{"id":16251,"date":"2012-12-20T00:01:52","date_gmt":"2012-12-20T05:01:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/%year%\/%monthnum%\/%day%\/only-a-handful-of-proposals-for-reducing-the-deficit-get-majority-support\/"},"modified":"2024-04-14T03:42:17","modified_gmt":"2024-04-14T08:42:17","slug":"only-a-handful-of-proposals-for-reducing-the-deficit-get-majority-support","status":"publish","type":"short-read","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2012\/12\/20\/only-a-handful-of-proposals-for-reducing-the-deficit-get-majority-support\/","title":{"rendered":"Only a Handful of Proposals for Reducing the Deficit Get Majority Support"},"content":{"rendered":"

Among a dozen specific spending and tax options for reducing the national debt and deficit, only three win majority approval from the public. They include: raising the tax rate on incomes over $250,000 (69% approve); limiting the amount of deductions a taxpayer can claim (54% approve); and raising the tax rate on investment income (52% approve). While limiting deductions overall receives majority support, fewer (41%) support limiting the home mortgage interest deduction.<\/p>\n\n

At the other end of the spectrum — cuts in federal funding for education, transportation and the poor are particularly unpopular. Fully 77% disapprove of cuts in education, 67% oppose reduced funding for roads and transportation and 58% disapprove of cuts in federal aid to the poor. In addition, 55% disapprove of reductions in military defense spending while 43% approve.<\/p>\n\n

There are substantial partisan differences over most of these proposals. Democrats are far more likely than Republicans to support reducing military defense spending and raising taxes on personal incomes over $250,000 and on investment income. A majority of Democrats (57%) approve of defense cuts, compared with 22% of Republicans.<\/p>\n\n

Similarly, fully 86% of Democrats support raising taxes on income over $250,000. Republicans are more divided; 52% approve of this while 44% disapprove. A majority of Democrats (62%) support increasing the tax rate on investment income while a majority of Republicans disapprove (60%).<\/p>\n\n

By contrast, Republicans are about twice as likely as Democrats to support cuts in federal funding for programs that help low-income people (53% vs. 24%). And while Republicans are divided over whether to gradually raise the age for Social Security benefits, fully 67% of Democrats disapprove. Read more<\/a><\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Only three of 12 proposals for reducing the deficit garnered majority support in an early December 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