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<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff><A
href="http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/healthcare/september_2009/health_care_reform">http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/healthcare/september_2009/health_care_reform</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV>
<H1>Support for Health Care Plan Falls to New Low</H1>
<DIV class=byline><CITE class=vcard><SPAN
class="fn org">Rasmussenreports.com</SPAN> </CITE><ABBR class=recenttimedate
title=2009-11-23T05:56:04-0800>2 hrs 9 mins ago</ABBR>
</DIV><!-- end .byline -->
<DIV class="mod ad darla_ad" id=darla-ad__LREC> </DIV>
<DIV class="mod ad darla_ad">Just 38% of voters now favor the <SPAN
class=yshortcuts id=lw_1258985983_0>health care plan</SPAN> proposed by <SPAN
class=yshortcuts id=lw_1258985983_1>President Obama</SPAN> and congressional
Democrats. That's the lowest level of support measured for the plan in nearly
two dozen tracking polls conducted since June. </DIV>
<P>The latest <SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1258985983_2>Rasmussen Reports</SPAN>
national telephone survey finds that 56% now oppose the plan. </P>
<P>Half the survey was conducted before the Senate voted late Saturday to begin
debate on its version of the legislation. Support for the plan was slightly
lower in the half of the survey conducted after the Senate vote. </P>
<P>Prior to this, support for the plan had never fallen below 41%. <A
href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rasmussen/pl_rasmussen/storytext/healthcareplan20091123/34182986/SIG=154a2ntqr;_ylt=AqXqMxwbsZvwqwiH1fI_Xrjzj9AF;_ylu=X3oDMTFkNXRqM2w2BHBvcwM0BHNlYwN5bl9zdG9yeV9wcmludF9jb250ZW50BHNsawNsYXN0d2Vlaw--/*http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/healthcare/november_2009/support_for_congressional_health_care_proposal_up_to_47_49_opposed"><SPAN
class=yshortcuts id=lw_1258985983_3><FONT color=#4485be>Last
week,</FONT></SPAN></A> support for the plan was at 47%. <A
href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rasmussen/pl_rasmussen/storytext/healthcareplan20091123/34182986/SIG=15c854qse;_ylt=AnJsEchb88HwnZdJPUwNOIjzj9AF;_ylu=X3oDMTFnNHU5Y2NqBHBvcwM1BHNlYwN5bl9zdG9yeV9wcmludF9jb250ZW50BHNsawN0d293ZWVrc2Fnbw--/*http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/healthcare/november_2009/although_house_passes_health_care_most_voters_still_oppose_the_legislation"><SPAN
class=yshortcuts id=lw_1258985983_4><FONT color=#4485be>Two weeks
ago,</FONT></SPAN></A> the effort was supported by 45% of voters. </P>
<P>Intensity remains stronger among those who oppose the push to change the
<SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1258985983_5>nation's health care system</SPAN>:
21% Strongly Favor the plan while 43% are Strongly Opposed. </P>
<P>Rasmussen Reports is continuing to track public opinion on the health care
plan on a weekly basis. Next week's Monday morning update will give an
indication of whether these numbers reflect a trend of growing opposition or are
merely statistical noise. </P>
<P><I>(Want a <A
href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rasmussen/pl_rasmussen/storytext/healthcareplan20091123/34182986/SIG=11fhcgn0u;_ylt=AtwQmMPbMjLzTNwDrhvlCtvzj9AF;_ylu=X3oDMTFoN2cwN2ttBHBvcwM2BHNlYwN5bl9zdG9yeV9wcmludF9jb250ZW50BHNsawNmcmVlZGFpbHllLW0-/*http://www.rasmussenreports.com/daily_updates"><SPAN
class=yshortcuts id=lw_1258985983_6><FONT color=#4485be>free daily e-mail
update</FONT></SPAN></A>? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).</I> Rasmussen
Reports updates are also available on <A
href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rasmussen/pl_rasmussen/storytext/healthcareplan20091123/34182986/SIG=112d2icik;_ylt=AlavXDAHbldzTMOCvv_l7u3zj9AF;_ylu=X3oDMTFjZW5pMGg0BHBvcwM3BHNlYwN5bl9zdG9yeV9wcmludF9jb250ZW50BHNsawN0d2l0dGVy/*http://twitter.com/RasmussenPoll"><SPAN
class=yshortcuts id=lw_1258985983_7><FONT
color=#4485be>Twitter</FONT></SPAN></A> or <A
href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rasmussen/pl_rasmussen/storytext/healthcareplan20091123/34182986/SIG=12o5611l6;_ylt=Agwm7.qGubEqrGHudcO.ZuPzj9AF;_ylu=X3oDMTFkZXRiNGhoBHBvcwM4BHNlYwN5bl9zdG9yeV9wcmludF9jb250ZW50BHNsawNmYWNlYm9vaw--/*http://www.facebook.com/pages/Asbury-Park-NJ/Rasmussen-Reports/86959124863?ref=nf%2520"><SPAN
class=yshortcuts id=lw_1258985983_8><FONT
color=#4485be>Facebook</FONT></SPAN></A>. </P>
<P>Only 16% now believe passage of the plan will lead to lower <SPAN
class=yshortcuts id=lw_1258985983_9>health care costs</SPAN>. Nearly four times
as many (60%) believe the plan will increase health care costs. Most (54%) also
believe passage of the plan will hurt the quality of care. </P>
<P>As has been the case for months, Democrats favor the plan while Republicans
and voters not affiliated with either major party are opposed. The latest
numbers show support from 73% of those in the president's party. The plan is
opposed by 83% of Republicans and 70% of <SPAN class=yshortcuts
id=lw_1258985983_10>unaffiliated voters</SPAN>. </P>
<P>Other recent polling shows that <A
href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rasmussen/pl_rasmussen/storytext/healthcareplan20091123/34182986/SIG=12rki95hk;_ylt=AmvmdwQ1MtxbHbd5cO5WudDzj9AF;_ylu=X3oDMTFobHJ2YjF2BHBvcwM5BHNlYwN5bl9zdG9yeV9wcmludF9jb250ZW50BHNsawNkZW1vY3JhdHNjb24-/*http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/mood_of_america/budget_priorities"><SPAN
class=yshortcuts id=lw_1258985983_11><FONT color=#4485be>Democrats consider
health care reform to be the top priority for the president</FONT></SPAN></A>.
Republicans and unaffiliated voters see deficit reduction as most important.
</P>
<P>Among the nation's <SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1258985983_12>senior
citizens</SPAN>, 34% favor the health care plan and 60% are opposed. A majority
of those under 30 favor the plan, but a majority of all other age groups are
opposed (<A
href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rasmussen/pl_rasmussen/storytext/healthcareplan20091123/34182986/SIG=11ti9810v;_ylt=AmLaB4DNLiZzXf6nDHAsAb_zj9AF;_ylu=X3oDMTFpdjZ2cGNnBHBvcwMxMARzZWMDeW5fc3RvcnlfcHJpbnRfY29udGVudARzbGsDcHJlbWl1bW1lbWJl/*http://www.rasmussenreports.com/premium_service_description"><SPAN
class=yshortcuts id=lw_1258985983_13><FONT color=#4485be>Premium
Members</FONT></SPAN></A> can see full <A
href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rasmussen/pl_rasmussen/storytext/healthcareplan20091123/34182986/SIG=146i0veum;_ylt=AmXI4FBoSq9YMp5xxWOhP1Dzj9AF;_ylu=X3oDMTFpYTk2OWd0BHBvcwMxMQRzZWMDeW5fc3RvcnlfcHJpbnRfY29udGVudARzbGsDZGVtb2dyYXBoaWNj/*http://www.rasmussenreports.com/premium_content/political_tracking_crosstabs/november_2009/crosstabs_health_care_november_21_22_2009"><SPAN
class=yshortcuts id=lw_1258985983_14><FONT color=#4485be>demographic
crosstabs</FONT></SPAN></A>). </P>
<P>Support for health care has declined along with <SPAN class=yshortcuts
id=lw_1258985983_15>President Obama</SPAN>'s <SPAN class=yshortcuts
id=lw_1258985983_16>approval ratings</SPAN>. For the first time in the Obama
era, the <A
href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rasmussen/pl_rasmussen/storytext/healthcareplan20091123/34182986/SIG=13fu347nd;_ylt=AkS0zKuiW_Kkxr4USD3JAcnzj9AF;_ylu=X3oDMTFpZTVxYzhqBHBvcwMxMgRzZWMDeW5fc3RvcnlfcHJpbnRfY29udGVudARzbGsDcmFzbXVzc2VucmVw/*http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll"><SPAN
class=yshortcuts id=lw_1258985983_17><FONT color=#4485be>Rasmussen Reports daily
Presidential Approval Index</FONT></SPAN></A><B> </B>has been in negative <SPAN
class=yshortcuts id=lw_1258985983_18>double digits</SPAN> for nine straight
days. </P>
<P>Despite the decline in support for the health care plan, 50% still say it is
at least somewhat likely to become law this year. That figure includes 17% who
say passage is Very Likely. </P>
<P>While Senate Democrats this weekend assembled enough votes to begin debate on
the plan, many challenges remain. All Republican Senators and several Democrats,
for example, have expressed opposition to the so-called "public option."
Sixty-three percent (63%) of voters nationwide say guaranteeing that no one is
forced to change their <SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1258985983_19>health
insurance coverage</SPAN> is a higher priority than giving consumers the choice
of a "public option" government-run <SPAN class=yshortcuts
id=lw_1258985983_20>health insurance company</SPAN>. Most liberal voters say
giving people the choice of a "public option" is more important. But most <A
href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rasmussen/pl_rasmussen/storytext/healthcareplan20091123/34182986/SIG=14tptsnpp;_ylt=AtAvUPAgp8NQ0phQrSsiMAHzj9AF;_ylu=X3oDMTFpc2ZoaTdqBHBvcwMxMwRzZWMDeW5fc3RvcnlfcHJpbnRfY29udGVudARzbGsDbW9kZXJhdGVzdGFr/*http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/healthcare/october_2009/fear_of_losing_private_health_insurance_trumps_public_option"><FONT
color=#4485be>moderates take the opposite view and say guaranteeing that no one
is forced to change their health insurance is the top priority</FONT></A>. </P>
<P>Overall, 46% favor the creation of a government-sponsored <SPAN
class=yshortcuts id=lw_1258985983_21>non-profit health insurance option</SPAN>
that people could choose instead of a <SPAN class=yshortcuts
id=lw_1258985983_22>private health insurance</SPAN> plan. However, if the plan
encouraged companies to drop private health insurance coverage for their
workers, support for the public option falls to 29%, and opposition rises to
58%. </P>
<P>As <SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1258985983_23>Scott Rasmussen</SPAN>,
president of <SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1258985983_24>Rasmussen
Reports</SPAN>, wrote in the <I><A
href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rasmussen/pl_rasmussen/storytext/healthcareplan20091123/34182986/SIG=12g11qrs7;_ylt=AsVHhncaguBEgP1faPLmHfPzj9AF;_ylu=X3oDMTFpY2QwdTlnBHBvcwMxNARzZWMDeW5fc3RvcnlfcHJpbnRfY29udGVudARzbGsDd2FsbHN0cmVldGpv/*http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204313604574330442429438938.html"><SPAN
class=yshortcuts id=lw_1258985983_25><FONT color=#4485be>Wall Street
Journal</FONT></SPAN></A></I>: "The most important fundamental is that 68% of
American voters have health insurance coverage they rate good or excellent. …
Most of these voters approach the <SPAN class=yshortcuts
id=lw_1258985983_26>health care reform debate</SPAN> fearing that they have more
to lose than to gain." </P>
<P>Other challenging issues in the Senate debate include abortion and illegal
immigration. Ever since the House's passage of the Stupak Amendment which says
the "public option" would not cover elective abortions and that recipients of
federal insurance subsidies could not use them to buy abortion coverage, the
divide among Democrats has been visible. </P>
<P>Earlier polling showed that <A
href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rasmussen/pl_rasmussen/storytext/healthcareplan20091123/34182986/SIG=14nnnauha;_ylt=Aoi3N60_zQnPQnCGnwt.Brzzj9AF;_ylu=X3oDMTFpaXNiMjJqBHBvcwMxNQRzZWMDeW5fc3RvcnlfcHJpbnRfY29udGVudARzbGsDNDhuYXRpb253aWRl/*http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/healthcare/september_2009/48_want_abortion_coverage_banned_in_health_care_plan"><SPAN
class=yshortcuts id=lw_1258985983_27><FONT color=#4485be>48% nationwide favored
the abortion ban,</FONT></SPAN></A> but most supporters of <SPAN
class=yshortcuts id=lw_1258985983_28>health care reform</SPAN> didn't want to
address the issue. Just 13% of all voters wanted abortion coverage mandated in
the legislation.
<P>On immigration, 83% say that <A
href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rasmussen/pl_rasmussen/storytext/healthcareplan20091123/34182986/SIG=15em57g2j;_ylt=AsuvXORgFeTVHQ5cTo3Wod7zj9AF;_ylu=X3oDMTFpbGEyNGhwBHBvcwMxNgRzZWMDeW5fc3RvcnlfcHJpbnRfY29udGVudARzbGsDcHJvb2ZvZmNpdGl6/*http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/healthcare/september_2009/83_say_proof_of_citizenship_should_be_required_to_get_government_health_aid"><SPAN
class=yshortcuts id=lw_1258985983_29><FONT color=#4485be>proof of citizenship
should be required</FONT></SPAN></A> before anyone can get health care
assistance from a government program. Most Democrats while claiming the plan
will not cover illegal immigrants are opposed to including a
proof-of-citizenship stipulation.
<P>Other polling shows that <A
href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rasmussen/pl_rasmussen/storytext/healthcareplan20091123/34182986/SIG=15ohq3573;_ylt=Ask9RtB5fip4FsgpWAKvrofzj9AF;_ylu=X3oDMTFpODF1OGFqBHBvcwMxNwRzZWMDeW5fc3RvcnlfcHJpbnRfY29udGVudARzbGsDNDd0cnVzdHRoZXBy/*http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/healthcare/november_2009/47_trust_private_sector_more_than_government_to_keep_health_care_costs_down_quality_up"><SPAN
class=yshortcuts id=lw_1258985983_30><FONT color=#4485be>47% trust the private
sector more than government to keep health care costs down and the quality of
care up.</FONT></SPAN></A> Two-thirds (66%) say an increase in <A
href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rasmussen/pl_rasmussen/storytext/healthcareplan20091123/34182986/SIG=15em57g2j;_ylt=Aqx3Eqwvgg2cywYV68xa0vbzj9AF;_ylu=X3oDMTFpZGVrZ3ZyBHBvcwMxOARzZWMDeW5fc3RvcnlfcHJpbnRfY29udGVudARzbGsDZnJlZW1hcmtldGNv/*http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/healthcare/september_2009/83_say_proof_of_citizenship_should_be_required_to_get_government_health_aid"><FONT
color=#4485be><SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1258985983_31>free market competition
will do more than government regulation to reduce health care costs.</SPAN>
</FONT></A>
<P>While voters are skeptical of the plan working its way through Congress, <A
href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rasmussen/pl_rasmussen/storytext/healthcareplan20091123/34182986/SIG=14u2do0v5;_ylt=AvNOy0Jq9XqD8lcaJ3.EyCTzj9AF;_ylu=X3oDMTFpN2ZzdDh0BHBvcwMxOQRzZWMDeW5fc3RvcnlfcHJpbnRfY29udGVudARzbGsDNTRzYXltYWpvcmNo/*http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/healthcare/october_2009/54_say_major_changes_needed_in_health_care_system_45_disagree"><SPAN
class=yshortcuts id=lw_1258985983_32><FONT color=#4485be>54% say major changes
are needed in the health care system.</FONT></SPAN></A> Sixty-one percent (61%)
say it's important for Congress to pass some reform.
<P>Only <A
href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rasmussen/pl_rasmussen/storytext/healthcareplan20091123/34182986/SIG=1555d79tc;_ylt=Ag0bN8n2kX28TiNXnn1QpLPzj9AF;_ylu=X3oDMTFpMGFhaDFkBHBvcwMyMARzZWMDeW5fc3RvcnlfcHJpbnRfY29udGVudARzbGsDMzFiZWxpZXZlY29u/*http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/healthcare/october_2009/most_voters_say_they_know_health_care_bill_much_better_than_congress"><SPAN
class=yshortcuts id=lw_1258985983_33><FONT color=#4485be>31% believe Congress
has a good understanding of the proposed health care reform</FONT></SPAN></A>.
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<P>This national telephone survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted by
Rasmussen Reports November 21-22, 2009. The margin of sampling error for the
survey is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence (<A
href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rasmussen/pl_rasmussen/storytext/healthcareplan20091123/34182986/SIG=125poighs;_ylt=AsBKd1TLipiCwl8ubbdSK8nzj9AF;_ylu=X3oDMTFpNjZwbHIwBHBvcwMyNARzZWMDeW5fc3RvcnlfcHJpbnRfY29udGVudARzbGsDc2VlbWV0aG9kb2xv/*http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/about_us/methodology"><FONT
color=#3e72ae><SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1258985983_39>see
methodology</SPAN></FONT></A>).
<P><A
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specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of <SPAN
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