presidency.
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