hart

HARTRESEARCHA S S O T E SC I A

Key findings from a telephone survey among 1,009 voters nationwide(including 201 cell-phone only voters), conducted Nov. 7 – 9, 2012

for

Democrats Win The Tax Issue

Democrats Win The Tax Issue—November 2012—Hart Research Associates for 2

In making your voting decisions this year, how important an issue was making the tax system more fair?

Tax Fairness An Important Consideration For Two-Thirds Of Voters

30%

3%

67%

Not sure

Just somewhat (20%)/not (10%) important

consideration

Very (44%)/fairly (23%) important

consideration

How They Voted

PresidentObamaRomney

SenateDemocratRepublican

58%40%

62%36%


35%

32%31%30%31%

27%25%

32%

34%33%32%

37%35%36%

Mar 2010 Aug 2010 Oct 2010 Apr 2011 Dec 2011 Jun 2012 Nov 2012

Democrats Eliminate GOP Advantage On TaxesWhen it comes to dealing with taxes, which party do you think would do a better job—the Democratic Party, the Republican Party, or both about the same?*

Democrats Republicans

*All data except Nov. 2012 taken from surveys conducted by Peter Hart and Bill McInturff on behalf of NBC News and the Wall St. Journal.

Democrats Win The Tax Issue—November 2012—Hart Research Associates for 4 4

Voters Want To End Bush Tax Cuts For Income Over $250,000

The Bush tax cuts are due to expire at the end of this year, which means that federal income tax rates will increase unless Congress takes action. Which of these do you think is the best way for Congress to deal with the Bush tax cuts?

Obama votersRomney voters

$50k or less$50k to $100k$100k or more

Whites

ModeratesSwing voters

End

75%34%

56%56%59%

55%

64%62%

Continue

17%64%

37%40%39%

41%

30%34%

39%

End tax cuts for those making over $250,000

Continue the tax cuts for everyone

56%

End tax cuts for all incomes.

5%


Exit Poll Shows Even Stronger Support For Higher Taxes On Wealthy

35%

Income tax rates should increase on income over $250,000

Income tax rates should not increase for anyone

60%

Tax rates should increase for all income

13%

*Data taken from exit polls conducted by Edison Research on behalf of the National Election Pool.

Democrats Win The Tax Issue—November 2012—Hart Research Associates for 6 6

President Obama: Continue tax cuts for income under $250,000 and veto extending tax cuts for income over $250,000.

Voters Agree With President Obama’s Tax Position, Not Republicans in Congress

61%

Agree Disagree Agree Disagree

Strongly Agree40%

Strongly Disagree

24%

35%

42%

53%

Republicans in Congress: Continue tax cuts for all income levels and block any bill that ends tax cuts for income over $250,000.

Strongly Agree22%

Strongly Disagree

39%


43%

21%

28%

8%

Who Will Voters Blame If All Tax Cuts Expire?

President Obama

Republicansin Congress

Both Equally

DemocratsIndependentsRepublicansModerates

$50k or less$50k to $100k$100k or more

NortheastSouthMidwestWest

Blame Obama

4%22%56%19%

22%28%32%

22%32%25%26%

Blame Republicans

74%43%10%49%

49%43%40%

49%38%49%39%

NotSure


18%

50%

On January 1, large cuts in domestic and national defense spending will reduce the budget deficit by about $1 trillion but will also eliminate between one and two million jobs. Should Congress go ahead with these across-the-board budget cuts, or should Congress instead reduce the deficit by ending the Bush tax cuts for those making over $250,000?

Voters Prefer Ending Bush Tax Cuts Over Sequestration Cuts

Go ahead with budget cuts

End tax cuts for those making over $250,000

Neither/not sure: 32%


Voters Say To Reduce The Deficit Through Progressive Tax Policies, Not Entitlement Cuts

Increase taxes on the profits that American corporations make overseas, to ensure they pay as much on foreign profits as they do on profits made in the United States.

Pass legislation to prevent corporations and wealthy individuals from avoiding U.S. taxes by shifting income earned here in the United States to overseas tax havens.

Place a surtax of 5% on income over $1 million per year.

End the lower tax rate on income from selling stocks and other assets, so that investors pay the same tax rates as workers do on their earnings.

Increase the estate tax, also called the inheritance tax, on estates of more than $7 million for a couple.

Raise the age for Medicare eligibility from 65 to 67.

Cut Medicaid benefits.

TotalApprove

84%

61%

61%

61%

58%

30%

16%

Total Disapprove

11%

33%

31%

28%

32%

64%

78%

HARTRESEARCHA S S O T E SC I A

Key findings from a telephone survey among 1,009 voters nationwide(including 201 cell-phone only voters), conducted Nov. 7 – 9, 2012

for

Democrats Win The Tax Issue

hart

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