Another Poll Shows Support for Tax Hikes on the Wealthy and Closing Loopholes
Poll after poll has found that a majority of Americans believe that raising certain taxes should be part of a deficit reduction package along with spending cuts, and the latest Kaiser Family Foundation survey, conducted July 13-18, comes up with the same result.
Sixty-four percent of those surveyed said that closing tax loopholes for large businesses should play a major role in a deficit reduction strategy and 57 percent back closing loopholes for wealthy Americans. By a margin of 50 percent t0 29, Americans would increase taxes on the wealthy. Eighteen percent say increasing taxes on the wealthy should not be an option. But the idea of raising taxes for all Americans is supported by only 23 percent.
Closing tax loopholes for large businesses gets the support of 54 percent of Republicans. Closing loopholes for wealthy Americans is supported by 45 percent, with 29 percent saying this should play a “minor role” in deficit reduction, with 22 percent saying it should play no role at all..
At the same time, public resistance to spending reductions in Social Security and Medicare remains strong. Sixty-two percent do not want to see any reductions in Social Security spending and 59 percent feel the same about Medicare. Forty-eight percent oppose any reductions in Medicaid and another 36 percent would back only minor ones. Thirty-seven percent oppose reductions in defense spending and 30 percent support them, with 30 percent undecided.
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