NEW POLL: Addressing the Debt and Budget Deficit Tops Americans'
"To Do" List for Lawmakers
WASHINGTON, Dec. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- After a
campaign season of unprecedented expense and duration, taming the
federal budget and avoiding the fiscal cliff top America's to-do
list for President Obama and Congress, according to poll results
announced today by The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) and
National Journal. But in contrast to Washington's near exclusive focus on the
budgetary standoff, the public expresses nearly equal concern about
an array of other economic challenges, including the availability
of jobs, Medicare and Social Security; quality of education; and
rising costs of college and health care.
[Watch a live briefing on the latest Heartland Monitor
Poll TODAY at 8:30 a.m., ET
at
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The 15th quarterly Allstate-National Journal Heartland
Monitor Poll explores the public's economic priorities and concerns
in the election's aftermath and their attitudes toward competing
approaches to address these problems. The survey also finds that
Americans are more positive about the direction of the country than
they have been in quite some time; however, they remain skeptical
of Washington's ability to
effectively work together and address the nation's current
challenges.
For the fourth Heartland Monitor poll in a row, the "Right
Direction" metric increased and it is now at its highest level
since the series' first poll in April
2009 (41% believe the country is heading in the right
direction, compared to 50% who believe it's on the wrong track).
However, Americans are less optimistic about their personal
financial situation, led largely by Republicans who are likely
unhappy about the election result.
Looking ahead to the next four years, Americans expect both
sides to make compromises to get more done, though they are not
sold on the reality of this happening. Less than half (43%)
of respondents think it's likely that, over the next four years,
the President and Congress will work together more than they did in
the previous four, and there's considerable doubt about the budget
situation improving.
"Fully aware of the challenges ahead, Americans want their
leaders to compromise on a range of issues from the deficit and
stabilizing Social Security to creating jobs and improving
education. Americans consider the budget deficit and national debt
to be top priorities for elected officials in Washington, and we know from our research that
more than half of Romney voters and nearly six-in-ten Obama voters
support compromise across party lines to address our current
challenges," said Joan
Walker, executive vice president of corporate relations
for Allstate. "The country wants the leadership in Washington to move past the partisan gridlock
and come together, even if it means bending or breaking some
hardline stances."
Americans say that the most important issue for policymakers
should be addressing the debt and the budget deficit, but they balk
at the idea of cutting the debt through a combination of tax
increases and spending cuts. Ultimately, Americans want solutions
to the country's budget woes, but they are highly protective of
entitlement programs and they endorse continued public investment
in infrastructure.
These results speak to the significant challenges faced by
policymakers as they address not only the immediate task of
avoiding the fiscal cliff, but also a long "to do" list over the
next two to four years. And despite the significant challenges
facing the country, the poll once again finds enduring signs of
optimism.
"As from the beginning, the latest Heartland Monitor poll
reveals that the strains of the Great Recession and its grueling
aftermath have not cracked the public's bedrock optimism that
America can meet the complex political and economic challenges
confronting it," said Ronald
Brownstein, editorial director of National Journal
Group. "Exactly two-thirds of those polled say they believe the
nation will eventually overcome these challenges—just as we've done
with other major challenges throughout our history. Yet also like
earlier surveys, this poll finds that optimism tempered by the fear
that the hard times of recent years represent a new normal of
diminished opportunity, particularly for young people, and widening
insecurity."
Key findings from the 15th Allstate-National Journal
Heartland Monitor Poll (PDF) include:
1) The highest priority on America's to-do list is to
address the budget deficit and national debt. However, Americans
are also highly protective of Social Security and Medicare, another
high priority issue that can be at odds with debt reduction
efforts.
- A vast majority of Americans (83%) believes the budget deficit
and national debt should be the top priorities for elected
officials in Washington, followed
by the status of Social Security and Medicare (82%) and the
availability of good-paying jobs (79%).
- Issues of lowest priority to Americans include the status of
illegal immigrants (53%) and the state of the housing market
(49%).
- Consistent with previous Heartland Monitor polls, Americans are
split roughly in thirds on the proper role of the federal
government in the economy. 37% believe that government is not the
solution, but the problem; 28% would like to see an active role for
government in the economy but lack trust in their ability to do so
effectively; 31% believe the government must play an active role in
ensuring the economy works for "people like me."
- When considering the most pressing economic issue facing
the United States today, jobs and
unemployment top the list with 30%, followed by spending (19%) and
the deficit (15%) and wages not keeping up with prices (11%). 9%
chose the "fiscal cliff" as the most pressing issue. Just 6% chose
taxes as the most pressing issue.
- 51% of Democrats are concerned about jobs or wages while 54% of
Republicans worry more about spending or the deficit.
2) While Americans are focused on near-term solutions
to address the debt and deficit, a plurality of Americans (43%)
believe investments in education, training, infrastructure, and
research, would do the most to help the country improve in the
long-term, even if it means continued deficits and tax
increases.
- In terms of longer-term efforts to improve the country, the top
priority for Americans is a broad improvement in the education
system to make it more affordable, accessible and relevant to
today's job market.
- When it comes to protecting our country's global
competitiveness, Americans believe there should be renewed focus on
improving early education in America, ensuring that more children
learn fundamentals and graduate from high school.
- Interestingly, when given the choice between two possible
approaches for governing, 55% think that President Obama should
take a visionary approach, focusing on long-term goals for the
future. 40% believe he should focus on a practical approach to
addressing our near-term challenges.
- Republicans are alone in favoring a near-term practical
approach (52%), while majorities of Independents (52%) and
Democrats (65%) prefer a more long-term visionary approach.
3) Americans are more positive about the direction of
the country and about President Obama than they have been in quite
some time. However, they're still conflicted about the impact of
Obama's policies.
- 41% believe the country is heading in the right direction,
while 50% believe things are off on the wrong track. This is the
highest right direction number since the first Heartland Monitor
poll in April 2009.
- Right Direction has now improved four surveys in a row,
indicating that the positive swing may be about more than just
post-election enthusiasm.
- Democrats are the most optimistic, with 77% believing the
country is headed in the right direction, up from 71% in December.
Independents increased modestly from 26% to 32%, while Republicans
only inched from 7% to 9%.
- At 54%, President Obama's job approval is up five points from
September (49%) and at its high point since the second Heartland
Monitor in July 2009 (56%).
- However, the President is still a very polarizing figure. 93%
of Democrats approve of the job he's doing, while 87% of
Republicans disapprove. Independents are nearly evenly split
(48%-46%).
- A majority of whites (54%) disapprove of the job he's doing,
while African-Americans (84%) and Hispanics (78%) give him a strong
endorsement.
- Americans are in wide agreement on their dislike of Congress.
72% disapprove of the job Congress is doing, while only one-in-five
(21%) approve. This is consistent across party lines.
- When it comes to developing solutions to the country's economic
problems, the President has his biggest advantage over Republicans
in Congress since September 2009. 48%
trust President Obama, while 32% trust Republicans in
Congress.
4) Americans are generally optimistic about the
direction of the economy and their personal finances.
However, looking ahead over the next four years, there are some
doubts about whether the country's fiscal challenges will improve.
And, there is strong evidence to suggest that the Presidential
election results have caused some to worry about their financial
future.
- 44% expect the economy to improve over the next 12 months,
while 31% believe it will become worse and 22% expect it to stay
about the same as it is.
- There is undoubtedly a political aspect to this opinion. 75% of
Democrats and 74% of Obama voters believe the economy will improve
over the next year while 63% of Republicans and 66% of Romney
voters think it will get worse.
- Looking ahead to the end of Obama's second term, by that point,
51% believe the country's economy will improve and just 27% believe
it will become worse.
- Regarding their personal financial situation, Americans are the
least confident they've been in more than a year. This is
notable because it contradicts the improving Right Direction
sentiment and flies in the face of many positive economic
indicators.
- 39% believe their personal financial situation will improve
over the next year, while 36% think it will stay the same and 22%
think it will become worse. The 22% "worse" number is up from 13%
in September and the highest we've measured since 23% in
March 2011.
- The increase in personal financial concern is being driven
largely by Republicans. In September, 30% believed their finances
would improve over the next year and 21% thought they would become
worse. In this poll, just 15% think their finances will improve
while 44% believe they will become worse.
5) Looking ahead to the next four
years, Americans expect both sides to make compromises to get more
done though they are not sold on the reality of this happening.
Regardless of the actions of policymakers, they ultimately believe
that the country's problems can be overcome as Americans have
always done in the past.
- Regardless of who they supported in the recent election,
Americans expect both parties in Washington to work together and make
compromises to get more done, even if it means bending on some
policies and preferences.
- 59% of Obama voters think that he should compromise with
Republicans in Congress as opposed to remaining firm in his
views.
- 54% of Romney voters want Republicans in Congress to compromise
with President Obama and Congressional Democrats.
- Less than half (43%) think it's likely that over the next four
years the President and Congress will work together more than they
did in the previous four. 45% believe things will be about the same
between the President and Congress and 10% think there will be less
cooperation.
- Still, considering the challenges facing the country, including
the deficit and debt, the slow recovery, high unemployment and deep
political divide, a strong majority of Americans believe the
country will overcome these challenges as it has in the past with
other problems.
- 67% believe that "Americans will overcome these challenges in
the foreseeable future, just like we've done with other major
challenges throughout our history."
- 31% think that "Americans are facing a unique set of challenges
that are so serious that we might not be able to overcome
them."
- This belief in Americans' ability to overcome challenges
crosses party lines, with 54% of Republicans joining 62% of
Independents and 85% of Democrats.
About Allstate
The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest
publicly held personal lines insurer known for its "You're In Good
Hands With Allstate®" slogan. Now celebrating its 80th anniversary
as an insurer, Allstate is reinventing protection and retirement to
help nearly 16 million households insure what they have today and
better prepare for tomorrow. Consumers access Allstate insurance
products (auto, home, life and retirement) and services through
Allstate agencies, independent agencies, and Allstate exclusive
financial representatives in the U.S. and Canada, as well as via www.allstate.com and
1-800 Allstate®. For an overview of the other Allstate-National
Journal Heartland Monitor Polls, visit
http://www.allstate.com/heartland-monitor. Additional information
is available at www.storiesfromtheheartland.com.
About National Journal Group
National Journal is Washington's premier source for 360-degree
insight on politics and policy. With up-to-the-minute breaking news
and analysis at NationalJournal.com, the essential intelligence of
National Journal Daily, the knowledge and depth of
National Journal magazine, and the comprehensive campaign
coverage of National Journal Hotline, National Journal
delivers everything you need to know to stay ahead of the curve in
Washington.
About FTI Consulting
FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global
business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect
and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex legal,
regulatory and economic environment. With more than 3,800 employees
located in 24 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely
with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex
business challenges in areas such as investigations, litigation,
mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management,
strategic communications and restructuring. The company generated
$1.56 billion in revenues during
fiscal year 2011. More information can be found
at www.fticonsulting.com.
SOURCE The Allstate Corporation