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74% of Republicans Think Some Tax Increases Are Necessary To Lower Deficit
While Republicans are maintaining a hardline stance of no tax increases in the debt ceiling negotiations, a new Gallup poll found that 76% of Republicans along with a majority of all Americans believed that some tax increases may be necessary to reduce the deficit.
According to the new Gallup poll while spending cuts are the preferred choice among Republicans for lowering deficit, only 26% Republicans believe that deficit reduction can be achieved with only cuts in spending. Forty one percent believe that deficit reduction can be achieved with mostly spending cuts, and 24% favor an equal mix of spending cuts and tax increases. This means that almost two thirds of Republicans (65%) understood that some increase in revenue is necessary if the deficit is going to be lowered.
Among Independents, 58% supported a mix of program cuts and tax increases, and surprisingly 23% of Democrats believed that deficit reduction should be done with mostly spending cuts, and another 42% believed that it should be an equal mix of spending cuts and tax increases. Democrats were the group that was most supportive of using mostly tax increases to pay off the debt (12%), followed by Independents (7%), and Republicans (2%).
This poll illustrates how out of step Congressional Republicans are not only with the country at large, but also with their own party members. Republicans prefer that the process of deficit reduction be weighted heavily towards the spending cuts side, but they accept the possibility that some increase in taxes will be required if the US is going to pay down the deficit. Even Democrats tilt more towards using spending cuts (33%) than using tax increases (20%).
Democrats and Independents favored the balanced approach a.k.a. the plan that Obama is offering. Even 24% of Republicans favored a balanced approach to lowering the deficit. This poll provides more evidence that Obama just needs to hold his ground. A majority of Americans across party lines already understand the necessity for increased revenue along with program cuts.
Congressional Republicans are way out in right field on this issue. Obama has the upper hand and the plan that most Americans support. If Republicans keep turning down a debt ceiling deal that includes both tax increases and program cuts, they shouldn’t expect the public to side with them. If this poll is any indication, there could be a sizable number of Republicans upset with their own party if their stubborn stance against any revenue increases leads to a US default.
Rank and file Republicans want to use a mostly spending cuts approach to deal with the deficit, but they aren’t as opposed to some form of a revenue increase as the GOP members of Congress.
It comes down to the fact that most Americans disagree with the GOP members of Congress who want to use only spending cuts to reduce the deficit. The clock is ticking and the pressure is on not Obama, but the GOP, to either get on the same page with a majority of Americans or risk an economic catastrophe.
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16 Responses to 74% of Republicans Think Some Tax Increases Are Necessary To Lower Deficit
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Shiva (Moderator)
Jul. 13th, 2011 at 7:34 pm
Jason, I do not think the GOP is out of step. I think its on purpose and is wealthy oriented. I think they are walking away from America on purpose. This is no they are just not listening thing, if they were we would not have a debt ceiling problem.
Frankly I think its criminal and due for investigation. Anyone who is against closing tax loopholes etc is decidedly not working for the US
Cathy
Jul. 13th, 2011 at 7:42 pm
Great job–this should be on the front page of every paper in the country, leading story of televised news, and talked about over morning coffee. Good news to know that more than 50% of Americans are in step with what needs to be done. Too bad that Congress isn’t!
Realist
Jul. 15th, 2011 at 2:21 pm
The problem is that even if taxes are increased at the level the President is talking about, it will only raise enough money to cover about 4 days of the annual deficit–if the tax cuts don’t do what tax cuts always do which is slow the economy down further. Huge spending cuts are NECESSARY to deal with the other 361 days of the year. I understand that politically it is easy to say “soak the rich,” but spending has gotten so out of control, that drastic cuts have to happen.
jlt
Jul. 13th, 2011 at 7:45 pm
So who are the ‘people’ that the repub baggers are listening too?
It is for the wealthy that the gaggle of repubs are for NOT THE PEOPLE or the nation!
Anyone , like cantor, who is BETTING against the USA is not for the nation but for corporate welfare of his donors and personal gain! If the Oath is ‘preserve and protect…he is in violation of the oath!
boil
Jul. 13th, 2011 at 10:18 pm
even you guys are doing it! please add, tax increases on the very rich, not the middle class, and not the poor. the tax increases are on the WEALTHY. thats the problem with this story, everyone is parsing words to fit their narrative. its tax increases on the rich 2%, back to clinton era rates….
thank you and good night….
Fairplay
Jul. 14th, 2011 at 9:13 am
Replace “Republicans” with “Democrats” and “Tax Increases” with “Cut to Government” and you’ll have the EXACT SAME STORY from the Drudge perspective.
Why does EVERYONE insist on engaging in this propaganda? Are there really THAT many party cheerleaders floating around looking for validation of their viewpoints that the truth no longer has a place in reporting?
Gordon
Jul. 14th, 2011 at 4:53 pm
I think the difference is that in the current discussion of raising the debt ceiling the democrats are not insisting that all debt reduction be done through tax increases and absolutely refuse to discuss spending cuts. Whereas Republicans in congress are insisting that all debt reduction be done through spending cuts without any tax increase despite the fact that 65% of the public that self identifies as Republican don’t believe this can be done.
Pat
Jul. 14th, 2011 at 10:15 am
Title says 74% but article says 76%. I know it is not a huge difference but some will claim that provee the whole article is false.
John Valenty
Jul. 14th, 2011 at 12:28 pm
No matter how many tax increases you do, if they don’t figure out how to stop spending American tax dollars on themselves and other countries, tax increases aren’t going to solve any problems. Obviously they’ve handled American tax dollars horribly for this long, what makes us think that if we give the government more money, they’ll magically fix our debt?
Shiva (Moderator)
Jul. 14th, 2011 at 12:42 pm
In no way are tax increases the only answer. It is A answer. Right now this country is taking in 20% less per person than we were in 2001. If the unemployment in this country were down, we would not have a spending crisis.
marilyn
Jul. 14th, 2011 at 5:36 pm
we all know that there has to be reductions in expenses but there also has to be taxes paid by the wealthy and corporations that have not been doing their share…..why don’t they suspend the checks of the congress men if the need is there…why just pick on the needy..its time they all grew up..as the saying goes educated.a..holes
charlie
Jul. 18th, 2011 at 2:58 am
wow…. so when does taxation stop? The gov keeps spending and spending, and the only solution is to raise taxes? How about the gov stop acting like a teenager addicted to shopping and stop spending. The gov worked great in the late 1800′s and we didn’t have a zillion programs. We need police and courts… everything else is just a waste of the american peoples money.