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January 15, 2015

Voters Repeat: Cut Spending to Help Economy

Voters still want the government to do more to help the economy, and what they want it to do is cut spending.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% of Likely U.S. Voters now worry the federal government will do too much to try to help the economy, up five points from December and the highest level of concern since September 2013. But 50% worry the government won’t do enough, generally in line with surveys over the past year-and-a-half. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 800 Likely Voters was conducted on January 9-10, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

January 14, 2015

Americans Don't Expect Record Low Gas Prices to Last

Gas prices are hitting near-record lows around the country, but Americans suspect the rock-bottom prices won’t last for long.

Ninety percent (90%) of American Adults say they are paying less for a gallon of gas than six months ago, but 69% think it’s at least somewhat likely those prices will go up again over the next six months, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Just 19% believe they are unlikely to be paying more in six months' time. These findings include 40% who say it’s Very Likely a gallon of gas will cost more and only three percent (3%) who say it’s Not At All Likely. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 800 Adults was conducted on January 10-11, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

January 14, 2015

Ever Lose Credit or Debit Information Online?

President Obama is pushing new legislation that would prod businesses to be more forthcoming when they are hit with an Internet breach, but most Americans who have been affected by such a breach rate the response positively.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 40% of Americans say they have had credit card or debit card information stolen, and 45% of these adults say they have lost this information through a major data breach at a retailer they’ve bought things from. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter and Facebook.

The survey of 800 Adults was conducted on January 12-13, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 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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January 14, 2015

The Better Option by John Stossel

It's easy to "fire" a business that rips you off. Just go to a different one. It's a lot easier to patronize another business than to get government to fix the problem.

January 14, 2015

Voters Are Even Less Supportive of Obama Acting Alone

Most voters continue to believe the federal government should only do what President Obama and Congress agree on. They also still think a president should not be able to change laws passed by Congress on his own, even as congressional Republicans plan to challenge Obama's decision not to enforce the deportation of up to five million illegal immigrants

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% of Likely U.S. Voters believe that when it comes to dealing with issues the president considers important to the nation, the government should only do what he and Congress agree on. Thirty-one percent (31%) think Obama should take action alone if Congress does not approve the initiatives he has proposed. Thirteen percent (13%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 800 Likely Voters was conducted on January 7-8, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

January 13, 2015

Americans Still Aren't in a Car-Buying Mood

While several economic indicators suggest the U.S. economy may finally be recovering, car buying doesn't appear to be one of them.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 26% of American Adults say it’s at least somewhat likely they will buy or lease a car in the next year, including 11% who say it's Very Likely. That compares to 27% who intended to do so last year, with 13% who said it was Very Likely. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 800 Adults was conducted on January 10-11, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

January 13, 2015

Americans Think Islam Needs To Clean Up Its Act

Most U.S. voters agree Islam needs to put the emphasis on peace.

The Muslim president of Egypt is calling for a revolution in his religion, saying that some of its beliefs have made it “a source of worry, fear, danger, murder and destruction to all the world.” Seventy-five percent (75%) of Likely U.S. Voters agree that Islamic religious leaders need to do more to emphasize the peaceful beliefs of their faith, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Just seven percent (7%) disagree, while 17% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 800 Likely Voters was conducted on January 11-12, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 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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January 13, 2015

Can Jeb Bush -- or Anyone -- Come up With a Platform for Primaries, General and Presidency? by Michael Barone

There are likely to be many surprises in a race for the Republican presidential nomination that has something like 20 plausible potential candidates. The first of those surprises came in the last hours before New Year's when Jeb Bush announced he was setting up an exploratory committee to consider running for president.

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January 13, 2015

License Plates Are Not Bumper Stickers By Froma Harrop

A group called the Sons of Confederate Veterans has asked Texas to issue a license plate featuring the Confederate battle flag, which many consider an emblem of slavery. Texas said no, and the sons are suing because the state accepts other messages for specialty plates.

The sons have a point.

January 13, 2015

Support for Long-Term Unemployment Aid Remains Low

As the national unemployment rate continues to drop, most Americans remain opposed to long-term government help for those out of work.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 15% of American Adults think the government should hire those who can't find work after an extended period of time. Eleven percent (11%) think the government should extend unemployment benefits indefinitely for the long-term unemployed. But 34% think the government should pay for their retraining only, while 30% say it should do nothing at all. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter and Facebook.

The survey of 800 Adults was conducted on January 4-5, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

January 12, 2015

Generic Congressional Ballot: Democrats 38%, Republicans 38%

Republicans and Democrats are tied on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the second time in three weeks.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending January 11 finds that 38% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Democratic candidate in their district's congressional race if the election were held today, while 38% would choose the Republican instead.

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The national telephone survey of 2,800 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from December 29-30, 2014 and January 2-4, 2015. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

January 12, 2015

Americans Defend Media’s Right to Say What They Want

Americans have mixed feelings about how media organizations treat religion in this country, but they strongly defend their right to say what they want to.

Just 44% of American Adults think the media in this country are generally respectful of organized religion and those who practice it. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that nearly as many (36%) say the media is not respectful of religions and people of faith. Twenty percent (20%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The national survey of 800 American Adults was conducted on January 8-9, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

January 12, 2015

Voters Favor Free Community College If It’s Cost-Free to Them

Voters tend to like President Obama’s idea of free community college for millions of students - as long as it doesn’t cost them anything.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 47% of Likely U.S. Voters favor a new government program that would make community college tuition-free. Thirty-nine percent (39%) are opposed. Fourteen percent (14%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook

The survey of 800 Likely Voters was conducted on January 9-10, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

January 12, 2015

Voters Think Pathway to Citizenship Will Lead to More Illegal Immigration

Voters continue to believe that securing the border is more important than legalizing the status of undocumented workers already here and think plans to offer legal status to such individuals will just encourage more illegal immigration.

January 11, 2015

Americans Think Charlie-like Attack Likely Here

Americans are hesitant to link the terrorist massacre in Paris this past week to the true beliefs of Islam, but many worry a similar attack on those critical of the religion in the United States could happen in the near future.

Sixty-five percent (65%) of American Adults believe it is at least somewhat likely an attack on those critical of Islam will happen in this country in the next year. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 26% think an attack similar to the one against the satirical Parisian publication Charlie Hebdo which mocked radical Islamicists is unlikely to happen here. This includes 29% who say such an attack is Very Likely and just five percent (5%) who say it’s Not At All Likely. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The national survey of 800 American Adults was conducted on January 8-9, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

January 10, 2015

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending January 10, 2015

Obama vs. Congress – Round One. Voters are strongly hoping the country comes out the winner.

January 9, 2015

Voters Doubt More Money Will Make Better Students

Very few voters know how much the United States spends on students each year, but they do know the money being spent isn’t doing much good.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just eight percent (8%) of Likely U.S. Voters know that the United States spends an average of $11,000 per student per year. This is down slightly from September and tied with last January’s low. Forty-four percent (44%) think the country spends less, including 11% who think America spends as little as $3,000 per student. Seven percent (7%) think it spends an average of $13,000 per year. Forty-two percent (42%) are not sure, the highest level of doubt to date. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 800 Likely U.S. Voters was conducted on January 7-8, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

January 9, 2015

Is Congress A Help or Hindrance for the Postal Service?

Outgoing Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe criticized Congress this week for its inaction on needed reforms for the financially struggling U.S. Postal Service, but Americans aren’t entirely convinced the agency should be able to make budget changes without Congress.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% favor allowing the Postal Service to make budget decisions without congressional approval. Thirty-two percent (32%) oppose letting the agency act without congressional oversight. Twenty-six percent (26%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The national survey of 800 Adults was conducted on January 6-7, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

January 9, 2015

Voters Want Congress To Tackle Taxes, Spending First

Taxes, spending, Obamacare and immigration top Congress’ to-do list as far as voters are concerned, but they also fully expect partisan politics to get in the way.

President Obama and Republicans in Congress oppose each other on most major issues facing the nation, and the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 14% of Likely U.S. Voters think this opposition is due mostly to honest differences of opinion. Seventy-seven percent (77%) believe instead that the opposition is mostly due to partisan politics, up from 69% last July when we first asked this question. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 800 Likely Voters was conducted on January 7-8, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 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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January 9, 2015

What 'Je Suis Charlie' Should Mean to Us By Joe Conason

Not long after 9/11, the leading figures in France's Champagne industry decided that they would hold their 2002 annual awards gala in New York rather than Paris. At no small expense, they displayed solidarity with New Yorkers -- and America -- at a time of sorrow and fury, like so many of their compatriots. It was one more instance when the French renewed the bond that has existed since this country's founding.