ABC News/Washington Post State of the Union Poll, February 1993

This special topic poll assessed the public's reaction to President Bill Clinton's State of the Union Address delivered to Congress on February 17, 1993. Respondents indicated whether they approved of Clinton's economic plan, and whether the plan would be effective in strengthening the economy, reducing the federal budget deficit, and helping the respondent's personal financial situation. Respondents evaluated Clinton's economic plan further in terms of its combination of tax increases and spending cuts, its effect on the respondent's taxes, whether it placed an unfair burden on the respondent, whether the plan was fair to most people, whether the sacrifices required were necessary, and whether the plan was good for the long-term future of the country. Other questions focused on specific proposals in the plan, including raising the tax on Social Security benefits for retired couples with incomes over $32,000 a year, and raising the federal income tax from 31 percent to 36 percent for people making more than $140,000 a year. Background information on respondents includes political party, age, household income, and sex.