- A growing majority support raising the debt ceiling to avoid default.
- Most Americans support President Biden bypassing Congress if no deal is reached to continue paying the country’s bills or forcing Congress to vote on a discharge petition to avoid default without any strings attached.
- Nearly three in five oppose Republicans in Congress’ budget plan, and three in four say the plan, which would take away Medicaid from 20 million Americans, is concerning (similar shares feel Congress and the Biden administration should not cut spending on the program or Medicare/Social Security).
A Growing Majority Support Raising the Debt Ceiling to Avoid Default As More Americans Are Hearing About It
Since early April, Republicans have grown increasingly supportive of raising the debt ceiling (net -7 support now, compared to net -30 then).
- Americans who report hearing “a lot” or “some” about a default support raising the debt ceiling by a 42-point margin.
Americans Remain Divided on Who They Would Blame More for a Default
Roughly equal shares of Americans would blame Biden and Democrats (30%), Republicans in Congress (29%), or both equally (29%).
Biden Continuing to Pay the Country’s Bills and Forcing a Direct Vote on a Default Discharge Petition Are Most Popular Actions
Majorities support “bypassing Congress if they are unable to negotiate a deal” (58% support), as well as “forcing Congress to hold a direct vote…without any strings attached” (55%) and “without any conditions” (52%).
- Less popular are minting a trillion-dollar coin (just 22% support) and relying on the 14th Amendment (about two in five support).
Republicans in Congress’ Plan on the Debt Ceiling Remains Deeply Unpopular
A majority of Americans oppose the Republicans’ budget plan (57% oppose), including majorities of independents (55%).
Tagging Proposed Budget Cuts As Specific to Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security Increases Opposition
Three in five Republicans (60%) feel strongly that Congress and the Biden administration should not cut spending “on things like Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security,” along with two in three independents (65%) and nearly four in five Democrats (77%).
Three in Four Americans Are Concerned by Consequences to People on Medicaid From Republicans’ Debt Ceiling Plan
Majorities – including 59% of Republicans – say it is concerning that Congressional Republicans’ plan “would take away Medicaid from 20 million Americans,” including the 60% of children with disabilities and 60% of nursing home residents who rely on it.
About The Study
Global Strategy Group conducted public opinion surveys among a sample of 1,000 registered voters from May 18-May 21, 2023. 100 additional interviews were conducted among Hispanic voters. 76 additional interviews were conducted among Asian American and Pacific Islander voters. 100 additional interviews were conducted among African American voters. 100 additional interviews were conducted among independent voters. The survey was conducted online, recruiting respondents from an opt-in online panel vendor. Respondents were verified against a voter file and special care was taken to ensure the demographic composition of our sample matched that of the national registered voter population across a variety of demographic variables.
