Press Release

NEW POLLING: Americans Give High Marks to Biden’s Infrastructure Plan, Support Tax Hikes

Thursday, April 15, 2021

For Immediate Release
April 15, 2021

Contact
press@navigatorresearch.org

NEW POLLING: Americans Give High Marks to Biden’s Infrastructure Plan, Support Tax Hikes

Three in Five Say We Need to “Spend Whatever Is Necessary” for Infrastructure and Services

WASHINGTON, D.C. — With Congress returning to Capitol Hill, Navigator Research released new polling showing that a majority of Americans support President Biden’s American Jobs Plan. Despite low awareness of the bill, a majority (51 percent) expressed support for it compared to just 19 percent who were opposed, and support jumped to 70 percent after a brief description of the plan while opposition held steady.

Asked whether the government should limit spending on infrastructure and services to minimize the deficit, 62 percent instead said we should “spend whatever is necessary” to build infrastructure, provide services and create jobs. On paying for the plan, majorities of Americans were supportive of increasing the corporate tax rate to 28 percent (56 percent), raising income taxes for those earning more than $400,000 annually (69 percent) and closing tax loopholes for multinational corporations (74 percent).

The results come amid increasing pressure in Washington to raise the corporate tax rate. Meanwhile, income tax hikes on the highest earners garnered majority support among Democrats and Independents, as well as Republicans who make less than $50,000 annually.

“There’s a clear mandate for infrastructure spending shown here,” said Bryan Bennett, Director of Polling & Analytics at the Hub Project. “Following the widespread support we saw on President Biden’s COVID relief bill, there’s similarly strong support for the American Jobs Plan across party lines that will likely intensify as the public sees what’s in the plan.”

Each of the eleven core proposals in President Biden’s infrastructure plan garnered support from more than three in five Americans (ranging from 61 to 88 percent support). All measures were supported by a majority of Independents, and Democrats showed remarkably high support for upgrades to care infrastructure: 93 percent of Democrats supported investing in schools and child care facilities, as well as raising wages for essential home care workers.

“It’s remarkable to see this level of unity around any set of proposals being floated in Washington,” said Ayat AL-Tamimi, Polling & Analytics Associate at the Hub Project. “It shows how much voters’ expectations of the government have shifted in the past year, and how urgently voters want investments in good jobs and infrastructure. We may see increasing momentum for big, bold change.”

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