Key defensive arguments by Congressional Republicans, including work requirements, are also unpopular.
Washington, D.C. – As Republicans push forward with their Billionaire Tax Scam in the Senate, Families Over Billionaires, in partnership with Center for American Progress Action Fund and Protect Our Care, released a new poll conducted by Hart Research showing overwhelming public opposition to Republicans’ harmful legislation to slash Medicaid and food assistance to pay for billionaire tax breaks.
This poll confirms what we already knew about Republicans’ budget bill – at a time when Americans are concerned about the cost of living, this legislation is wildly unpopular, and is only getting more unpopular the more people hear about it.
The poll was conducted nationally from May 27-28. Full poll memo from Hart Research can be found here.
See below for key findings:
The Republican budget bill is unpopular, with opposition growing even more intense as voters learn more about it.
- Before hearing any messaging, only 38% of voters support Republicans’ budget bill.
- After voters hear a neutral, factual description of the main elements of the bill, opposition jumps by 15 points, from 46% to 61% – including 65% opposition from swing voters:
The Republican budget bill, which recently passed the U.S. House of Representatives with the backing of Donald Trump, would do the following:
(1) Cut Medicaid and food stamps
(2) Eliminate tax incentives for clean energy projects
(3) Increase border security
(4) Permanently extend all tax cuts in the 2017 Trump tax law, including those for the wealthy
(5) Temporarily eliminate taxes on tips and overtime
The bill is even underwater with many Trump voters.
- Among voters who supported Donald Trump in 2024, but with reservations, only 46% support the bill.
The major elements of the Republican budget bill – cuts to Medicaid, cuts to SNAP, and tax breaks for the wealthy – are extremely unpopular.
- Voters strongly oppose the main parts of the Republican budget bill: cuts to Medicaid (70%), cuts to SNAP (69%), and tax breaks for the wealthy (68%).
Republicans’ spin falls flat with the public.
- Only 38% of voters say they have a favorable view of the bill “establishing work requirements for Medicaid,” while 50% say that it is unfavorable.
- 58% of voters reject Republicans’ framing that their bill will deliver “tax cuts for everyone.”
The American people are especially concerned that the bill will cause the cost of groceries, health care, interest rates and utility bills to skyrocket.
- 70% of voters expressed major concern over the bill raising families’ costs for groceries and health care through cuts to SNAP, Medicaid, and ACA tax credits.
- 70% of voters expressed major concern over the bill raising costs on 80 million poor and middle class households.