- Majorities find a wide range of Biden’s accomplishments to result in positive outcomes for the country such as the PACT Act, recent job growth, the infrastructure law, declines in gas prices, and gun legislation.
- Majorities continue to support the Inflation Reduction act and see a range of headlines about the law as believable and as having a positive impact on their community.
- Biden’s plan to cancel some federal student loans earns support from three in five Americans, including majorities of those who have paid off their student loans or who have never had student loan debt.
Biden’s Approval Ratings Remain Consistent
Ratings for President Biden have been consistent over the last month, now at net -14 overall, net -19 on handling the economy, and remaining net positive on handling the pandemic (net +4).
Student Loan Forgiveness Dominates Biden Positives; Negatives about Republicans in Congress Focus on Trump and Abortion
Majorities View a Variety of Biden’s Accomplishments as Positive Outcomes for the Country
When the “Safer America Plan” is described as historic, the perception that it is a positive outcome for the country increases among Democrats, and decreases among independents (53% positive without referring to the legislation as historic, 37% positive including).
Reminding Americans of Accomplishment Increases Belief That Democrats Are Focused on Right Things
After messaging about Biden and Democrats’ accomplishments, the share of independents who say the Democratic Party is focused on the right things increases by net 28 points (from -35 to -7) and the share of Black Americans increases by net 23 points (from +53 to +76).
About Two in Three Americans are Both Hearing About and Support the Inflation Reduction Act
The share of independents who report hearing “a lot” or “some” about the Inflation Reduction Act has increased by 10 points from midAugust (from 47% to 57%), while 67% of Americans support the plan.
Most Positive Headlines About Inflation Reduction Act Mention Medicare Negotiation and Easing Health Care Costs
Among independents, headlines detailing drug costs capped at $2,000 a year and leading to $1,800 in savings are also seen as most positive impacts of the Inflation Reduction Act.
Reducing Health Care Costs Seen as Both Most Believable and Having the Most Positive Impact from Inflation Reduction Act
On a list of recent headlines about the Inflation Reduction Act, headlines about reducing healthcare costs are seen as more believable and having the most positive impact on communities, while headlines about climate policies and the drug industry’s rare political loss are seen as less believable and having less of a positive impact.
Biden and Democrats More Trusted on Student Loans and Health Care; Republicans Have Edge on Economy and Inflation
Biden and Democrats are more trusted on student loan debt (net +21 Democrats), lowering health care costs (+19), and holding corporations accountable (+14); Republicans are most trusted on inflation (net +9 Republicans).
Three in Five Americans Support Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness Plan
Biden’s student loan announcement earns support from nearly three in five independents (57%), nearly nine in ten Black Americans (89%) and about seven in ten each of Hispanic Americans (72%) and Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (69%)
Biden’s Student Loan Plan Earns Majority Support From Those Without Debt or Who Have Already Paid their Debt Off
While support for Biden’s plan is nearly universal among those currently with student loan debt (86% support/10% oppose), it also earns majority support from 56% of those who have already paid off their student loan debt and 52% who have never had student loan debt.
A Range of Arguments in Favor of Student Loan Debt Forgiveness are Convincing
Arguments focused on additional forgiveness for Pell Grant recipients (+30 net convincing) is the strongest message overall and among both Black Americans and white Americans respectively
