The health care reform legislation working its way through Congress has lost support over the past month. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 44% of U.S. voters are at least somewhat in favor of the reform effort while 53% are at least somewhat opposed.

Today’s 44% level of support is down from 46% two weeks ago, and 50% in late June.

Opposition has grown from 45% in late June to 49% two weeks ago and 53% today.

As in earlier surveys, those with strong opinions are more likely to oppose the plan rather than support it. The current numbers: 24% strongly favor and 37% strongly oppose.

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There is a huge partisan divide on the health care plan. Sixty-eight percent (68%) of Democrats favor it. However, the plan is opposed by 80% of Republicans and 60% of those not affiliated with either major party.

Most voters who earn less than $40,000 annually favor the legislation. Most who earn more than that amount are opposed. Premium Members can see full demographic crosstabs.

The survey question did not in any way describe the plan as it stands to date. It was simply presented as “the health care reform plan proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats.” But public opinion could shift in either direction as details of the plan become clearer and if agreement is reached.

The president has recently become more vocal in promoting the plan as opposition from senators and congressmen in his own party have stalled it on Capitol Hill. He will host a prime time press conference tonight to push the legislation which he had hoped would be passed by both the Senate and House before they leave for their August recess at the end of next week.

One reason for the decline in support may be the legislative emphasis on universal coverage rather than cost controls. Voters see cost, not universal coverage, as the biggest health care concern. Also, 78% believe that health care reform is likely to lead to middle class tax hikes. Figuring out how to pay for the trillion dollar-plus plan has presented a significant challenge for congressional Democrats working on the legislation.

Another factor that may be playing a role is underlying public skepticism about the legislative process. Americans, by a two-to-one margin, believe that no matter how bad things are, Congress can always make it worse.

Despite the declining support for the plan proposed by the president and congressional Democrats, 51% of voters say it’s at least somewhat likely that it will be passed this year. That figure includes 17% who say it’s very likely to pass.

Overall, just 35% of Americans rate the U.S. health care system as good or excellent. But 70% of those who have health insurance rate their own coverage as good or excellent.

One key item in the overall debate is a government health insurance company that would compete with private insurers. Thirty-five percent (35%) of voters favor a public health care option while 50% are opposed.

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