Poll: Congress Gets Low Health Care Grade

CBS News Poll Finds that Most Americans Disapprove of How Both Democrats and Republicans are Handling Health Care Reform

(CBS)  Congress may be coming closer to creating legislation that would reform the health care system, but Americans give both the Democrats and Republicans in Congress negative marks on handling the issue, according to a CBS News poll conducted Oct. 5 - 8.

Many say the health care debate has been more negative compared to debates on other major issues. In addition, Americans think the Republicans in Congress are not serious about reform -- and a majority would be disappointed if reform doesn't occur.

While 47 percent of Americans approve of how President Obama is handling health care, 42 percent disapprove. The president received similar ratings in a CBS/New York Times poll two weeks ago. The president's overall job approval rating is 56 percent in this poll, the same as it was in late September.

While public assessments of Mr. Obama on this issue are mixed, they are considerably better than the ratings of both Democrats and Republicans in Congress. Solid majorities of Americans disapprove of the way the Democrats (60 percent) and Republicans (67 percent) are handling health care.

In addition, Congress' overall job rating remains low. Only 22 percent of Americans approve, while 65 percent disapprove.

CBSNews.com Special Report: Health Care
Health Care Progress Report: October 5

Views of the national economy also remain negative. Americans' outlook for their local economy and their family’s finances are especially pessimistic.

Although the American public disapproves of both parties' handling of health care, they do see differences when it comes to the each party's approach to the issue. Just over half, 52 percent, think the Democrats are really serious about reforming the nation's heath care system, compared to 69 percent who think the Republicans are not serious about reform.

Views of the Republicans in Congress are even more negative than they were when this question was asked in 1994, during the debate over then-President Bill Clinton's health care reform proposals. In 1994, 38 percent thought Republicans in Congress were seriously trying to reform health care, and 53 percent thought they were not.

Many see the current debate as less civil than earlier confrontations. Compared to past debates on major issues, 45 percent of Americans view the current debate on health care as more negative -- four times as many as say it has been more positive (11 percent). Thirty-six percent say the debate is similar in tone to past debates on major issues.

Despite the alarms raised by some Republicans about the impact health care reform could have on Medicare recipients, Americans give Democrats the edge (42 percent) over the Republicans (31 percent) when it comes to caring for senior citizens. Among those ages 65 and over, more say the Democratic Party cares more about them when it comes to health care.

The Odds of Reform - and What Happens if it Fails

Half of Americans think it is likely that a health care reform bill will pass by the end of year, but only 14 percent think it is very likely to happen. People were a bit more likely to think reform would pass back in July.

Most Americans (61 percent) would be disappointed if Congress doesn't pass health care reform this year and the system continues as it is. Less than a third would be pleased if reforms do not pass.

There's a partisan divide on this question: most Democrats would be disappointed if reform does not pass, while most Republicans would be pleased. Independents sided left on the question, with 60 percent saying they would be disappointed.

Looking ahead, the potential impact of health care on the 2010 mid-term elections appears to be mixed -- at this point.

Thirty percent of registered voters say they would be less likely to vote for their member of Congress if he or she supported the health care reforms now being proposed, but the same percentage would be more likely to vote for their representative. More than a third says the issue of health care would have no effect.

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Health Care Policies

Much of the public remains unconvinced that the reform proposals would benefit them personally - just 18 percent think they would. In fact, 31 percent believe reforms would hurt them and another 45 percent think they would have no effect.

Republicans (5 percent), seniors (7 percent) and those with insurance (14 percent) are some of the least likely groups to say they would be helped by the current reform proposals. Democrats (26 percent) and those earning less than $50,000 (25 percent) are most likely to say they would be helped.

The much-debated "public option" -- a government-run insurance plan -- still has the support of 62 percent of the public.

When asked to choose between providing coverage to the uninsured and keeping down costs as the more serious problem right now, 59 percent of Americans choose expanding coverage while 35 percent select keeping costs down.

This poll also asked Americans about the state of the economy: 84 percent say the economy is in bad shape, and just 16 percent say it is good. The unemployment rate reached a 26-year high last month, and the economy lost more jobs in September than anticipated.

Americans' outlook for the national economy has not changed since last month; the good news may be that most don't think it's getting worse. Just under a third think it is getting better, and 18 percent say it is getting worse. About half think it is staying the same.

As many as 45 percent of Americans continue to volunteer the economy and jobs as the nation's top problem, but the percentage that mention health care has crept up in recent months from 12 percent in July to 20 percent this month.

Read the Complete Poll

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This poll was conducted among a random sample of 829 adults nationwide, interviewed by telephone October 5-8, 2009. Phone numbers were dialed from random digit dial samples of both standard land-line and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups is higher.

This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

[mcapek]

All logic was abandoned by this committee. This is what happens when you put unqualified people on the committee, pushing Obamas political agenda. Let us hope that this "legislation" dies on the floor of the Senate.

[mcapek]

Let me get this straight. Insurance companies will have to insure anyone who wants insurance no questions asked. We the people can refuse to purchase insurance and pay a small fine instead, unless they get really sick then they can go out and buy insurance. And how exactly is this going to bring down costs??? Why would anyone purchase insurance who is not sick? And if everyone who has insurance is sick whats that going to do to insurance rates for the few dumbells left who buy insurance.

Leave it to the loons in Washington to come up with a plan that is this stupid.

[mcapek]

"It's a pity that Americans are so greedy they won't allow their fellow citizens to be able to have some kind of health program.." They most certainly should have a health program, but they should pay for it, not expect me to pay it for them, and no more free loading in ER and passing the costs to me. I think many tax paying Americans feel that they already subsidize the less fortunate plenty, and they see that there is a huge amount of welfare abuse and waste. Finally, don't forget that millions of these noninsured are kids in their teens and twenties, they feel healthy and immortal, and therefore do not plan to buy medical insurance. I personally don't want to subsidize their stupidity, after they hurt themselves on motorcycle or ATV.

[mcapek]

"The Baucus bill will reduce the deficit 81 billion dollars over the first ten years and by hundreds of billions of dollars the second ten years, according to the CBO." The only way you can reduce health care costs while enrolling and subsidizing millions of new people is to take away from Medicare and Medicaid programs, as is being proposed. So by chopping all those billions from Medicare, what kind of "care" will our seniors get? Medicare program is already in the red, underfunded, and nobody wants new Medicare patients. I guess if I was without insurance and ill, even the proposed Government run program would look good to me. But if it comes to being, it will undoubtedly turn into VA Horror Part 2. I am certain of it.

[msimamaji]

Let's look at the record. I got these facts from Center for Responsive Politics, so if you want to check out my information - be my guest.

Senator Mitch McConnell gets $ 2 million in political campaign contributions from the health sector. He gets $ 1 million from lobbyists. His top political donor is Kindred Health Care. Among the other top 20 campaign donors are Humana Inc, Blue Cross, and GalaxoSmithKline. I might add that Humana practices something that Cheryl Tidwell, a Humana executive calls "controlling utilization." (Source David Sirota, from an article on the Huffington Post, August 28.)

The top 6 contributors for Charles Grassley include Blue Cross, 2nd place: Select Medical Group, 3rd place; and Amgen. Throughout Grassley's career he has received hundreds of thousands of dollars from the industries health insurance industry, health products, and pharmaceuticals.

Mike Enzi's top political contributor is Pharmaceutical industry. Health professionals get 2nd place, and lobbyists take 7th place. Some of his top individual contributors include Blue Cross, Amgen, Merck & Co, and Goldman Sachs.

Senator Olympia J Snowe gets $ 360,000 from the health sector. Aetna Inc is her 2nd individual top donor. She also gets campaign contributions from Spectrum Medical, and Goldman Sachs. Incidentally Blue Cross is suing Senator Snowe's home state in Maine for the right to raise insurance rates by 18%. Way to go, Snowe. (MY course. Huffington post, Arthur Delaney.)
Senator Richard Lugar's top industrial backers are security and investment industries. Since health insurance industries are Wall Street's latest darlings, Lugar has every reason for delaying. Lugar also gets $ 177,000 in political campaign contributions from the health sector. Eli Lilly Pharmaceuticals and Blue Cross/Blue Shield are among his top 20 political campaign contributors.
Orrin Hatch gets $ 977,000 from health care sector. His top industrial donor are pharmaceuticals and health products. Other top industrial donors include hospitals, nursing homes, and health insurance companies. Of top 20 individual political donors, Blue Cross takes 2nd place. Amgen, Eli Lilly Kindred Health Care are also among the top 20.

Jim DeMint gets contributions from the insurance industry, lobbyists, securities and investment, and pharmaceuticals. Individual campaign contributors include Blue Cross/Blue Sheild, Cancer centers for the Carolinas, and the United health Group.

That good old feisty maverick John McCain has received $ 7 million from the health sector, including health insurance companies and pharmaceuticals during his political career $ 1.2 million of McCain's campaign money comes from lobbyists who are now descending upon Washington Dc like locusts from a Biblical Plague in an effort to defeat Obama's health care reforms. From 2005 to present McCain's top 5 political contributors include Merrill-Lynch, Morgan Stanley, and Goldman Sachs, all of which are reaping record profits from health insurance companies and pharmaceuticals.

Have any of these politicians told you the real reason they oppose the public option? Have they told you that when you or your employer pays your insurance premium, you are automatically giving them campaign contributions?

Even more infamous is the way Republicans loot Medicare. If you remember Medicare Advantage is a government subsidy to private health insurance companies. Once private health insurance companies get their money, we have no way of telling what they do with it? Do they provide senior citizens with medical care, or does it become a cash cow of political campaign contributions for lobbyists and Republican politicians? An investigation of Medicare Advantage is long overdue.

While these debates are going on, 44,000 people a year are dying because of inadequate medical care, according to a report released several weeks ago by the Harvard Medical School. That like a 9/11 happening every week. Babies fare particularly badly under the present for-profit system. Our infant mortality rate is twice as high as the infant mortality rates of Sweden or France, according to the 2009 CIA Fact book. Never once has any Republican addressed these tragedies.

It's all about the Benjamins. The GOP and their cronies, the Blue Dog Democrats, don't want to give up their favorite cash cow. While Americans die, they get to buy shiny new jet plans. To quote Michael Moore, this is SICKO.

[nojoy01]

by KPeters_from_UK October 10, 2009 9:41 AM EDT
by rhs648 October 9, 2009 11:18 PM EDT 1) It was a Republican President, President Lincoln, who freed the slaves and 2) The Democratic Party, especially in the south, had a long history of discriminating against minorities.

Because of the history of these two parties are opposed to the present ideals it would not be wise to compare history with present.
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Ah, but that's just the point. History does repeat itself. 35 years ago there was democratic governor George (they shall not enter a white school here in montgomery) Wallace of Alabama running for president. And after losing/being shot he was re-elected as governor of Alabama. Now the democratic party has produced an african-american as president. 50 years ago, republican president Dwight David Eisenhower sent units of the 101st Airborne to little rock to ensure that african-american kids would not be denied entrance to a public school. Now the republican party has David what's his name from Louisiana ("former" grand whatever of the kkk) who has run for the senate & the presidency. History DOES repeat itself, it's just that the names/affiliations of the players change. So we can look to the past to see the similarities, what was done, how that worked, & try to avoid the repeating the same mistakes, again.

[newsworthy8]

It's a pity that Americans are so greedy they won't allow their fellow citizens to be able to have some kind of health program..I really can't believe this, America has changed and it not the country they think they are, and no wonder the world thinks they are crap...
How about if we could get the same health care program as the Repulican politicians..God really needs to bless the people of this country..

[newsworthy8]

It's a pity that Americans are so greedy they won't allow their fellow citizens to be able to have some kind of health program..I really can't believe this, America has changed and it not the country they think they are, and no wonder the world thinks they are crap...
How about if we could get the same health care program as the Repulican politicians..God really needs to bless the people of this country..

[bobbyduck1]

What the vast majority despise about how the Republicans are dealing with this is their obvious intent to keep the barbaric status quo that feeds hundreds of billions to their corporate minions and denies reasonably affordable health care to more Americans than ever in history.

And what the vast majority despise about the Democrats is that they don't have the guts to face down the big money and the Republicans to implement not-for-profit, government funded healthcare like all of the rest of the civilised nations on planet Earth. Te blue dogs are at the same trough as the Republicans, lapping up that dirty lobby money.

Government funded health care is the only reform that would really make any difference, the Republicans will add so many loopholes in anything else that big insurance will just get bigger and continue to siphon off about 10% of our GDP for absolutely nothing except their own profit.

Countries with government-funded health care spend about 6-8% of GDP for better care, and NO-ONE is denied coverage, and NO-ONE goes bankrupt for being sick.

We are spending upwards of 17% of GDP, 9 to 11% of which ends up making big hospital chains and big insurance filthy rich.

That's why they are fighting so hard and so dirty, it's the biggest cash cow in the history of the world. We have an annual holocaust of 40,000+ deaths because of lack of insurance, being dropped because you are too expensive once you get sick, etc.

So all of you that rail against the dreaded "socialized medicine" have that blood and that greed on your hands. Hope you are happy with yourselves. This is the ugliest evil that has ever occurred in America.

[myopinionpal]

We already have a public option its for both houses of congress to get their pay after leaving office for life. Its for both houses of congress to go on fact finding trips that are really a cover for a family vacation in which the public has to pay for !!!!

[jschmidt27]

BTW- since CBS seems unable to fix the duplicating of responses when some responds to an entry, I suggest we just respond with the person tag and have 1 entry.

[jschmidt27]

By the way- Baucus bill seems to be accpetable and saves the money 59 billion. But Pelosi's bill with the public option will cost 259 billion and I believe the Senate bill with the public option was in the 800 billion cost range.

[jschmidt27]

Reveal- Only $100 billion of the stimulus has even been spent. Results=little. The TARP actually saved the banking system, allowed credit markets to keep from disappearing and allowed business to continue to run. We would have been in bad shape with out the TARP. And who started that, Paulson under Bush. But the stimulus has been a failure so far except for giveaways to Dems backed causes. Biden is dreaming if he thinks the stimulus is so great. And if it was working why is Pelosi thinking of a second one? The stimulus mistake was not putting more money, greater than the 9% they did, into contruction projects, rebuilding roads, bridges, railroads, city streets and water mains. That's where the stimulus should have gone.

[jschmidt27]

Every idea the Republicans proposed in committee was voted down by the Dems. But the Republicans should put a platform together and announce it. They did get a CBO estimate on tort reform and found that it would save 59billion. But is that going to be part of the final package? I doubt it since the trial lawyers own the Dems. The Republicans and Blue Dogs are the only ones looking out for the deficit to prevent the country from going deeper in debt and to prevent the dollar from falling apart due to the deficit. The Dems always think they can tax everything to pay. I don;t know when people are going to learn about the tax and spend Dems. The stimulus should have proved their ideas are wrong.

[goodpyr]

The RepugniCAN'T have a platform.Just Say No.Haven't you been listening?

[jab232]

Millions are hurting are on the edge of bankruptcy because of health expenses. Millions of others will lose coverage or jobs as soon as they get sick. Even the insured will see their health care premiums double (for less overage) in the next ten years.

Most middle-of-the-road polls show a majority favor strong health reform, even the public option. And congress fiddles. The GOP, the Blue Dogs and others tremble at the power of the big health care and insurance corporations and their bonus-rich CEOs.

Get strong health care reform passed and go on to other problems!

[rhs648]

KPeters_from_UK - Good point! The post that I replied to was offensive because the poster put all republicans in the same category as racists. This type of thing is objectionable.

[ddaryl1]

republicans suck

plain and simple. I don't liek them I don't trust them, and I don't hesistate to etell them how lowly I thin of them

republicans are a huge embarassment to humanity... and that is a FACT

[Midwestchristian]

Neither side knows what it is doing right now and it is very foolish for someone to believe either party is more righteous than the other.

[rhs648]

Exactly. I have yet to hear this said so well and with just a few words.

[vernique]

maybe the high salaries of CEO'S of health care insurance is partially responsible for the health care problem. Following is the salaroes.

Ins. Co. & CEO With 2008 Total CEO Compensation

Aetna, Ronald A. Williams: $24,300,112
Cigna, H. Edward Hanway: $12,236,740
Coventry, Dale Wolf: $9,047,469
Health Net, Jay Gellert: $4,425,355
Humana, Michael McCallister: $4,764,309
U. Health Group, Stephen J. Hemsley: $3,241,042
Wellpoint, Angela Braly: $9,844,212

Forbes magazine reports that William W. McGuire, CEO of UnitedHealth Group) received compensation of $124.8 million in 2005. Managed Care Magazine also says that the average executive compensation (excluding unexercised stock options) for an executive of a ?top 10 for profit health plan? was $11.7 million and that was back in 2000. William McGuire of UnitedHealth Group, the nation?s leading insurer, was the third-highest paid CEO on the Forbes list. His pay of $124.8 million could cover the average health insurance premiums of nearly 34,000 people?.

[Hosheen]

When you consider that:
1. Among countries with a freely-elected government and a developed economy, the USA is the only one without health care plan for all of its legal residents.

2. Spends more per capita on health care than any other nation, yet is ranked 72nd in overall health care by the World Health Organization.

3. Has 47 Million people with no health insurance.

4. Is ranked 38th in average life expectancy. (lower than Cuba)

Is it any wonder people are not satisfied with Obama or congress about health care?

To see citations on these and other health care questions, go to:

http://www.funnelbrain.com/c-13471-true-false--u-s-spends-more-per-capita-on-healthcare-than.html