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MAR CH 22, 2013

Debt and Deficit: Key Data Points from Pew Research

T he public now is much more likely than four years ago to say that reducing the federal budget deficit should be a top priority in 2013 for President Obama and Congress. When Barack Obama took office in early 2009, reducing the budget deficit was a middletier item on the publics agenda. Only about half of Americans (53%) viewed it as a top policy priority, placing it ninth on a list of 20 policy goals. But our survey conducted Jan. 9-13 (http://www.people-press.org/2 01 3 /01 /2 4 /deficit-reduction-rises-on-publicsagenda-for-obam as-second-term /) found that, as Obama starts his second term, only the

economy and jobs are viewed as more important priorities for the coming year.

(http://www.peoplepress.org/2 01 3 /01 /2 4 /deficit-reduction-rises-on-publics-agenda-for-obam as-second-term /)

Currently, 72% say that reducing the budget deficit should be a top priority, up 19 points from four years ago. The budget deficit has increased as a priority since 2009 among Democrats, independents and especially Republicans. More than eight-in-ten (84%) Republicans say this is a top priority for 2013,
(http://www.people-press.org/2 01 3 /01 /2 4 /deficit-reduction-rises-on-publics-agenda-for-

obam as-second-term /) compared with 67% of Democrats and 71% of independents. Four

years ago, 51% of Republicans, 52% of Democrats and 57% of independents said reducing the deficit was a top priority for the year ahead. (See our interactive chart, Twelve Years of the Publics Top Priorities (http://www.people-press.org/interactives/toppriorities/) ).

T he public again put emphasis on the need to deal with the budget deficit, with 70% saying, in a February survey (ht t p://www.peoplepress.org/2013/02/21/if-no-deal-is-st ruck-four-in-t en-say -let -t he-sequest erhappen/) , that it was essential for the White House and Congress to address

it this year.

(http://www.people-press.org/2 01 3 /02 /2 1 /if-no-deal-is-struck-four-in-ten-say -let-thesequester-happen/)

A survey conducted in March (ht t p://www.people-press.org/2013/03/21/sect ion1-obama-job-approval-confidence-on-budget -deficit /#ent it lement s-priorit y ) found

the public continued to say that maintaining entitlement benefits was a greater priority than cutting the deficit.

(http://www.people-press.org/2 01 3 /03 /2 1 /section-1 -obam a-job-approv al-confidence-on-

budget-deficit/#entitlem ents-priority )

Our February survey (ht t p://www.people-press.org/2013/02/22/as-sequest erdeadline-looms-lit t le-support -for-cut t ing-most -programs/) showed that

majorities also disapproved of many of the most-talked-about deficit reduction proposals in other areas as well.

(http://www.people-press.org/2 01 3 /02 /2 2 /assequester-deadline-loom s-little-support-for-cutting-m ost-program s/)

Not surprisingly, partisans have markedly different views on many of the debt reduction ideas.

Still, most Americans see a need for a combination (www.peoplepress.org/2013/02/21/if-no-deal-is-st ruck-four-in-t en-say -let -t he-sequest erhappen/#mixofmeasures) of cutting major programs and increasing taxes to

reduce the deficit.

(www.peoplepress.org/2 01 3 /02 /2 1 /if-no-deal-is-struck-four-in-ten-say -let-the-sequesterhappen/#m ixofm easures)

There are partisan differences (http://www.people-press.org/2 01 3 /02 /2 0/section-1 opinions-about-m ajor-issues/) on the question of deficit-cutting strategy.

(http://www.peoplepress.org/2 01 3 /02 /2 0/section-1 -opinions-about-m ajor-issues/)

In a survey last December (ht t p://www.people-press.org/2012/12/13/sect ion-1views-of-obama-congress-t he-part ies/#most issues) , the public gave Democrats

an edge when it comes to which party can do a better job dealing with Medicare and Social Security, though the parties run nearly even on dealing with the deficit.

(http://www.people-press.org/2 01 2 /1 2 /1 3 /section-1 -v iews-of-obam a-congress-theparties/#m ostissues)

While there has been little change in public views on government spending in the last two years, the long-term trend (ht t p://www.peoplepress.org/2013/02/22/as-sequest er-deadline-looms-lit t le-support -for-cut t ing-most programs/) over the past quarter-century is, for the most part, away from

spending growth.

(http://www.people-press.org/2 01 3 /02 /2 2 /as-sequester-deadline-loom s-little-support-forcutting-m ost-program s/)

Read more Pew Research reports on the Debt and Deficit

(http://www.pewresearch.org/topics/economic-policy/) .

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