Broad Support for the Build Back Better Agenda Endures

October 15, 2021
Bryan Bennett

Expanding Medicare, lowering drug costs, and raising taxes on the wealthy and corporations are seen as the best reasons to pass the plan.

Key takeaways
  • Majorities of Americans continue to support Biden and Democrats’ Build Back Better economic agenda.
  • Pairing arguments that the new economic plan will not raise taxes on those earning less than $400,000 annually with lowering healthcare costs is our most effective lane.
  • Policies that are top reasons to pass the plan and that Americans see helping people like them focus on expanding Medicare, making prescription drugs and healthcare more affordable, and raising taxes on the rich and corporations.

Biden and Democrats’ Economic Plan Remains Popular With or Without Explaining How the Plan Is Paid For

Three in five Americans continue to support Biden and Democrats’ new economic plan both when policies from the legislation are listed and when proposals for paying for the plan are listed.

Just Over Half of Americans Report Hearing About Biden and Democrats’ New Economic Legislation

Only one in five Americans are hearing “a lot” about the plan, including just 13% of independents.

  • Among economically persuadable Americans, just a third (35%) are hearing anything about the plan.

The Rich Beginning to Pay Their Fair Share in Taxes Is the Top Reason Americans Give For Supporting Biden’s New Plan

Americans – and independents more specifically – bring up the wealthiest Americans and corporations needing to pay their fair share in taxes.

Pairing No Tax Increases For Those Making <$400K With Lowering Health Care Costs Is Strongest Argument For BBB

Arguments that frame the new economic plan as costing $0 are less effective than an argument that explains how it will not raise taxes on those earning less than $400,000 a year, coupled with a mention of making healthcare and prescription drugs more affordable.

Best Reasons to Pass Build Back Better Are Medicare Drug Price Negotiation, Taxing the Rich, and Expanding Medicare

Independents and economically persuadable Americans say giving Medicare the power to negotiate lower drug prices, raising taxes on the rich and corporations, and expanding Medicare are the best reasons to pass the plan.

Healthcare Costs, Medicare Expansion, and Taxing Rich Seen as Best Reasons to Pass BBB & as Most Personally Helpful

Half of respondents were asked to rate how good of reasons a list of policies from Biden’s new plan were to pass it, while the other half were asked the same but about “helping people like me.” Raising taxes on the rich and not the middle class, lowering drug prices and healthcare premiums, and expanding Medicare top both lists.

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About The Study

This release features findings from a national online survey of 1,001 registered voters conducted October 7-11, 2021. Additional interviews were conducted among 100 Hispanic voters, 100 African American voters, 100 independents without a partisan lean, and 73 Asian American and Pacific Islander voters.

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