A national telephone survey commissioned by First Focus and conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research from April 13-18, 2011 revealed strong public support for protecting federal investments that benefit children. The survey asked voters an array of questions identifying a series of potential cuts that Congress may consider in the broader budget debate and found that voters are more likely to hold harmless programs affecting kids than any other programs on the chopping block.
Main findings from the survey of 1,024 likely 2012 voters (as listed in the April 26, 2011 public memo “A Quiet Voice: National Survey Findings”) include:
- Voters believe children in this country fare poorly.
- When provided context, voters oppose the House Budget Committee Proposal.
- Voters strongly oppose the $750 billion cut in Medicaid funding in the plan.
- Children’s issues hold up well relative to other potential cuts.
Further, results from the survey reveal cuts to programs affecting kids prove just as unpopular as cuts affecting seniors. In fact, voters are as likely to oppose reductions in Medicaid as in Medicare. Additionally, voters are more concerned about protecting children’s programs than a variety of other federal programs, such as transportation funding for highway construction, national defense, and medical and scientific research.
