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CBS News/New York Times PollFor release: Tuesday October 25, 20116:30 PM EDTAmid Skepticism About Job Creation Plans, Views of Government, Congress Decline
October 19-24, 2011
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Majorities of Americans say that neither the President nor the Republicans in Congresshave a clear plan for creating jobs – although more say the President does (38%) thanRepublicans do (20%).
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The poll finds record low ratings for Congress (9% approval) and an historic low on trustin government. And there is pessimism about whether the legislature can even agree oncreating jobs: only 28% are confident it can.
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Some specific job-creation proposals – including many in the President’s plan - findfavor: Americans back spending on infrastructure, teachers and police, and tax cuts forsmall businesses. Most oppose easing large corporations’ tax burdens.
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The President’s gets better marks for matters overseas than at home: his approval onIraq (60%) and foreign policy (50%) are his highest, but fewer approve of his handling ofthe economy (38%) and jobs (35%).
Job Plans and Congress
After years of pessimism about the economy and deep concern about jobs, few Americans seea clear plan for job creation coming from either the White House or the Republicans inCongress, and few expect Congress will be able to reach agreement on how to create jobs.Majorities of Americans say that neither the President nor the Republicans in Congress have aclear plan for creating jobs – although more say the President does than say the same for theRepublicans in Congress. 38% say President Obama has a jobs plan, although he has beentraveling around the country promoting one. Just 20% say the Republicans in Congress have a jobs plan.
Clear Plan for Creating Jobs?
Yes NoPresident Obama 38% 56Republicans in Congress 20% 71And there is pessimism about whether Congress can agree on creating jobs. Only 28% areconfident that the Republicans and Democrats in Congress will come together in agreement on job creation, and far more, 73%, are not confident.
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Confident Reps and Dems in Congress will Agree on Jobs Package
Very 3%Somewhat 25Not very 41Not at all 32
Job Creation Proposals
Americans themselves do agree on some job creation proposals, and they tend to favor ideasthat approach the problem from the ground up: spending on infrastructure, teachers andfiremen, and tax cuts for small businesses win support as good ideas. However, Americansreject the idea of easing large corporations’ tax burdens. Half support easing businessregulations.Eight in ten approve of government spending for roads and bridges as a way to boostemployment. Majorities would also direct federal funds toward localities to help them avoidteacher, police and firefighter layoffs (although support is lower for spending on the moregeneral “public employees” when teachers and police are not expressly mentioned).
Creating Jobs: Good or Bad Idea for Government to Spend Money….
Good idea Bad ideaOn infrastructure 80% 15For teachers, cops, firemen 65% 29On public employees generally 53% 39Partisans across the board agree on infrastructure spending. Republicans are more apt to viewspending for public employees as a bad idea, while independents and Democrats like that.Americans say the idea of giving tax cuts to small businesses is a good one (78% approve).Half think a payroll tax cut works as a job-creation idea. Half think regulations on businessshould be eased, while 31% say that is a bad idea. But corporate tax cuts find strongopposition, with two-thirds opposed.
Creating Jobs: Good or Bad Idea….
Good idea Bad ideaSmall business tax cut 78% 18Payroll tax cut 51% 37Ease business regulations 50% 31Corporate tax cuts 27% 67Republicans and Democrats both support small-business tax cuts. Democrats andindependents are against cutting corporate taxes; Republicans are divided.If it means lowering the budget deficit, Americans would support a tax increase on million-dollar-plus households. Democrats and independents are in favor, along with four in ten Republicans.
Should Million-Dollar Households Get Tax Increase?
All Reps Dems IndsYes 65% 38% 80% 68%No 30 59 16 25
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On Whose Side?
Much of the debate around these policy proposals centers on which groups might benefit or paymore. And both sides have made claims about helping America’s middle class. But fewAmericans think either the Obama administration or the Republicans in Congress are solely onthe side of the middle class, although the Obama administration has an edge in that regard.About four in ten say the Obama administration either sides mostly with the middle class ortreats everyone equally; including 23% who say it mainly favors the middle class. 28% think itfavors the rich.But in contrast, Republicans in Congress are overwhelmingly seen as favoring the rich overother classes; seven in 10 say so. Only 24% think the Republicans in Congress favor the middleclass or treat all groups equally; just 9% say they favor the middle class exclusively.
Who Favors Whom?
Obama administration favors…. Republicans in Congress favor…The rich 28% 69%Middle class 23 9The poor 17 2Treat all equally 21 15Most Americans consider themselves to be middle- or working-class. Those who callthemselves lower class tend to think the Obama Administration favors the rich. And Americansof all classes think Republicans favor the rich.
Views of Congress, Government
Continuing its downward slide, Congressional job approval is now at just 9%, a new record lowfor this poll. Disapproval crosses political lines; more than four out of five Republicans,Democrats and independents disapprove. Disapproval is also at a record high.
Congress’ Job Approval Rating
Total Reps Dems IndsApprove 9% 11% 10% 9%Disapprove 84 83 83 85The President’s job approval rating has been below 50% for most of the past two years, andapproval of Congress has repeatedly reached record historical lows in recent months. Againstthat backdrop, trust in government has also dropped precipitously.Just one in 10 Americans now say they trust the government in Washington to do what is rightall or most of the time, down from 21% a year ago and a record low since the question was firstasked in CBS News/New York Times Polls in 1976. 89% - a record high – say they trustgovernment only some of the time or never.
Trust Govt. to do what is Right
Now 10/2010 10/2001 2/1995 10/1992 1/1989 3/1980 6/1976Always 1% 2% 10% 2% 2% 6% 3% 4%Most of the time 9 19 45 16 20 38 22 30Some of the time 77 67 42 77 72 53 69 58Never (vol.) 12 11 2 4 4 1 2 5
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