Earlier this month, the Associated Press asked 1,000 Americans, “Who do you trust to do a better job of handling taxes, the Democrats or the Republicans?” Americans chose Republicans 45% to 41%. But that same poll also asked:
As you may know, last year, the federal government passed a law temporarily reducing Social Security payroll taxes. Congress is currently considering renewing this tax reduction. Should Congress vote to continue this payroll tax reduction even though it may increase the federal budget deficit, or allow this payroll tax reduction to expire even though it would cause most workers to take home less money in their paychecks?
Americans chose “vote to continue the payroll tax reduction” over “allow the payroll tax reduction to expire” by a 58% to 35% margin. About half the Republican caucus then spent the next month opposing the payroll tax cut extension. Fast forward to this week, when Gallup asked 999 Americans:
As you may know, last week, the President and Congress passed a two-month extension of the payroll tax cuts and unemployment benefits. Looking ahead to the debate on what the government should do as these extensions expire at the end of February, do you have more confidence in President Barack Obama and the Democrats in Congress or Republicans in Congress?
Americans chose Democrats over Republicans by a 41% to 34% margin. Republicans who oppose the payroll tax cut are destroying the Republican brand on taxes.
