This survey was conducted on the heels of Scott Brown’s election into the Massachusetts Senate –which some say sent a loud message against the current healthcare reform efforts, followed by the President’s State of the Union address, where he reiterated the importance of this initiative.
Although a substantial 50% to 27% plurality want to see health reform in the next two years, the public is split on whether the reform proposed by the President and the Democrats should be passed.
The Republicans in Congress and the healthcare industry are seen as mainly to blame for failure to pass a healthcare reform bill now – not President Obama. Obviously, this is less true for Republicans, who blame the Democrats in Congress. There are very large differences between Republicans and Democrats on all these issues, with Democrats much more strongly in favor of pushing hard for major reforms.
“The public is clearly split, with Republicans on one side and Democrats on the other, as to how hard the president should push for health care reform,” said Humphrey Taylor, chairman of The Harris Poll. “The president’s stated intention to push ahead is likely to be popular with most Democrats, but will probably remain so only if he and Congress can deliver significant legislation. Failure to do so could be very damaging.”
Overall, and specifically for Independents, controlling the out-of-pocket costs of healthcare and health insurance is now seen as the most important aspect of healthcare reform. Results vary for Democrats and Republicans individually:
For Democrats, the most important is to ensure more people have health insurance.
For Republicans, the most important is not increasing taxes to pay for health reform.
Independents have become the swing votes in America, and how they feel could be an important indicator of where things will go. “But, if the debate drags on without a clear outcome,” said Taylor, “the more ‘health reform fatigue’ will increase, which is likely to help Republican candidates in the November elections.”
