The latest Fox News poll finds that 55 percent oppose the healthcare reforms being deliberated on Capitol Hill, and more than half believe that the House Democratic leadership is “changing the rules” to get the controversial bill enacted.
Along party lines, the poll released Thursday found that 53 percent of Democrats think their party is following the rules, while 27 percent believe that it is shifting the rules and 19 percent were unsure. Meanwhile, 78 percent of Republicans and 57 percent of independents contend that House Democrats are changing the rules to jam the bill through.
Whatever opinion-forming dynamics are at play, the clique of reform advocates among voters has been relatively steady since last summer: 35 percent of those polled favor it now, while 36 percent where firmly onboard the reform wagon last July.
The 55 percent opposing reform is up from 51 percent in January, and from 47 percent in July. Opposition peaked at 57 percent in December.
Meanwhile, in the bigger picture, 75 percent of voters overall believe that the federal government does not represent their views. That includes 58 percent of Democrats, 78 percent of independents, and 92 percent of Republicans.
Asked about the job Nancy Pelosi is doing as speaker of the House, 57 percent disapprove of her job performance, while 31 percent approve.
In other poll results:
- 66 percent of Democrats favor the reforms, while 53 percent of independents and 88 percent of Republicans oppose them.
- 46 percent would throw out the current bill and start over, while 30 percent would work with what is now on the table and 19 percent would do nothing on healthcare now.
- By a 2-to-1 margin, people think the quality of their family’s healthcare would be worse, rather than better, if the bill passed.
- Most of those polled think the reforms would cost them money (66 percent), and increase their taxes (75 percent).
- Opponents’ main reasons for objections were quality issues (30 percent), cost issues (22 percent), and an over-ambitious reach (19 percent).
- About 6 in 10 voters don’t believe that healthcare reform would create jobs (56 percent) or ramp-up the nation’s economy (64 percent).
The exhaustive poll also asked the sampling what to do next if the bill passes or fails:
- If it passes, 45 percent want lawmakers to repeal it, 29 percent would expand it, and 18 percent say lawmakers should leave as is.
- If the bill fails, 42 percent want lawmakers to start over, 36 percent would drop it altogether, and 19 percent of voters would want Congress to keep trying to pass the current bill.
How do voters perceive President Barack Obama and his approach to healthcare reform?
- 47 percent say he is showing leadership, while 45 percent think he is showing stubbornness.
- 48 percent think the president is pushing only the Democratic agenda and not trying to compromise, while 55 percent think Republicans are only trying to block the president’s agenda rather than looking for compromise.
- 43 percent think Obama is truly trying to find middle ground with Republicans, while 31 percent think Republicans are looking for a compromise.
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