New Taxes, New Programs?

With all the news regarding the U.S. fiscal cliff, voters are looking for a deal to reduce the budget deficit that will include more spending cuts than tax hikes. However, they expect a deal that will offer the reverse. It was interesting to note that while voters are confident that the tax hikes will be real but aren’t so sure about the spending cuts.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that a plurality (48%) of likely U.S. voters continues to believe that if Congress and the president raise taxes to reduce the federal deficit, they are likely to use the money for new government programs instead.

Thirty-eight percent (38%) disagree and believe new tax money raised to reduce the deficit will be used for that purpose. Fourteen percent (14%) are not sure.

Another Rasmussen survey found that 68% of voters nationwide favor a mix of tax hikes and spending cuts to help reduce the federal budget deficit. Twenty-four percent (24%) want spending cuts only and 4% would prefer only tax hikes.