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                            April 30, 2013Rasmussen Employment Index Hits 2013 High
The Rasmussen Employment Index which measures worker confidence rose six points in April to 90.7, the highest level of the year.
Worker confidence is up a full 10 points from April 2012 and is up 16 points from April 2011. In December of last year, the Index hit a five-year high of 91.2, but it had steadily fallen the first three months of this year. December marked the last time the Employment Index reached the 90-point mark.
(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 9,162 working Americans was conducted in April 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 1 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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                            April 30, 201356% Think Government Agencies Cut Popular Programs First
Last week’s airport delays prompted complaints that the federal government was targeting areas that hurt the public the most to increase opposition to government spending cuts. Most Americans agree and also think Congress’ quick response to the delays highlights how the legislators look out for themselves first.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% of American Adults think that when government agencies are forced to cut their budgets, they generally cut popular programs first to make the cuts seem more significant. Just 17% disagree, but 27% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on April 26-27, 2013 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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                            April 30, 201332% Think Obama Administration Has Done Good or Excellent Job Explaining Benghazi
Most voters believe the murder in Benghazi, Libya last year of the U.S. ambassador there was a terrorist act and needs to be thoroughly investigated. But they give the Obama administration lackluster marks for its explanations so far.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 78% of Likely U.S. Voters think it’s at least somewhat important to find out exactly what happened in the events surrounding the murder of Ambassador Christopher Stevens and others in Benghazi, Libya, last September. That includes 51% who regard it as Very Important. Seventeen percent (17%) don't feel a full investigation of what happened in Libya is important, but that includes only four percent (4%) who say it's Not At All Important. (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 April 25-26, 2013 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.
April 30, 2013Legal Pot Means More Money for States, Less for Gangs By Froma Harrop
The good things that should happen after marijuana is legalized are happening in Colorado. In November, voters in Colorado -- and Washington state -- legalized pot for recreational use. (Many states allow medical use of marijuana.)
What are the good things?
For starters, money, money, money for the state coffers. As of last week, lawmakers in Denver were still tussling over how heavily to tax marijuana sales. A leading plan centers on excise and sales taxes totaling 30 percent. The tax can't go so high that it encourages a black market.

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                            April 30, 20132% Favor Congress Exempting Itself From Health Care Law
Voters couldn't be much clearer: Members of Congress and their staffers must be subject to the full requirements of President Obama’s national health care law, just like the rest of us.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only two percent (2%) of Likely U.S. Voters believe Congress members and their staff should be exempt from the health care law. Ninety-five percent (95%) think they should face the same requirements as all other working Americans. (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 April 27-28, 2013 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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                            April 29, 2013Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 40%, Democrats 39%
For the first time since before the presidential election, Republicans now hold a one-point lead over Democrats on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the week ending April 28.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 40% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Republican in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while 39% would choose the Democrat 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 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from April 22-28, 2013. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage point 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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                            April 29, 201338% Give Obama Positive Marks for Job Creation
Following a government report of yet another anemic quarter of economic growth, voters give President Obama even less credit for his handling of the issues of job creation and small business.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 38% of Likely Voters rate the president’s handling of issues related to job creation as good or excellent. Forty-three percent (43%) give him a poor rating in this area. 
When it comes to issues related to small business, 35% give him a good or excellent rating.  Forty-three percent (43%) think Obama’s performance in this area is poor.  (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 April 25-26, 2013 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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                            April 29, 201325% Think Most College Professors Share Values of U.S. Society
Full-time college professors are generally regarded as politically liberal by most Americans, and only one-in-four think most professors favor the values of American society.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that just 25% of U.S. Adults believe most full-time college professors share the values of American society. Forty percent (40%) think most full-time professors oppose American values. A sizable number (34%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on April 24-25, 2013 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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                            April 29, 2013Only 16% Know Anyone Affected by Sequester Flight Delays
Congress cited public outrage as the reason for moving swiftly to end flight delays caused by the sequester. However, very few Americans were actually impacted.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 16% of all American Adults knew anyone affected by the delays. However, upper-income Americans were far more likely to have been impacted than those who earn less. And, of course, most Members of Congress fly home on a regular basis.  (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 April 26-27, 2013 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. 
April 29, 2013Benghazi Report Revives Troubling Questions By Michael Barone
"What difference, at this point, does it make?"   

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                            April 29, 201335% Say Health Care Law Has Hurt Them; 19% Say It’s Helped
Voters continue to give President Obama’s health care law mixed reviews, but more voters believe the law has hurt more than helped them.
Forty-three percent (43%) of Likely U.S. Voters view the health care law favorably, while 49% have an unfavorable opinion of it, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. This includes 17% with a Very Favorable view of the law and 35% with a Very Unfavorable one. (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 April 27-28, 2013 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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                            April 28, 201324% Feel Legal System Puts Public Safety Ahead of Individual Rights
In the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings, Americans remain closely divided when asked about the balance between protecting public safety and preserving individual rights. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 28% of American Adults think the U.S. legal system worries too much about protecting individuals rights, while 24% say it worries too much about public safety.  Twenty-nine percent (29%) believe the balance is about right, while a sizable 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 survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on April 22-23, 2013 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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                            April 27, 201359% Say College Is Primarily For Gaining Job Skills
Americans by a two-to-one margin view colleges as job training centers.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 59% of American Adults believe the primary purpose for attending college is to learn the skills needed to get a better job. Thirty percent (30%) disagree, 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 1,000 American Adults was conducted on April 24-25, 2013 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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                            April 27, 2013What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls -- Week Ending April 27, 2013
While the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings and its aftermath will never forget, Americans in general appear to be recognizing that terrorism is part of the new normal. National security remains low on the list of voter concerns still topped by the economy.

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                            April 26, 201330% View U.N. As U.S. Ally
One-out-of-two U.S. Voters now view the United Nations favorably, but far fewer consider the international organization an ally of the United States.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 51% of voters have at least a somewhat favorable opinion of the U.N., while 42% view the international organization unfavorably. This includes 13% with a Very Favorable opinion and 21% with a Very Unfavorable one. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 23-24, 2013 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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                            April 26, 201318% Think Most Colleges and Universities Promote U.S. Social Values
Americans tend to believe colleges and universities should promote the nation’s social values but think the schools are much more likely to challenge them instead.  The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that a plurality (45%) of American Adults believes colleges and universities should uphold the values of American society. Just 18% think the schools should challenge those values. Twenty-eight percent (28%) say they should do both, and six percent (6%) feel they should do neither. (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 April 24-25, 2013 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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                            April 26, 201323% Think Surveillance Cameras Have Violated Their Privacy
Most working Americans say there are surveillance cameras where they work, and one-in-four of all Americans think their privacy has been violated by such cameras.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that most Americans (69%) do not feel that a security or surveillance camera has violated their privacy. But 23% do believe their privacy has been violated.  (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 Adults was conducted on April 22-23, 2013 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.
April 26, 2013Free the 'Work Beasts' By Froma Harrop
We who work through colds, bad backs and low moods -- however liberal we might be -- have permission to resent those who could hold a job but don't, preferring to collect disability checks unto the decades. You see them at the coffee shop, refilling their cups in leisure, or even pumping iron at the gym.   

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                            April 26, 2013Americans Seem to Be Taking Terrorism in Stride By Scott Rasmussen
The news from Boston over the past couple of weeks has been the stuff of nightmares. Homemade bombs killing and injuring innocent people at a high-profile public event were followed by a massive manhunt. People in the surrounding suburbs were ordered to stay inside, businesses closed, and SWAT teams overwhelmed a typically quiet community. The Boston police commissioner warned everyone: "We believe this is a terrorist. We believe this is a man that's come here to kill people."

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                            April 25, 201363% Say American Society is Generally Fair and Decent
Most voters agree that American society is generally fair and decent, and they think people who move here should adopt the culture.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 63% of Likely U.S. Voters say American society is generally fair and decent, up from 60% in January and the highest level measured since October. One-in-four (26%) say American society is generally unfair and discriminatory, and 10% 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 April 17-18, 2013 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.