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Voters Split on Gas Tax Holiday, but Concerned About Tax Hikes
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Forty-six percent (46%) of America’s Likely Voters favor a federal gas tax holiday this summer. A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 42% are opposed and 12% are not sure.

Most voters who earn more than $75,000 a year oppose the gas tax holiday. Most who make less than $60,000 a year favor that policy change. Among those make less than $20,000 a year, 62% favor the gas tax holiday while only 11% are opposed.

Women favor the gas tax holiday by a 53% to 35% margin. Men are opposed by a 50% to 39% margin.

The survey also found that 37% of voters believe the federal government needs more tax revenue to fund important national programs such as highway repairs and health care reform. Forty-six percent (46%) disagree.

Democrats, by a 46% to 35% margin, say that new revenue is needed. Republicans, by a 59% to 27% margin, disagree. Among voters not affiliated with either major party, 34% believe more the government needs more revenue while 50% disagree.

From an ideological perspective, 52% of liberals say that more revenue is needed. Sixty-five percent (65%) of conservatives say it is not.

Investors, by a 50% to 36% margin, say that the government does not need additional revenue. Non-investors are more evenly divided.

Fifty-six percent (56%) of all voters are at least somewhat worried that the next President will raise taxes too much and harm the economy. That figure includes 77% of Republicans, 59% of unaffiliated voters, and 39% of Democrats. Most Democrats (56%) are not worried about taxes being raised too much.

At the other end of the spectrum, 43% are at least somewhat worried that the next President will cut taxes so much that it will harm important government programs. Most Democrats, 57%, are worried that the next President will cut taxes too much. That concern is shared by 41% of unaffiliated voters and 26% of Republicans.

When it comes to a more intense opinion, 27% are Very Worried that the next President will raise taxes too much. Just 12% are Very Worried that the next President will cut taxes too much.

An earlier survey found that 65% of Americans oppose a hike in the capital gains tax. Fifty-two percent (52%) believe that such a tax hike would harm the economy.

Fifty-eight percent (58%) correctly identified Barack Obama as the Presidential candidate who is opposed to the gas tax holiday.

See survey questions and toplines. Crosstabs available to Premium Members only.

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

The Rasmussen Reports ElectionEdge™ Premium Service for Election 2008 offers the most comprehensive public opinion coverage ever provided for a Presidential election.

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

Survey of 800 Likely Voters
May 5-6, 2008

Do you favor or oppose suspending the gas tax for the summer?

Favor

46%

Oppose

42%

Not Sure

12%

How worried are you that the next president will raise taxes too much?

Very Worried

27%

Somewhat Worried

29%

Not Very Worried

29%

Not at all Worried

12%

Not Sure

3%

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