Poll: 65% support balanced budget amendment (including 45% of Democrats)

[alp227]

Drudge Retort (Retort, not serial liar Matt Drudge's smear site Report) reports that a Sachs/Mason-Dixon poll shows that 65% of Americans support a balanced budget amendment to the constitution. That summary page links to the Daily Caller, and I couldn't find any where other than the right-wing blogs that are reporting on this poll, so here's the full poll in PDF format. The poll states: "81 percent of Republicans, 68 percent of independents, and 45 percent of Democrats support a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution," and "The amendment is opposed by 44 percent of Democrats, 11 percent of Republicans and 25 percent of independents surveyed." So among Democrats polled it's rather split: 45% support, 44% oppose, and 11% don't know.

This result came from the question "Currently, nearly every state in the nation has a balanced budget amendment, prohibiting states from spending more then they have. The U.S. Congress, however, is not currently required to balance the federal budget. Do you support or oppose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution requiring Congress to pass a balanced budget every year?"

Also, in response to the question "If a presidential candidate supported a balanced budget amendment, would you be more likely to vote for them, less likely to vote for them, or would it not have a major effect on your voting decision?" Among all voters 46% said "more likely" (including 51% of independents); among Democrats 21% said more likely, 37% less likely, 35% no effect, 7% not sure.

Mason-Dixon Polling & Research: http://www.mason-dixon.com/
Ron Sachs Communications: http://www.ronsachs.com/

[bluestateguy]

1. We had this pointless debate in 1995-96

It was part of the Contract on America. It passed the House, failed to get the needed 2/3rds in the Senate (thanks to Mark Hatfield) and that was that.

Two years later the budget was balanced anyway (thanks to Bill Clinton).

I actually have no problem with letting this matter be brought up for a vote. It has not even close to the needed 67 votes to pass the Senate. So go ahead, if a vote on a balanced budget amendment is needed to get the devt ceiling raised, so be it.

[Liberal Veteran]

2. From what I understand based on most economists, BBA would be a bad thing.

[orwell]

3. 65% of those polled...

...need to take an economic course.

The states are not the federal government. They are not tasked with creating money. Only the federal government can create money.

The deficit/debt is a sideshow to push various political agendas, nothing more, nothing less.

Why don't we just believe in an invisible hand from an imaginary man in the sky who wisely appropriates global resources.

Oh wait...

[bluestate10]

4. The budget will be balanced only when every group is willing to give up something.

When was that seen? Past efforts have attempted to balance the budget on the backs of select groups, mostly groups that don't have political power. I am guessing the people that answered the polls assume they won't have to and don't want to give up something to balance the budget.

[bhikkhu]

5. And what percentage have any idea how national economies work?

...maybe 35%. Lies and exaggeration are easier in economics than in other fields, and a significant percentage of the population has heard little but lies and exaggerations when it comes to the national economy.

[Motown_Johnny]

6. a balanced budget amendment is insane, but.....

...passing something that limited how long you could hold a debt might be useful.


Lets face it, we are still paying interest on the first dollar Ronald Reagan ever borrowed (as President).



Phasing in something that forced the Government to pay off a debt within a limited time frame, once the debt is payed down, could be useful.


I will throw 5 years out there as a point of debate but I am not suggesting it as a serious number.

[OHdem10]

7. People like the theory or the sound of balanced budget.