The White House on Thursday backed off from a July 31 deadline for health care reform amid new polls showing public support slipping for President Barack Obama’s broader agenda.
Obama and Democratic allies hoped to finalize health care reform before Congress departs for August recess. But warring proposals and a trillion-dollar cost estimate are slowing lawmakers down.
“I don’t think it’s a surprise that this is going to take some time to do. It’s an issue that we’ve been discussing for 40 years,” said White House spokesman Robert Gibbs. “The president isn’t pessimistic about being able to get this through Congress this year.”
Obama hoped to front-load health care reform along with other major legislative items — such as stimulus spending and a cap and trade program for polluters — early in his administration, when political popularity combined with an economic crisis would give him velocity.
The $737 billion stimulus package moved through Congress with relative ease. But two new polls showing public alarm over deficits and his bailout of automakers may be slowing the president’s momentum.
“People are confident now that the economic crisis has a bottom, and that’s allowing them to think further down the road about budget deficits and long-term debt,” said Cal Jillson, a political scientist at Southern Methodist University.
“During the emergency, when all hell was breaking loose, people were riveted on the short term, and they liked what he was doing.”
A new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll found 58 percent said Obama and Congress should focus on reducing the budget deficit, even if it slows economic recovery.
Nearly 70 percent said they had concerns about the administration’s takeover of General Motors, while 55 percent said they supported Obama’s plans for reshaping health care. “When you look at something like the auto industry, I mean, look, the president knew,” Gibbs said.
“The president knew that wasn’t a decision that was based off of something that was wildly popular.”
A new poll by the Pew Research Center for the People and Press found that approval for Obama’s handling of the economy slipped from 56 percent in February to 52 percent in June, while disapproval grew from 24 percent to 40 percent.
Overall, Obama’s popularity remains strong at 61 percent in the Pew poll and 56 percent in the Journal/NBC poll.
Gary Jacobson, professor of politics at the University of San Diego, said lawmakers would be hearing about deficits from constituents over the July 4 recess — but added that lawmakers would also hear from them about health care.
“The deficit is a problem and will be for Obama and probably the next three presidents in one form or another,” Jacobson said. “There is no serious sign of falloff in his support, and I don’t think it’s panic time for anyone.”
