Fifty-nine percent (59%) of U.S. voters favor putting a provision in the health care reform plan that would prohibit any new taxes, fees or penalties on families who make less than $250,000 a year.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that just 22% of voters oppose such a provision. Nineteen percent (19%) are not sure.

During the presidential campaign, Barack Obama said, “No family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase. Not your income tax, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes.” But 72% of voters say it is at least somewhat likely that taxes will be increased on those earning less than $250,000 during President Obama’s time in office. Fifty-two percent (52%) say it is very likely.

Only 20% say such a tax increase is not likely.

Republicans contend that the health care plan as crafted by the Senate Finance Committee with a $900 billion price tag for 10 years will violate Obama’s pledge of no new taxes for those earning up to $250,000. The unsuccessful GOP effort to add the tax increase prohibition attracted the support of one moderate Democratic senator and a key moderate Republican, “suggesting that the issue could resurface as the debate continues,” The Washington Post said.

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Forty-six percent (46%) of voters nationwide now favor the health care reform plan proposed by Obama and congressional Democrats. That’s up five points from a week ago and, with the exception of “bounces” following a couple of nationally televised presidential appearances. the first time support for the health care effort has risen. Rasmussen Reports is tracking support for the plan on a weekly basis.

Sixty-one percent (61%) say it’s important for Congress to pass health care reform this year, but most would prefer a series of smaller reforms rather than a comprehensive approach.

One challenge for advocates of the comprehensive approach is that 53% of those with insurance fear it will force them to change their coverage.

Voters overwhelmingly say guaranteeing that no one is forced to change their health insurance coverage is a higher priority than giving consumers the choice of a "public option" health insurance company. As Scott Rasmussen, president of Rasmussen Reports, wrote recently in the Wall Street Journal: “The most important fundamental is that 68% of American voters have health insurance coverage they rate good or excellent. … Most of these voters approach the health care reform debate fearing that they have more to lose than to gain.”

Adults ages 18 to 49 favor the prohibition on new taxes for those earning less than $250,000 more than older voters.

Ironically, while Republicans pushed for inclusion of the no-tax amendment in the health care plan, Democrats are far more supportive of it than GOP voters. Seventy-one percent (71%) of Democrats favor changing the plan to include the provision prohibiting news taxes on those who make less than $250,000, as do most voters (55%) not affiliated with either of the major parties. Just 48% of Republicans agree.

Only nine percent (9%) of voters now expect their taxes to go down during the Obama presidency. Forty-seven percent (47%) say their taxes will go up, and 36% think they will stay the same.

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