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                            March 2, 201425% Think High School Graduates Have Skills Needed For A Job
Voters aren’t exactly thrilled with the skills possessed by students graduating from high school these days, but they are slightly more confident that they are prepared to enter the workforce.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 25% of Likely U.S. Voters think most high school graduates have the skills needed to enter the workforce. But that’s up from 21% last October and the highest level of optimism measured in tracking since March 2012.  Sixty-four percent (64%) still don’t think most graduates have the skills needed to work. Eleven percent (11%) 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 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on February 24-25, 2014 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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                            March 1, 2014What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending March 1, 2014
It’s tax time, and Americans aren’t in much of a spending mood.

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                            February 28, 2014South Dakota Governor: Daugaard (R) 63%, Lowe (D) 23%
Republican Governor Dennis Daugaard holds a three-to-one lead over his likely Democratic challenger in Rasmussen Reports’ first look at the 2014 gubernatorial race in South Dakota.
A new statewide telephone survey of Likely South Dakota Voters finds Daugaard with 63% support to former state fire chief Joe Lowe’s 23%. Five percent (5%) prefer some other candidate in the race, while nine percent (9%) 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 500 Likely Voters in South Dakota was conducted on February 25-26, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 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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                            February 28, 201448% Favor Obama’s $302 Billion Program for Roads and Bridges
Nearly half of voters favor the new infrastructure plan President Obama proposed this week. But most lack confidence that the government will spend the money correctly and think cutting spending is a better way to help the economy.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 48% of Likely U.S. Voters favor a new $302 billion federal program to help rebuild and repair roads and bridges. Just 29% oppose the new program, while 22% 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 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on February 26-27, 2014 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.
February 28, 2014Protesters in Ukraine and Venezuela Seek the Rule of Law By Michael Barone
What motivates people to demonstrate in central squares, day after day and week after week, against repressive regimes at the risk of life and limb? It's a question raised most recently by events in Ukraine and Venezuela.

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                            February 28, 2014South Dakota Senate: Rounds (R) 51%, Weiland (D) 31%
Former Governor Mike Rounds has a commanding lead over Democrat Rick Weiland in Rasmussen Reports’ first look at the likely 2014 U.S. Senate race in South Dakota.
A new statewide telephone survey of Likely South Dakota Voters finds Rounds ahead of Weiland by 20 points - 51% to 31% - in the race to succeed retiring Democratic Senator Tim Johnson. Six percent (6%) prefer some other candidate, while 11% 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 500 Likely Voters in South Dakota was conducted on February 25-26, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 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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                            February 27, 201420% Expect to Use a Digital Currency Like Bitcoin In Next Five Years
The majority of Americans have never used Bitcoin, the peer-to-peer payment system and digital currency, and most do not plan on using the system within the next five years.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only two percent (2%) of American Adults have used Bitcoin 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 1,000 American Adults was conducted on February 25-26, 2014 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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                            February 27, 201445% Oppose Minimum Wage Hike If It Costs Jobs, 39% Still Favor
Overall support for raising the federal minimum wage to $10.10 per hour has fallen following a new Congressional Budget Office report that measures the impact of the wage hike on the economy. Support dips even lower when Americans are made aware of the potential for lost jobs.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 50% of American Adults now favor raising the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 an hour. That’s down from 55% in late January and 61% last July. Thirty-nine percent (39%) oppose raising the minimum wage to that level, showing no change from last month. Eleven percent (11%) 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 1,000 American Adults was conducted on February 23-24, 2014 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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                            February 27, 201466% Oppose Religious Freedom Law Like Arizona’s
Most Americans don’t want a religious freedom law in their state like the one vetoed yesterday by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, but they continue to strongly support a private photographer’s right to not photograph a same-sex wedding for religious reasons.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 20% of American Adults favor a law in their state that would allow businesses to refuse service to customers for religious reasons. Sixty-six percent (66%) oppose such a law in their state. 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 1,000 American Adults was conducted on February 25-26, 2014 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.
February 27, 2014Hurray for GOP Tax Plan by Froma Harrop
A Republican leader is doing something right ... and good. He is Rep. David Camp of Michigan. Camp has issued a detailed plan for simplifying the tax code. That's his duty as chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, which writes tax law.
Reforming the 70,000-page abomination that is our tax laws -- and making them fairer -- has long been a stated goal of both parties. But it is a notoriously unpleasant job because it involves doing away with tax loopholes that have vocal and deep-pocketed supporters.
Follow Froma Harrop on Twitter @FromaHarrop. She can be reached at fharrop@gmail.com. To find out more about Froma Harrop and read features by other Creators writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Web page at www.creators.com.
COPYRIGHT 2014 CREATORS.COM

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                            February 27, 2014Americans Still Question the Fairness of What They Pay in Taxes
Many Americans still believe they pay more than their fair share in taxes.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 50% of American Adults believe someone who makes twice as much money as they do pays less than twice as much in taxes. Just 15% think that taxpayer does pay twice as much in taxes, while 14% believe they pay more than twice as much. (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 1,000 American Adults was conducted on February 21-22, 2014 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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                            February 26, 201432% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction
Thirty-two percent (32%) of Likely U.S. Voters think the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending February 23.
That’s up from 30% the previous week and is the highest level of optimism since the first week of June 2013. Prior to this week, this finding had seesawed between 29% and 30% every week since mid-December. A year ago, 34% said the country was headed in the right direction.
(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 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports on February 17-23, 2014. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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                            February 26, 2014What America Thinks: Just 6% Think U.S. Has the Best Tax System in the World
April 15 will be here soon, and roughly half of Americans believe they pay more than their fair share in taxes.

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                            February 26, 201445% Think Auto Bailouts Were Good for U.S.
More voters now believe the federal bailouts of General Motors and Chrysler were good for the country, even knowing the government lost money on them.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 45% of Likely U.S. Voters consider the bailouts of the auto industry good for the United States, up six points from November’s all-time low and the most positive assessment in over a year. Thirty-five percent (35%) now say, looking back, the auto bailouts were bad for the country, the lowest since December 2012. Twenty percent (20%) 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 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on February 22-23, 2014 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.
February 26, 201465% Think Mexico Not Aggressive Enough in Fighting Illegal Drugs
Despite the Mexican government’s capture over the weekend of perhaps the world’s most powerful drug lord, U.S. voters still strongly believe Mexico is not trying hard enough to fight the illegal drug trade.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 65% of Likely U.S. Voters do not believe the Mexican government has been aggressive enough in its efforts to stop illegal drug traffickers in Mexico. Just 12% think the Mexicans have been aggressive enough in their anti-drug efforts. Twenty-two percent (22%) 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 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on February 24-25, 2014 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.
February 26, 2014Codgers Freaking Out By John Stossel
America's most popular cable news host is upset. "Marijuana use, video games and texting (are) creating major social problems," says Bill O'Reilly. "This is an epidemic that will lead to a weaker nation!"
Give me a break.
Crotchety old geezers always complain about "the kids." The Boston Globe frets about "Idle Trophy Kids." The New York Post asks if millennials are "The Worst Generation?" Older folks (my age) complain that young people spend so much time texting each other that they can't communicate. And because they spend hours playing violent video games, violence is up.
Bunk.

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                            February 26, 201471% Think Americans Try to Be Honest When Filing Taxes
Most Americans believe the everyday taxpayer is being honest when filing his or her annual income taxes, and few are themselves concerned about being audited by the Internal Revenue Service.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 71% of American Adults believe most of their fellow countrymen try to be honest when filing their taxes. Thirteen percent (13%) are more cynical and believe most Americans are trying to hide something when filing. Sixteen percent (16%) 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 1,000 American Adults was conducted on February 21-22, 2014 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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                            February 25, 201443% Don't Like Circus Clowns
Send in the clowns! Or maybe not since there’s a nationwide clown shortage. For a handful of Americans who have secretly (or not-so-secretly) thought about running away with the circus, now’s their chance.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that six percent (6%) of American Adults have thought about running away with the circus. Eighty-eight percent (88%) have not, but another six percent (6%) 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 1,000 American Adults was conducted on February 23-24, 2014 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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                            February 25, 201433% Have Already Filed Their Taxes
A third of Americans have filed their income taxes, but slightly fewer expect to get a refund this year.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 33% of American Adults have filed their income taxes already. Fifty-eight percent (58%) have yet to file but plan to do so by the April 15 deadline. Four percent (4%) plan to get an extension. (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 1,000 American Adults was conducted on February 21-22, 2014 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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                            February 25, 201471% Say It’s Not Government’s Job to Monitor News Content
In the face of a public outcry, the Federal Communications Commission has backed off a plan to determine if the news media is meeting the public’s “critical information needs.” But voters strongly believe news content is none of the federal government’s business.
Seventy-one percent (71%) of Likely U.S. Voters say it is not the government’s role to monitor the content of news organizations in this country, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Just 18% think it is the government’s job to monitor news content. Eleven percent (11%) 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 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on February 22-23, 2014 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.