A memo about the Resurgent Republic poll concludes:
The historic assumption that voters support spending cuts in general but oppose them in specific seems to be less true in the current environment than has been the case in the past, with the arguments about “slashing” spending on even popular items like education, environmental protection and border security falling short against the broader argument for the need to cut spending. Also, a broader economic growth argument linked to the need to cut federal spending trumps concerns about impacts on popular population subgroups like the middle class, seniors and veterans.
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px ‘Times New Roman’}
Some argue that we should cut spending without touching entitlement programs. Consequently, those advocating for spending restraint should: 1) Press those who oppose entitlement reform to explain where they would get the spending cuts they concede we need and, 2) Make clear to voters that cuts in entitlements are not simply about reducing the deficit but about saving those programs for the long term.
Lastly, relative to the debate over government employee compensation playing out in many states, voters tend to side strongly with those advocating the need to get public pay and benefits under control, and see those benefits as overly generous and threatening to the future of the country.
The poll found that:
By more than a two-to-one margin, 62 to 28 percent, voters agree with “Republicans who say we need to cut significant federal spending through the rest of this fiscal year,” rather than “Democrats who say we should continue federal spending at close to the current level through the rest of this fiscal year.” Independents agree with the Republicans who want significant cuts now by 68 to 21 percent.