Now that the Senate Finance Committee has passed its version of health care reform, 42% of voters nationwide favor the health care reform plan proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats. That’s down two points from a week ago and down four from the week before.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 54% are opposed to the plan.
The numbers have been remarkably stable throughout the debate. With the exception of bounces following presidential television appearances, support for the plan has stayed in a very narrow range from 41% to 46%. Currently, 24% Strongly Favor the legislative effort and 42% are Strongly Opposed.
The majority, 54 percent, believe changes do need to happen in the healthcare industry, something no one has disagreed with, but the over reaching Obamacare plans is not the changes they favor.
Fifty-six percent (56%) of voters say passage of the plan will make the cost of health care go up while 18% say it will make costs go down. As a recent commentary by Michael Barone noted, “The Trouble With Health Care Is Paying for It.” Most (59%) favor putting a provision in the plan that would prohibit any new taxes, fees or penalties on families who make less than $250,000 a year to pay for the reform initiative. Most also say that middle-class tax cuts are more important than new spending on health care.
In addition to cost concerns, a Rasmussen video report shows that 53% of those with insurance believe it’s likely they would have to change coverage if the congressional plan becomes law.
Sixty-three percent (63%) of voters nationwide say guaranteeing that no one is forced to change their health insurance coverage is a higher priority than giving consumers the choice of a "public option" health insurance company.
Read the whole Rasmussen report on healthcare reform.
Read the plan filed yesterday, all 1,502 pages of it (PDF).
