Poll: Congress Gets Low Health Care Grade
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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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CBS News Poll Database
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
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.
Copyright 2009 CBS. All rights reserved. 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.
(CBS)
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.
More CBS News Polls:
Poll: Split on Troop Levels in Afghanistan
Poll: 59% Likely to give Kids H1N1 Vaccine
CBS News Poll Database
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
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.
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Leave it to the loons in Washington to come up with a plan that is this stupid.
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.
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.
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..
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..