Thirty-one percent (31%) of U.S. voters believe the economic stimulus package passed earlier this year has helped the economy. That's down from 34% who thought it would help in late February and 38% who held that view when it first passed earlier in the month.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 27% now believe the $789-billion legislation has hurt the economy, and another 31% say it’s had no impact. Eleven percent (11%) are not sure.

Most Democrats (52%) believe the stimulus plan has helped the economy, but just 15% of Republicans agree. Among those not affiliated with either major party, 29% say the stimulus plan has hurt, 22% say it helped, and 40% say it’s had no impact.

Middle-income voters and those ages 30 to 49 offer a more pessimistic assessment of the stimulus plan's impact than others.

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Despite the lukewarm reaction to the stimulus plan, President Obama benefits from the fact that 62% of voters blame the Bush administration for today’s economic problems. The president’s job approval ratings have remained solid and stable for months. However, just 21% support his plan to bail out General Motors.

Two-out-of-three Americans trust their own judgment on the economy more than they trust that of the average member of Congress. Half (49%) trust their own judgment more than the president's.

When the stimulus plan passed Congress, 62% of all voters wanted it to have more tax cuts and less spending. Most voters (53%) believe that increases in government spending are bad for the economy.

In the House of Representatives, Republicans voted unanimously against the stimulus plan. In the Senate, three Republicans voted for it. That vote hurt Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter with the voters back home and eventually forced him to leave the GOP.

A much smaller stimulus plan was passed in 2008 during the Bush administration. A year ago, 24% said that stimulus package had helped the economy while 13% said it hurt.

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