JAY HEFLIN, ON THE MONEY (THE HILL)
While anti-spending rhetoric dominates the air waves, a new poll by Project Vote found that roughly one-third of voters from the last election support more government spending.
According to the survey, voters who are either black, earn little, or young made up 32 percent of the 2008 electorate and believe government involvement should not be limited to security issues.
It found that 71 percent of black voters, 71 percent of young voters, and 67 percent of low-income voters support the government spending money on infrastructure.
Majorities also support increased spending for education, 90 percent for black voters, 84 percent for younger voters, and 71 percent for low-income voters.
A majority of black voters (74 percent), young voters (58 percent) and low-income voters (75 percent) also back spending the same or more on income-support programs like Food Stamps.
“We wanted to learn more about the views of minority, low-income and younger voters who increased their participation in the 2008 election,” said Lorraine C. Minnite, director of research for Project Vote, in prepared remarks. “These voters represent roughly a third of the electorate, and they will play an increasingly important role in American politics in the years to come.”
One issue facing the country is finding the revenue for entitlements. The poll found respondents were open to increasing taxes to keep these programs alive.
“Majorities of black voters, young income voters, and low-income voters, similar to a majority of all 2008 voters, support increasing taxes on investment income, [and] increasing social security taxes on income greater than $107,000,” the survey states.
The poll tapped the opinions of nearly 2,000 voters between July 7 and August 11. The survey can be found at www.projectvote.org/voter-poll-results/515.html.
Read the original “On the Money” blog entry here.