Democratic Party leaders, bruised by months of attacks on the new health care program, have found an issue they believe can lift their fortunes both locally and nationally in 2014: an increase in the minimum wage. … With polls showing widespread support for an increase in the $7.25-per-hour federal minimum […] Read more »
Most Back Minimum Wage Hike & Policies to Address the Wealth Gap
Two-thirds of Americans in a new ABC News/Washington Post poll support increasing the minimum wage, rejecting arguments that doing so could encourage layoffs and reflecting majority sentiment that current federal government policies favor the wealthy. Those who support a higher minimum wage even have a recommended level: The average response […] Read more »
Americans Won’t Be Easily Reassured About the Economy
… Conventional wisdom holds that if people see the economy improving, they will be less likely to “throw the bums out” in the next year’s elections. But the key is public perception of the economy, not month-to-month shifts in numbers. Although the National Bureau of Economic Research dates the last […] Read more »
Public Sees Political Gridlock Hampering Economy
Americans see little prospect that President Barack Obama and Congress can get much done beyond keeping the government open for the next few months. A Bloomberg National Poll finds 78 percent of respondents say the political gridlock in Washington will hurt the nation’s economy in 2014. Large majorities say they […] Read more »
GOP Still Lags Behind Nation on Gay Rights
House Republicans once again find themselves on the wrong side of public opinion. A strong majority of Americans say they support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, legislation that would ban most private businesses from workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, according to the latest United Technologies/National Journal Congressional […] Read more »
Americans Want Washington Focused on Jobs, Not Health
More than anything else, voters would be happiest if Congress and President Obama focused on creating jobs, according to the latest United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll. And they don’t care if lawmakers use Republican or Democratic ideas to do so. … The survey is a wake-up call for Congress. […] Read more »