Key takeaways
- Majorities prefer an infrastructure plan that goes beyond roads and bridges and does what is necessary to fix the country’s infrastructure, even if it lacks bipartisan support.
- As Americans remain pessimistic about the economy, a majority want the federal government to do more to improve it.
- Proposals to raise taxes on the wealthy and corporations to fund infrastructure are popular, while most are concerned about Republicans blocking these proposals.
Americans Remain Pessimistic About the National Economy, But Split on Their Personal Finances
- Since mid-June, two in three continue to rate the economy as “not so good” or “poor,” and roughly half are still “uneasy” about their personal finances.
Biden and Democrats More Trusted to Improve Infrastructure and Rebuild the Economy
Overall, Biden and Democrats have a 17-point trust advantage over the Republican Party on improving America’s infrastructure, with a 4-point trust advantage on rebuilding the economy.
- • Among independents, while Biden and Democrats have a 19-point advantage on infrastructure, Republicans hold a 5-point advantage on rebuilding the economy
Three in Four Continue to Support the “American Jobs Plan”
Support for the “American Jobs Plan” remains at net +53 when it is described.
- A majority of independents (68%) and Republicans (52%) support the plan after hearing more about it.
Americans Prioritize Infrastructure Legislation That Goes Beyond Roads and Bridges, Even If It’s Not Bipartisan
More than three in five would prefer new infrastructure legislation that goes beyond roads and bridges, and nearly the same share would prefer a focus on getting something done even if it’s not bipartisan.
- Almost two in three (63%) independents want infrastructure legislation beyond roads and bridges.
Steady Majority Say the Federal Government Needs to Do More to Improve the Economy
Republicans are more likely than they were a year ago to say the government is doing too much (from 15% to 26%).
More Are Concerned the Government Will Spend Too Little on Infrastructure Rather Than Too Much
Among independents, a majority (55%) are more concerned the government “won’t spend enough on
infrastructure”; even among Republicans, more than one in three (34%) are more concerned it won’t spend enough.
Regardless of How It’s Framed, Majorities Support Raising Taxes on Corporations and the Rich to Pay for Infrastructure
When contextualized in language of either just raising taxes on corporations and wealthy Americans to “pay their fair share” or also invoking Democratic tax cuts, at least three in five are favorable to either approach.
Republicans Preventing a Tax Increase on the Rich and Corporations Is Concerning, Especially If Replaced By Gas Tax
Among independents, 60% find Republicans blocking any tax increase on corporations and the rich concerning.
A Gas Tax to Pay for Infrastructure Is Deeply Unpopular
Regardless of partisanship or race, Americans universally oppose a gas tax to fund infrastructure legislation.
- Among independents, support for a gas tax is at net -39.
About The Study
This release features findings from a national online survey of 1,000 registered voters conducted June 24-28, 2021. Additional interviews were conducted among 100 Hispanic voters, 101 African American voters, 101 independents without a partisan lean, and 71 Asian American and Pacific Islander voters.