Federal Budget Deficit

Please tell me whether you favor or oppose each of the following as a way to reduce the federal debt. How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?

Increasing tax revenues by making major changes to the current federal tax code

Cutting defense spending

Making significant changes to the Social Security and Medicare programs to reduce their cost

Cutting spending for programs other than defense, Social Security and Medicare

Increasing income tax rates for upper-income Americans

As you may know, as part of the agreement to raise the debt ceiling, Congress will appoint a special committee to look at ways to further reduce federal spending and the national debt. If that committee does not reach an agreement, the law would impose major cuts in most federal spending including Medicare and defense. What would you like the members of this committee who represent your views on spending and the debt to do? Should they -- [ROTATED: hold out for a plan you would agree with, even if it prevents the committee from reaching an agreement, (or should they) agree to a compromise plan, even if it is a plan you would disagree with]?

Next, I'd like to ask you about the agreement reached by the president and Congress to raise the federal debt ceiling. Based on what you know or have read about this agreement, do you approve or disapprove of it?

Next, please tell me whether you approve or disapprove of the way each of the following handled the negotiations to raise the federal debt ceiling. How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?

President Barack Obama

Speaker of the House, John Boehner

Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid

Members of Congress Aligned with the Tea Party Movement

Based on what you know or have read about the agreement, do you view it as a step forward, a step backward, or neither in terms of addressing the federal debt situation?

What effect do you think the agreement will have on the U.S. economy -- will it -- [ROTATED: make the economy better, not have much effect, (or will it) make the economy worse]?

Next, as you may know, the president and Congress are trying to work out an agreement to increase the debt ceiling, the amount of money the government can legally borrow. The U.S. Treasury Department has said an agreement needs to be in place by August 2. Just your best guess, do you think an agreement to raise the debt limit will or will not be reached by the August 2 deadline?

If an agreement is not reached by the August 2 deadline, do you think an economic crisis will or will not result?

If an agreement is not reached by the August 2 deadline, do you think the government will or will not have to delay sending out Social Security and veterans' benefit payments?

What would you like the people in government who represent your views on the debt and budget deficit to do in this situation? Should they -- [ROTATED: hold out for the basic plan they want, even if the debt ceiling is not raised by the deadline, (or should they) agree to a compromise plan, even if it is a plan you disagree with]?

Which concerns you more -- [ROTATED: the government would not raise the debt ceiling and a major economic crisis would result (or) the government would raise the debt ceiling but without plans for major cuts in future spending]?

Based on what you know or have read about their approach to the debt ceiling negotiations, do you think each of the following is putting their own political interests first, or putting the country's best interests first? How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?

How closely are you following the news about discussions to raise the U.S. debt ceiling, the maximum amount of money the U.S. government can borrow by law -- very closely, somewhat closely, not too closely, or not at all?

From what you know or have read about the discussion of raising the debt ceiling, would you want your member of Congress to -- [ROTATED: vote in favor of raising the debt ceiling, vote against raising the debt ceiling] -- or don't you know enough to say?

(Asked of those who want their member of Congress to vote for raising the debt ceiling) What are some of the reasons why you would want your member of Congress to vote in favor of raising the debt ceiling? [OPEN-ENDED]

(Asked of those who want their member of Congress to vote against raising the debt ceiling) What are some of the reasons why you would want your member of Congress to vote against raising the debt ceiling? [OPEN-ENDED]

Who do you trust more to handle the issues concerning the federal budget deficit and the federal debt ceiling -- [ROTATED: President Obama (or) The Republican leaders in Congress]?

Which do you think is more to blame for the federal budget deficit -- [ROTATED: spending too much money on federal programs that are either not needed or wasteful, (or) not raising enough money in taxes to pay for needed federal programs]?

How long do you think it will be until the costs of the Medicare and Social Security programs create a crisis for the federal government -- are they already creating a crisis, will they create a crisis within the next 10 years, within 10 to 20 years, in more than 20 years, or not for the foreseeable future?

Which do you think is the better long-term plan for dealing with the federal budget deficit -- [ROTATED: the Republican plan put forth by Congressman Paul Ryan (or) the Democratic plan put forth by President Barack Obama]?

Are you worried or not worried that the Democratic plan for reducing the federal budget deficit in the long-term would -- [RANDOM ORDER]?

Are you worried or not worried that the Republican plan for reducing the federal budget deficit in the long-term would-- [RANDOM ORDER]?

As you may know, Democratic and Republican leaders reached an agreement late Friday night on the federal budget, avoiding a federal government shutdown. Overall, do you approve or disapprove of that agreement?

Based on what you have heard or read about the budget agreement, do you think it was a victory for the Democrats, a victory for the Republicans, a victory for both sides, or not a victory for either side?

Now looking ahead to next year's federal budget, do you think it should or should not -- [RANDOM ORDER]?

A. Include higher taxes for families with household incomes of $250,000 and above

B. Include significant additional cuts in spending on domestic programs

Do you think the government should completely overhaul Medicare to control the cost of the program, make major changes to Medicare but not completely overhaul it, make minor changes to Medicare, or should the government not try to control the costs of Medicare?

On a different subject, who do you think is doing the better job in the current efforts to agree on a new federal budget -- [ROTATED: Barack Obama and the Democrats in Congress (or) The Republicans in Congress]?

Do you think the budget proposals being made by -- [RANDOM ORDER] -- [ROTATED: go too far in cutting federal spending, are about right, (or) do not go far enough in cutting federal spending]?

A. Barack Obama and the Democrats in Congress

B. The Republicans in Congress

As you may know, if the Republicans in Congress and President Obama do not agree on federal spending goals by April 8, the federal government will have to shut down all of its nonessential services until a budget is passed. What would you like the people in government who represent your views on the budget to do in this situation? Should they -- [ROTATED: hold out for the basic budget plan they want, even if that means the government shuts down, (or should they) agree to a compromise budget plan, even if that means they pass a budget you disagree with]?

(Asked of a half sample) Next, please say whether you favor or oppose cutting government spending in each of the following areas. How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?

(Asked of a half sample) As you may know, the government will be forced to raise the legal limit on the national debt soon or the United States will default on its debts and force a government shutdown. What would you like to see Congress do -- [ROTATED: vote to raise the debt limit to avoid a government shutdown even if Congress cannot agree on measures to reduce the deficit in the future, vote to raise the debt limit only if Congress can agree ahead of time on measures to reduce the deficit in the future], or don't you know enough to say?

Next, how important is it to you that the president and Congress deal with each of the following issues in the next year -- is it -- extremely important, very important, moderately important, or not that important? How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?

The federal budget deficit

If you had to choose, which of these do you think would be the best approach for Congress and the president to take in dealing with the U.S. economy -- [RANDOM ORDER: increasing government stimulus spending, cutting taxes, reducing the federal budget deficit and national debt, (or) increasing taxes on the wealthy]?

Regardless of which presidential candidate you preferred, do you think the Obama administration will or will not be able to do each of the following? How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?

Control federal spending

Do you think President Obama's proposals to address the major problems facing the country call for too much government spending, the right amount, or not enough government spending?

Regardless of whether you favor or oppose the economic stimulus bill that Congress passed, do you think it would have been better for the government to spend more money to stimulate the economy, better for the government to spend less money, or is the amount of spending in the bill about right?

In thinking about the trade-offs between spending government money to improve the economy versus adding considerable amounts of money to the federal debt, which do you think is the greater risk -- [ROTATED: spending too little to improve the economy (or) adding too much to the federal debt]?

Compared with the situation when George W. Bush took office in January 2001, do you think the Bush administration has made the situation better, has made no difference, or has made the situation worse in each of the following areas? How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?

If you had to choose, which of the following would be more important to you -- [ROTATED: increasing spending on domestic issues such as education and health care (or) holding down the federal budget deficit]?

Trend for Comparison: If you had to choose, which of the following would be more important to you -- [ROTATED: increasing spending on domestic issues such as education, health care, and Social Security (or) holding down the federal budget deficit]?

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? How about -- [random order]?

Reduce the federal budget deficit

Which of these statements do you think best describes the federal budget deficit -- [ROTATED: it is a crisis, it is a major problem for the country but is not a crisis, it is a minor problem for the country, (or) it is not a problem for the country at all]?

Which comes closer to your view about the long-term impact the recent income tax cuts will have on the federal budget deficit -- [ROTATED: the tax cuts will increase the deficit in the long run because the government will take in a lot less money that it won't be able to recover, (or) the tax cuts will decrease the deficit in the long run because they will stimulate the economy and bring in more money for the government]?

In the long run, do you think the recently passed federal income tax cuts will result in an increase or a decrease in the federal budget deficit?

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 -- [ROTATED: reducing the federal budget deficit (or) cutting federal income taxes]?

Just your best guess, what is the main reason for the federal budget deficit -- [ROTATED: the terrorist attacks and the war in Afghanistan, the tax cuts passed last year, overspending by the federal government, (or) the current economic recession]?

Which of the following comes closer to your view of the budget deficit -- [ROTATED: the government should run a deficit if necessary when the country is in a recession and is at war, (or) the government should balance the budget even when the country is in a recession and is at war]?

If you had to choose, would you rather -- [ROTATED: go forward with this year's scheduled tax cuts even if it meant the federal budget would run a deficit, (or) balance the budget even if it meant postponing or canceling this year's scheduled tax cuts]?

When it comes to dealing with the tough choices involved BOTH in cutting programs to reduce the budget deficit AND still maintaining needed federal programs, whose approach do you prefer: the Republicans' in Congress or President Clinton's?

In your opinion, is the current federal budget deficit a very serious problem for the country, a fairly serious problem, not a serious problem, or is this something you haven't thought much about?

Do you think that tax cuts and deficit reduction can be accomplished at the same time, or do you think they cannot be accomplished at the same time?