Topline Results for Oct. 7, 2013

7/27/2019 Topline Results for Oct. 7, 2013

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Princeton Survey Research Associates International

October 2013 Omnibus Week 1


Princeton Survey Research Associates International forNational Journal

Final Topline ResultsOctober 7, 2013

Total: 1,000 adults age 18 and older

Margin of error: Plus or minus 3.7 percentage points

Interviewing dates: October 3-6, 2013

LANDLINE INTRO:Hello, my name is ________ and I'm calling for Princeton Survey Research. Were conducting astudy about some important issues today, and would like to include your household.RANDOMIZE RESPONDENT SELECTION - DO NOT RANDOMIZE BY FORM: May I please speak

with the YOUNGEST ADULT MALE, age 18 or older, who is now at home?AND May I pleasespeak with the YOUNGEST ADULT FEMALE, age 18 or older, who is now at home? IF NOMALE/FEMALE ASK: May I please speak with the YOUNGEST ADULT FEMALE/MALE, age 18 orolder, who is now at home?

CELL PHONE INTRO:Hello, I am ___ calling for Princeton Survey Research. We are conducting a national study ofcell phone users. I know I am calling you on a cell phone. This is not a sales call. (IF R SAYSDRIVING/UNABLE TO TAKE CALL: Thank you. We will try you another time...)

CELL PHONE SCREENING INTERVIEW:

S1. Are you under 18 years old, OR are you 18 or older?1 Under 182 18 or older9 Dont know/Refused

IF S1=2, CONTINUE WITH MAIN INTERVIEWIF S1=1,9, THANK AND TERMINATE: This study is limited to adults age 18 and over. I wonttake any more of your time...

READ TO ALL CELL PHONE - INTRODUCTION TO MAIN INTERVIEW: Were interested inlearning more about people with cell phones. If you are now driving a car or doing any activityrequiring your full attention, I need to call you back later. The first question is...

Notes: Due to rounding, percentages may not add to 100. An asterisk (*) indicates values lessthan 0.5%.


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READ TO ALL: Turning now to the broader question of the federal budget

CC3. As you may know, Congress is considering ways to reduce the federal deficit over thenext decade. Which ONE of the following three options to reduce the deficit would youmost prefer? [READ; RANDOMIZE OPTIONS 1 AND 2 ONLY]

Oct3-6

2013

Nov 29-Dec 22012

Have about two-thirds of the money come fromspending cuts and one-third from tax increases

43 38

Have about two-thirds of the money come from taxincreases and one-third from spending cuts

12 16

Have about half the money come from tax increasesand half from spending cuts

31 38

None of these/Other (VOL.) 7 4

Dont know/Refused (VOL.) 7 4

CC4 Which one of the following possible outcomes of an agreement to reduce the deficitconcerns you MOST? [READ AND RANDOMIZE]

Oct3-6

2013

Oct12-142012

Nov17-202011

It will cut too much from governmentprograms like Medicare and Social Security

35 36 38

It will raise taxes on people like you 25 24 23

It will not meet its target for reducing thefederal deficit and debt

17 15 17

It will allow for too much federal spendingin the next few years

14 15 12

Dont know/Refused (VOL.) 10 11 10


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ASK ALLCC5. Im going to read you some government programs whose spending could be cut to

reduce the federal budget deficit. As I read each one, please tell me if you thinkspending on that program should be cut back a lot, some, or not at all to reduce thedeficit. (First/Next), what about [INSERT ITEM; RANDOMIZE] [READ FOR FIRST ITEM,THEN IF NECESSARY Should spending on this area be cut back a lot, some, or n ot at allto help reduce the deficit?]5

A lot Some Not at all

(VOL.)Dont know/

Refuseda. Social Security

Oct 3-6, 2013 3 18 76 3

Nov 29- Dec 2, 2012 3 19 77 2Feb 9-12, 2012 3 19 76 2

b. Medicare, the medicalprogram for the elderly

Oct 3-6, 2013 4 14 81 1Nov 29- Dec 2, 2012 3 17 79 1

Feb 9-12, 2012 2 16 80 2c. Food stamps and housing

vouchers that go to lowincome families

Oct 3-6, 2013 17 39 42 3Nov 29- Dec 2, 2012 13 37 49 2

Feb 9-12, 2012 9 37 51 2d. Medicaid for low income

familiesOct 3-6, 2013 7 30 60 2

Nov 29- Dec 2, 2012 7 28 63 3Feb 9-12, 2012 5 28 65 2

e. Defense spendingOct 3-6, 2013 18 44 34 4

Nov 29- Dec 2, 2012 17 47 33 3Feb 9-12, 2012 18 42 35 5

5 Modified trend intro. All previous trend wording Im going to read you some government programs whose spending could be cutto help reduce the federal budget deficit. As I read each one, please tell me if you think spending should be cut back a lot, some, ornot at all to help reduce the deficit.


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ASK ALL:CC6 As you may know, some people have proposed that one way to reduce the deficit is to

limit the tax credits and deductions that reduce peoples taxes. As I read each, tell me ifyou think the deduction should be reduced for all taxpayers, reduced only for taxpayersearning more than $250,000 per year, or not reduced for any taxpayers. First, whatabout [INSERT ITEM; RANDOMIZE]? Next, [INSERT NEXT ITEM; RANDOMIZE]? [READIF NECESSARY: Do you think it should be reduced for all taxpayers, taxpayers earningover $250,000 per year, or not reduced for any taxpayers?]6

Reduced forall taxpayers

Reduced fortaxpayers earning

over $250,000per year only

Not reducedfor any

taxpayers

(VOL.)Dont know/

Refuseda. The deduction for interest

on home mortgagesOct 3-6, 2013 35 23 34 7Dec 6-9, 2012 41 21 31 8

b. The deduction for state andlocal taxes

Oct 3-6, 2013 34 22 36 8Dec 6-9, 2012 42 19 31 7

c. The deduction for charitabledonations

Oct 3-6, 2013 30 19 46 6Dec 6-9, 2012 38 19 37 6

d. The tax exemption for thevalue of health insurancecoverage provided by anemployer

Oct 3-6, 2013 32 24 34 10Dec 6-9, 2012 40 19 30 10

6 Modified trend intro. All previous trend wordingAs part of the discussions over how to reduce the federal deficit, PresidentObama and Congress are considering reducing some of the deductions and tax credits that people can take to lower their taxes. AsI read a list of the following tax credits, tell me if you think they should be reduced for all taxpayers, taxpayers earning over$250,000 per year, or not reduced for any taxpayers


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CC7/PEW18 As you may know, the deadline to raise the nations debt limit is alsoapproaching, as soon as October 17th. From what youve read and heard, do you think[INSERT; RANDOMIZE], or do you think [INSERT; RANDOMIZE]?

Oct3-6

20137

Jul15-172011

It is absolutely essential that the federal debt limitbe raised to avoid an economic crisis

47 40

The country can go past the deadline for raising thedebt limit without major economic problems

39 39

Dont know/Refused (VOL.) 15 21

CC8. As far as you know, when Congress votes to increase the debt ceiling, do you believethat means [READ AND RANDOMIZE]

Oct3-6

2013The federal government is increasing the amount ofmoney it borrows to pay for future expenditures

62

The federal government is paying off the debts ithas already accumulated

28

Dont know/Refused (VOL.) 10

7Pew Research Center question. Modified from previous deadline of August 2nd [2011](www.people-press.org/2011/04/04/public-would-blame-both-sides-if-government-shuts-down/)


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CC9. Congressional Republicans say they will only agree to increase the federal debt ceiling ifPresident Obama accepts their proposals on other issues. Please tell me whether youthink the following proposals should be included in any agreement about the debtceiling, or should be dealt with separately. First, [INSERT ITEM; RANDOMIZE]? Next,[NEXT ITEM]? [READ IF NECESSARY: Do you think this proposal should be included inany agreement about the debt ceiling, or should be dealt with separately?]

Should beincluded in any

agreementabout the debt

ceilingShould be dealtwith separately

(VOL.)Dont know/

Refuseda. A one-year delay for the

implementation of PresidentObamas health care law

Oct 3-6, 2013 31 65 4

b. A requirement thatPresident Obama authorizethe construction of theKeystone Pipeline totransport oil from Canada tothe U.S.

Oct 3-6, 2013 24 70 6c. Cuts in spending for

domestic discretionaryprograms

Oct 3-6, 2013 30 60 10d. Cuts in spending on

Medicare, Medicaid andother federal entitlementprograms

Oct 3-6, 2013 29 68 3

CC10. When it comes to making decisions about the federal deficit and debt, who do you trustmore [READ AND RANDOMIZE]

Oct3-6

2013President Obama 45Congressional Republicans 37Dont know/Refused (VOL.) 18


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CC11. Now thinking about the across-the-board federal spending cuts known as the sequesterthat took place in Marchhave you seen any impact of these cuts in your community oron you personally since they took place, or not?

Oct3-6

2013Yes, have seen impact 23No, have not seen impact 74Dont know/Refused (VOL.) 3

CC12 What impact have you seen or felt from the sequester in your life or community? Haveyou noticed [READ AND RANDOMIZE]

Based on those who have seen impact (n=253)

Yes, haveseen/felt this

No, have notseen/felt this

(VOL.)Dont know/

Refuseda. Furloughs for federal

workers you knowOct 3-6, 2013 58 41 1

b. Cuts in governmentservices you use

Oct 3-6, 2013 54 45 *c. Cuts in your paycheck or

paychecks received by yourfamily

Oct 3-6, 2013 45 54 1

Based on total

Yes, haveseen/felt this

No, have notseen/felt this

(VOL.)Dont know/

Refuseda. Furloughs for federal

workers you knowOct 3-6, 2013 13 83 3

b. Cuts in government

services you useOct 3-6, 2013 12 84 3

c. Cuts in your paycheck orpaychecks received by yourfamily

Oct 3-6, 2013 10 86 3


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DEMOGRAPHICS

I have one last set of questions to help us better understand the people who took part in oursurvey.

SEX Respondents Sex

49 Male51 Female

EMPLOY Are you now employed full-time, part-time, or not employed?

46 Employed full-time12 Employed part-time

42 Not employed* (DO NOT READ) Dont know/ Refused

PAR Are you the parent or guardian of any children under 18 years of age?

32 Yes

68 No

* (DO NOT READ) Dont know/Refused

AGE What is your age?

22 18 to 2932 30 to 4928 50 to 64

17 65 and older1 (DO NOT READ) Refused

EDUC What is the highest level of school you have completed or the highest degree you havereceived?

1 Less than high school (Grade 1-8 or no formal schooling)6 High school incomplete (Grades 9-11 or Grade 12 with NO diploma)34 High school graduate (Grade 12 with diploma or GED certificate)19 Some college, no degree (includes community college)12 Two year associate degree from a college/university15 Four year college or university degree/Bachelors degree1 Some postgraduate or professional schooling, no postgraduate degree11 Postgraduate or professional degree, including masters, doctorate,

medical or law degree* (DO NOT READ) Dont know/Refused


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PARTY In politics TODAY, do you consider yourself a Republican, Democrat, or Independent?

22 Republican

29 Democrat

42 Independent

4 No preference (VOL.)1 Other party (VOL.)

2 Don't know/Refused (VOL.)

That completes the interview. Thank you very much for your time and cooperation. Have a niceday/evening.

Documents

Topline Results for Oct. 7, 2013