Americans Strongly Desire That Political Leaders Work Together

PRINCETON, NJ -- As the 112^th Congress gets fully underway in Washington this week, Americans issue a clear appeal for bipartisanship from both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue. Eighty percent say President Obama should work to pass legislation that Democrats and Republicans can agree on, even if it's not what most Democrats want, while 83% say it is "extremely" or "very" important that Republican leaders work with Obama and Democratic leaders to pass agreeable new legislation.

The vote Wednesday on H.R. 2, the bill that would repeal the entire healthcare legislation passed last March, is a major effort by the new Republican House leadership to confront President Obama's policies of the last two years. Most observers agree that H.R. 2 has little chance of becoming law, which could mean that Republican leaders at this point are interested in sending messages and responding to their conservative base, rather than in proposing realistic legislation.

Americans' sentiments about bipartisanship in the most recent poll reinforce previous Gallup research showing that the public tilts toward having leaders find ways to compromise in order to get things done, rather than sticking to principles at the risk of doing nothing.

Even partisans appear to want their leaders to work with the other side to pass legislation. Seven out of 10 Democrats say Obama should work to pass legislation with Republicans, even if it is not the legislation that most Democrats want. And more than three-quarters of Republicans say it is extremely or very important that Republican leaders work with Obama and Democratic leaders to pass legislation both parties can agree on.

That's not to say Americans are totally disinterested in having their parties hold firmly to their beliefs and positions. A little more than half of Republicans say it is extremely or very important that Republican leaders work to prevent President Obama and the Democratic leadership in the Senate from "passing legislation that Republicans disagree with." That percentage is, however, well below the 77% of Republicans who say it is important that Republicans work with Obama and the Democrats. A sizable minority of Democrats and independents also say it is important for Republicans to prevent passage of legislation that Republicans disagree with, suggesting that this question is to some extent measuring agreement with the fundamental nature of a bipartisan government.

Implications

The new 112^th Congress begins its work with a controversial and highly partisan vote aimed at repealing what President Obama might consider the most significant accomplishment of his first two years in office -- the landmark healthcare legislation passed last March. Many view the repeal effort as a symbolic payback to conservatives and Tea Party supporters, whose votes helped the Republicans take control of the House last November. Whether both parties' leaders continue such efforts to play to their bases in the months ahead remains to be seen. As far as Americans are concerned, however, political leaders would do well to focus more on compromise and agreement on mutually acceptable new legislation, rather than confrontation.