CBS News Federal Budget Deficit Poll, October 1990

This survey focuses on issues related to difficulties encountered by the federal government in reaching agreement on a federal budget deficit reduction plan. Respondents indicated their approval or disapproval of President Bush's handling of both his presidency and the budget deficit, identified President Bush or Congress as being more to blame or equally to blame for the difficulties in dealing with the deficit, and specified whether Republicans or Democrats in Congress were more at fault or equally at fault in dealing with the deficit situation. Respondents were queried regarding their general knowledge of the problem, including how closely they had followed the difficulties with the budget, their perception of the difficulties as either a true crisis or a political machination, and their opinion of the House of Representatives' rejection of the deficit reduction compromise arrived at by the President and leaders of Congress. Regarding the House's rejection of the compromise, those surveyed indicated whether they would vote for their representative based on his/her vote on the compromise, and if they knew how their representative had voted. Respondents also reacted to Bush's shutting down of various government services rather than signing a bill to extend them another week and indicated whether they had been affected by the shutdown or if they anticipated being affected. In addition, respondents revealed their preference for a large across-the-board cut in all government programs and services or a federal budget deficit reduction plan, and speculated about whether Congress was likely to arrive at a plan that would be fair. Those surveyed also indicated whether they would be willing to comply with a series of measures to reduce the deficit, including paying an additional $100 to $500 a year in taxes, raising the charge for Medicare, raising the tax on beer, wine, liquor, and gasoline, limiting government health and education services, and raising taxes for people with incomes of over $100,000 a year. Respondents also evaluated the strength of Bush's leadership in trying to settle the budget, indicated whether or not they were registered to vote and if they would vote for the Republican or Democratic candidate in their district for the House of Representatives if that election were held today, commented on whether most congressmen have made decisions based on what is best for the country or what they think will insure re-election, and characterized the cause of difficulty in reaching a budget agreement as either disagreement over important issues or political bickering. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, employment of a household member by the federal government, income, education, age, race, sex, number of adults at home, and state/region of residence.