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                            February 20, 201338% Say U.S. Heading In Right Direction
Thirty-eight percent (38%) of Likely U.S. Voters say the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey taken the week ending Sunday, February 17.
The latest finding is unchanged from the previous week but is down from 41% three months ago – just below the highest level measured in over five years of weekly tracking. This time last year, 31% were confident in the nation’s current course.
(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 February 11-17, 2013. 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 20, 201342% Have Favorable Opinion of Rubio, 35% of Rand Paul
A plurality (42%) of Likely U.S. Voters now has a favorable opinion of Marco Rubio, the Florida senator who gave the Republican response to President Obama’s State of the Union address last week, including 22% with a Very Favorable opinion.  That’s up from 36% last month but comparable to his favorability rating last June when his name was in the news as a possible running mate for Mitt Romney. 
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 31% have an unfavorable opinion of Rubio, including 14% with a Very Unfavorable one. This is generally unchanged from previous surveys. Still, 27% do not know enough about Rubio to venture even a soft opinion of him. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Joining Scott Rasmussen this coming weekend on "What America Thinks" will be Senator Paul. “What America Thinks” airs on 61 stations. Find a station near you.
Win an IPad: Take the Rasmussen Challenge. Answers will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday, February 20.
(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 16-17, 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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                            February 20, 2013Just 21% Say High School Grads Have Skills Needed for Work Force
Voters don’t think much of the skills acquired by high school graduates attempting to go to college or enter the work force.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that just 18% of Likely U.S. Voters believe most high school graduates have the skills needed for college. Sixty-one percent (61%) don't agree. Twenty-one percent (21%) 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 18-19, 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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                            February 20, 201348% Think Citizenship for Illegal Immigrants Will Encourage More to Come
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told Congress last week that the U.S.-Mexico border is more secure than ever and that immigration reform legislation should focus its attention elsewhere. But most voters think more border security is needed, and half believe offering citizenship to illegal immigrants already here will just encourage more to come.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 25% of Likely U.S. Voters agree with Napolitano that the U.S. border is now more secure than it has ever been. Forty-seven percent (47%) disagree with her assessment, while 28% more are not sure.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Win an IPad: Take the Rasmussen Challenge. Answers due by 11:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday, February 20.
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on February 18-19 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.
February 20, 2013To Government, Every Penny Is Sacred By John Stossel
President Obama has new priorities. That means new spending.
In his State of the Union, he said, "The American people don't expect government to solve every problem." But then he went on to list how, under his guidance, government will solve a thousand problems, including some (like climate change and a loss of manufacturing jobs) that are probably not even problems.

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                            February 20, 201373% Oppose Taxing Health Care Benefits Provided by Employers
Americans overwhelmingly oppose the idea of taxing the health insurance benefits provided by their employers but are less adamant when it comes to workers who earn more than $150,000 a year.
Proposals have been made to include the amount employers pay toward a worker’s health insurance as part of his or her overall taxable income, but just 13% of American Adults think that’s a good idea. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 73% oppose taxing health insurance benefits provided by employers. 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 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.

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                            February 19, 201344% Say Tax Deductions Help Upper-Income Americans The Most
A plurality of Americans opposes reducing tax deductions for the wealthy, but they have mixed views over whether wealthy Americans benefit more than the middle class from those deductions. Most continue to agree, however, on the need for a simpler federal income tax code. 
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 39% of Adults think tax deductions help middle-class Americans the most, while 44% think those deductions are more beneficial to upper-income taxpayers. Seventeen percent (17%) are not sure which group benefits the most. (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 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.

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                            February 19, 201325% Say Americans Are Selfish For Putting Economy Ahead of Global Warming
Most Americans have expressed concern about global warming for years, but the issue still takes a back seat to the economy and job creation.  The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 25% of Likely U.S. Voters believe Americans are selfish for putting their economic concerns ahead of the fight against global warming, down from 34% a month ago and the lowest level measured in years. Most (57%) disagree and say Americans are not being selfish. Another 18% 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.
This national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on February 14-15, 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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                            February 19, 201354% Favor Raising Minimum Wage to $9 An Hour
Most voters don’t think the minimum wage is enough to live on and support President Obama’s proposal to raise it from $7.25 an hour to $9 an hour. They’re more narrowly divided, however, when asked if hiking the minimum wage will be good for the economy.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 54% of Likely U.S. Voters favor raising the minimum wage to $9 an hour. Thirty-four percent (34%) are opposed, while 12% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on February 14-15, 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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                            February 19, 201344% Give Obama Positive Marks on Health Care, 42% Poor
As President Obama’s national health care law enters the major implementation stage, voters are closely divided on the president’s handling of health care issues. They also give him mixed marks on the way he’s dealing with Social Security.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of Likely U.S. Voters now rate the president’s handling of issues related to health care as good or excellent. Nearly as many (42%) consider his performance in this area to be 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 nationwide was conducted on February 14-15, 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.
February 19, 2013Amazon Rules the Sales-tax Jungle By Froma Harrop
SEATTLE -- Lunch hour in the South Lake Union neighborhood. Workers walk dogs they can take to the office. Lines form in hip restaurants. Something big is going on here, but the only sure sign of a major employer is the many blue ID cards hanging out of jackets.   

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                            February 18, 2013Generic Congressional Ballot: Democrats 43%, Republicans 37%
Democrats now hold a three-point lead over Republicans on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the week ending February 10, 2013.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 42% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Democrat in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while 39% 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 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from February 4-10, 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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                            February 18, 2013Beyond Family, 35% Say Personal Allegiance is to Church; 31% Say Country First
When given a choice between several levels of community beyond their own family, most Americans choose either their church or their country. More than a third of adults (35%) say their strongest personal allegiance other than family is to their church. Nearly as many (31%) say their strongest allegiance is to their country, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults. Just six percent (6%) name the global community as their strongest personal connection, while five percent (5%) name some other community organization. Four percent (4%) each say their town or state represents their biggest personal allegiance. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on February 13-14, 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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                            February 18, 2013Lincoln, Washington Both Viewed Favorably This Presidents' Day
Although most Americans don’t consider Presidents’ Day one of the nation’s top holidays, they still look favorably on those it celebrates.
Just seven percent (7%) of American Adults consider Presidents’ Day to be one of the nation’s most important holidays. Thirty-one percent (31%) consider it one of the least important, and 55% think it’s somewhere in between. (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 15-16, 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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                            February 18, 201343% Support Hagel Confirmation, 37% Oppose
Support for Senator Charles “Chuck” Hagel, President Obama’s nominee to be secretary of Defense, is down slightly, although most voters still feel he is likely to be confirmed for the high-level Cabinet position.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 28% of Likely U.S. Voters now hold a favorable opinion of Hagel while 38% view him unfavorably. Still, 35% of voters don’t know enough about Hagel to venture any kind of opinion, and that’s unchanged from earlier this month.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Win an IPad: Take the Rasmussen Challenge.
(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 16-17, 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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                            February 18, 201347% Favor A Health Care Exchange in Their State
Voter support for creating a health care exchange in their state as part of President Obama’s health care law is unchanged, but low voter awareness suggests it is not a top-of-mind issue for most voters at this time.
Just 34% of Likely U.S. Voters say they know their state has agreed to set up a health care exchange, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Slightly fewer (29%) don’t know if their state has done so, with another 37% who 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 16-17, 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.
February 18, 2013For Dems to Win House, Obama Must Rise in Polls By Michael Barone
Barack Obama has said that he wants to help Democrats win back a majority in the House of Representatives. He says he looks forward to Nancy Pelosi being speaker again.
If he does work hard to elect House Democrats, it will be a change from 2010 and 2012, when he didn't do much at all for them.
But let's say he does. What are the chances of success?
Certainly not zero. Democrats need to gain 17 seats to win a House majority of 218. That's fewer than the number of seats that changed party in 2006, 2008 and 2010.

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                            February 17, 201385% Think Parents Are Biggest Factor in A Child’s Success
Parents, teachers, friends, and many others influence the life of a child, but Americans overwhelmingly believe it’s parents who make the biggest impact. 
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 85% of American Adults believe that parents play the biggest role in determining the future success and happiness of a child. Five percent (5%) feel friends play the biggest role, while three percent (3%) think siblings do. Two percent (2%) say teachers are the most important, and one percent (1%) think it’s someone else. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on February 11-12, 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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                            February 17, 2013Only 11% Say Congress is Good Reflection of Americans’ Views
Despite a deeply held belief in Washington that Congress reflects the views of the people, most Americans don’t share that sentiment.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that just 11% of Adults believe Congress is a good reflection of the views of the American people. Seventy-four percent (74%) say Congress is not a good reflection of those views, while another 15% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on February 13-14, 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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                            February 16, 201342% Owe Less Money Than A Year Ago
Americans are a lot less in debt than they were a year ago, but their outlook on interest rates hasn’t changed much.
Forty-two percent (42%) of U.S. Adults now say they owe less money than they did 12 months ago. That's up from 33% last month and the highest finding in regular surveys since April 2009. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just half as many (21%) say they owe more than they did a year ago, while 33% say their level of debt is about the same. (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 February 9-10, 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.