Polls indicate support for health care reform up since vote
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/03/25/art.obama.signing.gi.jpg caption="According to new polls, support for the health care reform bill has increased as a result of Sunday's approval the legislation by the House."]Washington (CNN) - Support for the health care reform bill has increased as a result of Sunday's approval the legislation by the House, according to three national polls conducted after the vote.
Two of the surveys, by CBS News and Quinnipiac University, asked virtually the same question about health care both before and after Sunday's vote, and in both polls support for the legislation rose by four to five percentage points.
USA Today/Gallup, the third poll conducted after the vote, did not ask the same question as they did before action by the House, but their results are generally consistent with the indication in the other polls that support for the health care bill has gone up.
How many people now support the health care bill? That is trickier to say because the polls asked very different questions.
USA Today/Gallup asked whether Americans thought "it was a good thing or a bad thing that Congress passed this bill."
This question concentrated on the passage of the bill, not the contents of the bill. Since Americans generally like to see their leaders take action, it's not surprising that this wording produced the highest positive response - 49 percent who approved of the 'passage' of the bill. The Gallup poll indicates that four in 10 say passage of the bill was a bad thing.
CBS asked what Americans thought of "the current health care reform bill." Quinnipiac asked what Americans thought of "the changes in health care passed by Congress." These questions concentrated on the 'contents' of the bill. CBS indicated 42 percent approving of the bill; Quinnipiac indicated 40 percent approval. Forty-six percent of those questioned in the CBS poll disapproved of the bill, with 49 percent of those questioned by Quinnipiac disapproving of the legislation.
"Some of the difference is no doubt due to the fact, noted in several CNN poll, that some Americans opposed the bill because it was not liberal enough." says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "It's likely that people in this group still dislike the contents of the bill, but are pleased that a Democratic Congress got something done on this issue."
The USA Today/Gallup poll was conducted Monday, the day after the House vote. The CBS News and the Quinnipiac University surveys were conducted Monday and Tuesday.
Tuesday, President Obama signed into law the health care legislation passed last year by the Senate and Sunday by the House. The House also passed a package of fixes that were added by House Democrats to the Senate health care reform bill. The fixes were passed by the Senate on Thursday, with some slight alterations. The House was expected to approve the Senate fixes late Thursday.
–CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report
From CNN Politics
- Grand jury indictments, explained
- 10 Cards Charging 0% Interest Until 2024
- US flying surveillance drones farther south over Black Sea after collision with Russian fighter jet, officials say
- US to send Patriot missile systems and tanks to Ukraine faster than originally planned
- Bruce Springsteen, Gladys Knight among group honored at the White House
- Untitled
I fully support health care reform, and our great President who supports ALL the American people!
GOP used the polls to lie to their constituents saying that "the American People" don't want this.
I am not happy that there is no PO or Medicare buy-in. Many others don't see the value of the insurance companies since we have no control over what they do.
Does anyone know that there is no more annual or lifetime caps on what your insurance company will pay for your expense? This address the fact that families go bankrupt over medical bills. How is that a government take over? How is that bad for us?
By how many points? Show the proof! This is poor journalism ...rather it is propoganda!
I have alot of friends who are both liberal and conservative. Not one person I know likes this bill. The only bi-partisan thing about it was the opposition to it. This administration is dangerous!
What other propaganda line would one expect from "in bed with the democrats" CNN!
Get over it Republicans. The bill was past, it is now law, don't waste the country's time and energy. No one likes whiners. Then again Repubilcans PLEASE keep whining, love it!!!
That number will continue to improve over the next six months as more and more people realize that they were lied to by the right wing screaming heads.
It's misleading to say simply that a majority of people oppose this health care bill, because many oppose it because it did not go far enough. A solid majority either likes the bill or dislikes it only because it did not do enough. Those against what Obama and the dems are trying to do are a solid minority.
Republicans may be in for a big disappointment in the Fall. Yes, they'll pick up some seats, as usual for midterm elections, but look for dems to keep control of both houses. By 2012 jobs will have come back and Obama will be credited for saving the economy from Bush and the repubs and will be reelected.
The parents and grand parents of the current generation opposing the health care bill were likely opponents of social security in 1935.
REALLY? You mean that once the people stopped listen to the screaming tea baggers that the "liberal" media plastered across our screens nightly, they are finding out it's a fairly good law? Wow. wonders will never cease.
I find that unbelieavable. Why would anyone want healthcare for all Americans while paying less and getting more coverage?
You don't think this is racist? There was a post from a DLJ on another story and this person didn't want to have "these people in the same doctor office as them".
The stupidity and racism is incredible in this country. I am sure the faux news and limberger crowd have told them that when they go to their doctor's office they will be waiting with the unwashed and immigrants and those who don't speak English.
Yes, America, this is what it has come down to. What's pathetic and funny at the same is that this person sounds like an uneducated person. This is the new repug party of the quitter from AK.
Since the Democrats have defined people up to age 26 as children, are they represented in these surveys? They really shouldn't be.
I am very happy that we are trying to make changes to our current health insurance system. My family is struggling with the cost of our health care because my husband's employer doesn't offer decent insurance. Even if it isn't the ideal option at least we are starting to make a positive change. I think if we all give it a chance and let the party propaganda go we might be able to come together as a country.