Questions - Unemployment Benefits - December 3-4, 2011

National Survey of 1,000 Adults
Conducted December 3-4, 2011
By Rasmussen Reports

1* Unemployed Americans are now eligible for up to 99 weeks of combined state and federal unemployment benefits.  Is 99 weeks of unemployment benefits too long, too short or about right?

2* Does providing unemployment benefits for 99 weeks increase the number of people who remain unemployed?

3* Is it possible for anyone with a college degree and is willing to work to find a job within 99 weeks?

4* If Congress agrees to an extension of unemployment benefits for up to 99 weeks, which is the better way to pay for it – by raising taxes on the wealthy or by cutting spending in other areas of the federal government?

5* Have you or anyone in your immediate family received unemployment benefits in the past year?

6* What is the appropriate role of government in the economy? Should the government manage the economy, provide programs like unemployment insurance to help people through difficult times, or should the government stay out of economic decisions entirely?

NOTE: Margin of Sampling Error, +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence