Americans Divided Over Ryan vs. Obama Deficit Plans

PRINCETON, NJ -- U.S. adults are evenly split in their reactions to the major deficit-reduction plans being debated in Washington. Forty-four percent prefer the Democratic plan proposed by President Barack Obama, while 43% say Republican Rep. Paul Ryan's plan is better.

Ryan's plan includes a complete restructuring of Medicare for people younger than 55. Pluralities of middle-aged Americans as well as those 65 and older prefer Ryan's plan to Obama's, while adults 18 to 29 show more support for Obama's, 53% to 30%. These findings are in line with approval of Obama by age, more generally.

Democrats' and Republicans' reactions to the competing budget plans are generally symmetrical; slightly more than 80% each of Republicans and Democrats favor their own party's plan and few favor the opposing party's plan. Independents are evenly divided. Consistent with the different demographic profiles of Republicans and Democrats, whites and those making at least $75,000 annually generally favor Ryan's plan over Obama's; nonwhites and lower-income Americans favor Obama's.

Americans Prefer Republicans for Handling Federal Budget

The same USA Today/Gallup survey, conducted April 20-23, finds Republicans holding a significant edge over Democrats in public perceptions of which party would do the better job of dealing with the federal budget. Nearly half of Americans, 48% prefer the Republicans in Congress on this question, while 36% favor the Democrats in Congress.

One reason Republicans fare relatively well on this measure is that independents prefer the Republicans in Congress over the Democrats for handling the federal budget by 47% to 30%. Another is that a higher percentage of Republicans (86%) than Democrats (73%) favor their own party on the issue. Both findings contrast with the pattern seen in preferences for the Ryan vs. Obama deficit reduction plans, in which independents are evenly divided and Republicans and Democrats are equally likely to support their own party.

Neither Party Given a Free Pass

With accumulated federal deficits creating more than $14 trillion in federal debt, there is a growing concern among Washington lawmakers -- as well as among Americans -- about the federal budget. However, both parties face public relations challenges in advancing their long-term budget proposals.

Americans' biggest concern, at 71%, is that the Democrats' plan will not go far enough to fix the nation's budget problems. However, nearly as many Americans worry that the Republicans' plan will go too far in cutting Medicare, Social Security, and programs for the poor, or in protecting the rich. A majority of Americans are also concerned the Democrats will use the budget deficit as an excuse to raise taxes, but fewer worry they will cut defense spending too much.

 

Bottom Line

By 48% to 36%, more Americans prefer the Republicans in Congress to the Democrats in Congress for managing the federal budget. At the same time, Americans give equal support to the specific long-term budget plans recently issued by the Republican House Budget Committee Chairman Ryan and President Obama.

Whether this parity is due to public concerns about Ryan's plan, or to the higher support enjoyed by Obama versus the Democrats in Congress, is not clear. In any case, Americans also have major concerns about each party's approach to the budget. These concerns include that Democrats will not go far enough to fix the deficit and will use the deficit as an excuse to raise taxes. For the Republicans, they include that party cutting certain spending programs too deeply and protecting the rich at the expense of others.