In response to new polling from Public Policy Polling, Protect Our Care’s Coronavirus War Room Director Zac Petkanas released the following statement:
“After spending a year spreading misinformation and putting politics before the health and safety of the American people, Republicans are reaping what they’ve sowed. The American people simply don’t trust them to do the right thing on COVID relief.
“President Biden’s American Rescue Plan is overwhelmingly popular with the voters, many of whom have been crying out for relief for far too long. Yet, Congressional Republicans would rather go out of their way to oppose President Biden than vote for the relief package that gives their own constituents direct checks, expands unemployment insurance, funds reopening schools, and boosts vaccine distribution and nation-wide testing efforts.
“Senate Republicans can still do the right thing and avoid the massive mistake made by their House Republican colleagues when they opposed this bill over the weekend. If they don’t, the American people – including many Republicans – have made it clear there will be a price to pay at the ballot box next year.”
Background on new Public Policy Polling findings:
MEMORANDUM
From: Katherine Patterson, Public Policy Polling
To: Interested Parties
Subject: Voters Trust Democrats Over Republicans on Issue of Healthcare, COVID-19; Overwhelming Support for Key Provisions in American Rescue Plan
Date: March 2, 2021
A new national Public Policy Polling survey finds that a majority of voters trust Democrats over the Republican Party on the issue of healthcare and to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. When it comes to the issue of healthcare, voters trust Democrats by a margin of 14 points (51-37), and a margin of 17 points (53-36) to handle the pandemic.
This survey finds overwhelming support for key elements of the American Rescue Plan Act, currently being debated in Congress. Several provisions of the Act are targeted at improving access to healthcare, and are widely popular among voters:
- 77% of voters support the American Rescue Plan’s provision to lower healthcare costs for people who lost their healthcare coverage when they lost their job during the pandemic. Just 14% oppose this. Support includes 56% among Trump voters and 58% among Republicans.
- 74% support the plan’s $1,400 relief checks for middle income and working families who need it the most, with just 18% opposed. Support includes 52% of Trump voters and 61% among Republicans.
- 72% support the provision to cap insurance premiums for millions of Americans so none pay more than 9% of their income to get the health insurance they need. Only 11% oppose this.
- 71% support the provision including new funding to surge vaccine distribution and COVID testing, while only 19% oppose it. Support includes 51% of Republicans and 72% among people over 65.
In fact, the American Rescue Plan is so popular, a majority (55%) of Americans say they would rather have it than a puppy (23%).
A plurality (45%) of voters also say that if their members of Congress were to vote against the American Rescue Plan, they would be less likely to vote for them in the next election including 21% of Republicans being less likely to support re-election for their Member of Congress. Just 22% of voters say they would be more likely to vote for their members of Congress if they voted against the Plan.
Public Policy Polling surveyed 756 national voters on behalf of Protect Our Care from February 25-26, 2021. The margin of error is +/- 3.6%. 50% of interviews for the survey were conducted by telephone and 50% by text message.