Voters Favor Tax Cuts Over Government Job Programs
When it comes to job creation and improving the overall economy, voters think tax cuts will work better than government solutions.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters shows that 62% believe cutting taxes is better than increasing government spending when it comes to creating jobs. Twenty percent (20%) say increased government spending does more to create jobs, while nearly the same number (18%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Voters are more narrowly divided on what's better for the economy in the long term. While 38% think government job creation is the better way to go, 49% say tax cuts are a better long-term solution. Twelve percent (12%) are not sure.
These results are not surprising considering voters have consistently said that cutting taxes and reducing government spending are good for the economy.
The partisan differences are predictable. Republicans and voters not affiliated with either party strongly favor tax cuts over increased government spending to create jobs, while Democrats are evenly divided on the question. Most Democrats (60%) view government job creation as better for the economy in the long run, while 77% of Republicans and the plurality (47%) of unaffiliated voters see tax cuts as a better economic move.
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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 7-8, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
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