Poll Watch: CNN/ORC Survey on the Debt Ceiling

CNN/ORC Survey on the Debt Ceiling

As you may know, there is a limit to the amount of money the government can owe that is sometimes called the "debt ceiling." The Secretary of the Treasury says that the government will not have enough money to pay all of its debts and keep all existing government programs running unless Congress raises the debt ceiling by August 2nd. How closely have you been following the discussions between Barack Obama and the Republican and Democratic leaders of Congress on the debt ceiling -- very closely, somewhat closely, not too closely, or not closely at all?

• Very closely 23%
• Somewhat closely 47%
• Not too closely 19%
• Not closely at all 11%

In those discussions, several budget plans have been proposed that would reduce the amount the government owes by trillions of dollars over the next ten years. If you had to choose, would you rather see Congress and President Obama agree to a budget plan that only includes cuts in government spending, or a budget plan that includes a combination of spending cuts and tax increases on higher-income Americans and some businesses?

• Only spending cuts 34%
• Spending cuts and tax increases 64%

And in general, which of the following statements comes closest to your view:

• You FAVOR raising the debt ceiling even if Congress and President Obama do not agree on a plan to reduce the amount the government owes 17%
• You FAVOR raising the debt ceiling only if Congress takes action to reduce by trillions of dollars the amount the government owes 45%
• You OPPOSE raising the debt ceiling even if Congress takes action to reduce the amount the government owes 36%

If the debt ceiling is not raised, do you think that would cause a crisis, major problems, minor problems, or no problems at all for the United States?

• Crisis 18% (17%)
• Major problems 43% (41%)
• Minor problems 31% (33%)
• No problems at all 6% (7%)

And if the debt ceiling is not raised, do you think that would affect your personal financial situation a great deal, some, not much or not at all?

• Great deal 27% (25%)
• Some 37% (38%)
• Not much 19% (19%)
• Not at all 15% (16%)

Based on what you have read or heard about the discussions between Congress and Barack Obama on the debt ceiling, do you think Obama has or has not acted responsibly?

• Yes, has acted responsibly 52% (46%)
• No, has not 46% (49%)

Based on what you have read or heard about the discussions between Congress and Barack Obama on the debt ceiling, do you think the Republicans in Congress have or have not acted responsibly?

• Yes, have acted responsibly 33% (34%)
• No, have not 63% (60%)

If the debt ceiling is not raised, do you think that Barack Obama or the Republicans in Congress would be more responsible for that?

• Republicans 51%
• Obama 30%

In some proposals, Congress would raise the debt ceiling while cutting between two trillion and four trillion dollars in government spending over the next ten years and raising taxes on some businesses and higher-income Americans. Would you favor or oppose this proposal?

• Favor 66%
• Oppose 34%

In another proposal, Congress would give President Obama the ability to raise the debt ceiling several times in the next 18 months while cutting a smaller amount in government spending and not raising taxes at all. Would you favor or oppose this proposal?

• Favor 34%
• Oppose 65%

In another proposal, Congress would raise the debt ceiling only if a balanced budget amendment were passed by both houses of Congress and substantial spending cuts and caps on future spending were approved. Would you favor or oppose this proposal?

• Favor 66%
• Oppose 33%

Now I'm going to read you some of the specific proposals for cutting government spending and increasing taxes that have been suggested as part of the discussions on the debt ceiling. For each one, please tell me whether you favor or oppose that proposal as a way to reduce the amount that the government owes.


Cutting federal subsidies to farmers

• Favor 31%
• Oppose 66%

Cutting pensions and benefits for retired government workers

• Favor 30%
• Oppose 68%

Cutting defense spending

• Favor 47%
• Oppose 52%

Cutting the amount the government spends on Medicaid, the federal health program for the poor

• Favor 22%
• Oppose 77%

Cutting the amount the government spends on Medicare, the federal health program for the elderly

• Favor 12%
• Oppose 87%

Cutting the amount the government spends on Social Security

• Favor 16%
• Oppose 84%

Increasing the taxes paid by oil and gas companies by ending federal subsidies for those businesses

• Favor 73%
• Oppose 26%

Increasing the taxes paid by businesses that own private jets

• Favor 76%
• Oppose 23%

Increasing the taxes paid by people who make more than 250 thousand dollars a year

• Favor 73%
• Oppose 26%

Would you favor or oppose a constitutional amendment to require a balanced federal budget?

• Favor 74%
• Oppose 24%

In order to get the federal budget deficit under control, do you think it is necessary or not necessary to pass a Constitutional amendment requiring a balanced federal budget?

• Necessary 60%
• Not necessary 38%

Survey of 1,009 adults was conducted July 18-20, 2011. The margin of error is +/- 3 percentage points. Results from the poll conducted April 29 - May 1, 2011 are in parentheses.