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53% Say More Government Spending Hurts the Economy
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Most voters (53%) believe increases in government spending hurt the economy, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

While that result is unchanged from last month, it’s up five points from 48% in January.

Just 27% now say increased government spending helps the economy, and 10% say it has no impact.

Most Republicans (73%) and unaffiliated voters (57%) say more government spending is bad for the economy. But a plurality of Democrats (45%) thinks increased government spending is beneficial.

Voters are much more supportive of cuts in government spending as opposed to increases. Almost half of voters (46%) think decreases in government spending help the economy, while 27% say they hurt it.

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter.

President Obama announced Monday his administration’s plans to speed up new government spending authorized in the $787 billion economic stimulus package in order to accelerate job growth. Separate polling finds that 45% of Americans say the rest of the new government spending should now be canceled. A Rasmussen video report shows that 48% of adults do not think new stimulus spending creates more jobs.

When it comes to taxes, voters remain in favor of cutting them. Most (58%) believe tax cuts help the economy, up three points from the end of May. Only 18% say tax cuts hurt the economy, while 15% say they have no impact.

Separate polling finds that 51% of adults favor across-the-board tax cuts for all Americans.

Fifty-three percent (53%) say tax increases hurt the economy, up three points from the last survey. Nearly a quarter (23%) say tax increases help.

More than one-in-three voters (36%) now expect their own personal taxes to go up under President Obama. That ties the highest level found since he was inaugurated in January. Only 14% now expect their taxes to go down under the Obama administration.

Sixty-seven percent (67%) expect government spending to rise under Obama, showing no change from the last poll. Just six percent (6%) think government spending will decrease.

Voters remain fairly evenly divided as to what type of candidate they prefer when it comes to tax policy. While 43% say they would prefer to vote for a candidate who opposes all tax increases, 44% say they’d rather elect a candidate who promises to raise taxes only on the rich.

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Rasmussen Reports is an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information.

The Rasmussen Reports Election Edge™ Premium Service offers the most comprehensive public opinion coverage available anywhere.

Scott Rasmussen, president of Rasmussen Reports, has been an independent pollster for more than a decade.

Survey of 1,000 Likely Voters
June 7-8, 2009

Do increases in government spending help the economy, hurt the economy, or have no impact on the economy?

Help

27%

Hurt

53%

No impact

10%

Not sure

10%

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