52% of Americans Remain Opposed to the House Health Care Bill

Posted: 11 Nov 2009 03:30 AM PST

As health care reform legislation passed the House of Representatives, Democratic leaders spoke of an historic moment. However, that legislative victory failed to significantly move public opinion.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 45% now favor the health care plan proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats. Most (52%) remain opposed.

Only 25% Strongly Support the plan while 42% are Strongly Opposed.
Support for the plan has remained essentially unchanged for months. Just last week, it was supported by 42% and half a month ago support was at 45%.

Support has generally stayed between 41% and 46% since July, and support has bounced above that level only in the wake of nationally televised appeals by the president.
52% of voters now say passage of the legislation will increase health care costs while 53% say it will hurt the quality of care.

Still, 56% now say the reform plan is at least somewhat likely to become law. That figure includes 20% who say passage is Very Likely.

The debate now moves to the Senate where a different version of the legislation is expected to emerge.

Roughly half the interviews for the current survey were completed before Saturday’s House vote on the health care bill. However, there was not a significant difference in polling before or after the vote.

Over the weekend, the abortion issue divided Democrats and created challenges for House

Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Earlier polling showed that 48% nationwide favored the abortion ban but most supporters of health care reform didn’t want to address the issue.
Just 13% of all voters wanted abortion coverage mandated in the legislation.
Another issue that arose during the debate was immigration. 83% of voters say that proof of citizenship should be required before anyone can get health care assistance from a government program.

Voters also favor competition and 65% would like to remove the existing anti-trust exemption for health insurance companies. Two-thirds (66%) say an increase in free market competition will do more than government regulation to reduce health care costs.

While voters are skeptical of the plan working its way through Congress, 54% say major changes are needed in the health care system. 61% say it’s important for Congress to pass some reform.
However, most fear that the plan might encourage companies to drop coverage for employees and shift their workers on to the government health care plan.

Health care reform remains the top priority for Democratic voters. However, it ranks fourth on a list of four among Republicans and unaffiliated voters.

Overall, 38% of voters see deficit reduction as most important among the four priorities listed by the president earlier this year, while 23% cite health care reform as tops.
The Americano / Agencies

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