48% Say Increased Government Spending Hurts Economy

Forty-eight percent (48%) of U.S. voters say that, generally speaking, increased government spending is bad for the economy.

Thirty-five percent (35%) believe more government spending will help the economy, and seven percent (7%) say it’s likely to have no impact, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

Democrats have a fundamentally different perspective than Republicans or unaffiliated voters. By a 63% to 23% margin, Democrats say more government spending is likely to help the economy. By a 77% to nine percent (9%) margin, Republicans take the opposite view and believe more spending will hurt.

As for those not affiliated with either party, 52% say more government spending generally hurts the economy while 25% believe it helps.

Those who earn less than $40,000 a year are evenly divided on the question while a majority of those who earn more than $40,000 a year say increased spending is more likely to hurt than help.

By a 54% to 31% margin, investors say increased government spending generally hurts the economy while non-investors are more evenly divided.

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62% Want Stimulus Plan to Have More Tax Cuts, Less Spending

With the Senate poised to vote Tuesday on an $827-billion version of the economic recovery plan, 62% of U.S. voters want the plan to include more tax cuts and less government spending. Just 14% would like to move in the opposite direction with more government spending and fewer tax cuts, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

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