As the White House and congressional Republicans try to keep the nation from going over the so-called fiscal cliff, a new survey finds that the public is amenable to raising taxes on wealthier Americans and as averse as ever to cutting entitlement programs. [cont.] Matthew Cooper, National Journal Recent polls: […] Read more »
Fiscal-Cliff Negotiations Have Become a Roller-Coaster Ride
… Anyone who thought that budget sequestration and expiration of the Bush tax cuts would be resolved by New Year’s Eve should have a court-appointed guardian look after their affairs and make all decisions for them. … While, technically speaking, November’s election produced no changes in leadership—the White House and […] Read more »
After divisive election, voters support balanced approach to budget crisis
… A balanced approach to solving the deficit problem, which focuses on raising taxes as well as cutting major programs, is popular among American voters overall. … But although there is general support for a balanced approach, an agreement on the details of revenue increases and program cuts may be […] Read more »
Taxing the rich remains popular
Raising taxes on income over $250,000 remains a broadly popular approach to dealing with the country’s budgetary woes, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. Sixty percent of all Americans back higher taxes on higher incomes in the new Post-ABC data. … Other proposed solutions to shrinking the debt […] Read more »
When talk was of investing in public good
Washington negotiations to avert the “fiscal cliff” now include the role that tax increases could play in addressing the federal budget deficit. Serious cracks are appearing in the Republican lawmakers’ anti-tax firewall, as fewer new GOP legislators are signing Grover Norquist’s pledge and some high-profile signatories are questioning it. Norquist […] Read more »
Two-thirds say fiscal cliff poses major problem
… Two-thirds of people questioned in a CNN/ORC International survey … say that the U.S. would face a crisis or major problems if the country went off the “fiscal cliff” at the end of the year, and if that happened, Republicans in Congress would probably receive the greater share of […] Read more »