Key Points Debt and Deficit 2013

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M E N U PROJ E C TS

MARCH 22, 2013

D e b t a n d D e f i c i t : K e y D a t a P o i n t s

f r o m P e w R e s e a r c h

The public now is much more likely than four years ago to say that

reducing the federal budget deficit should be a top priority in 2013 for

President Obama and Congress.

When Barack Obama took office in early 2009, reducing the budget deficitwas a middle-

tier item on the publics agenda. Only about half of Americans (53%) v iewed it as a top

policy priority, placing it ninth on a list of 20 policy goals. But our survey conducted

Jan. 9-13 (http://www.people-press.org/2013/01/24/deficit-reduction-rises-on-publics-

agenda-for-obamas-second-term/) found that, as Obama starts his second term, only the

economy and jobs are viewed as more important priorities for the coming year.

(http://www.people-

press.org/2013/01/24/deficit-reduction-rises-on-publics-agenda-for-obamas-second-term/)

Currently, 72% say that reducing the budget deficit should be a top priority, up 19 points

from four y ears ago. The budget deficit has increased as a priority since 2009 among

Democrats, independents and especially Republicans.

More than eight-in-ten (84%) Republicans say this is a top priority for 2013,

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obamas-second-term/) compared with 67% of Democrats and 71% of independents. Four

years ago, 51% of Republicans, 52% of Democrats and 57% of independents said

reducing the deficit was a top priority for the year ahead. (See our interactive chart,

Twelve Years of the Publics Top Priorities (http://www.people-press.org/interactives/top-

riorities/) ).

The public again put emphasis on the need to deal with the budget deficit,

with 70% saying, in a February survey(http://www.people-

press.org/2013/02/21/if-no-deal-is-struck-four-in-ten-say-let-the-sequester-

happen/) , that it was essential for the White House and Congress to address

it this year.

(ht tp://www .people-press.org/2 01 3/02 /21 /if-no-deal-is-stru ck-four-in-ten-say -let-the-

sequester-happen/)

A survey conducted in March (http://www.people-press.org/2013/03/21/section-

1-obama-job-approval-confidence-on-budget-deficit/#entitlements-priority) found

the public continued to say that maintaining entitlement benefits was a

greater priority than cutting the deficit.

(ht tp://www .people-press.org/2 01 3/03 /21 /section-1 -obam a-job-approva l-confidence-on-
http://www.people-press.org/2013/03/21/section-1-obama-job-approval-confidence-on-budget-deficit/#entitlements-priorityhttp://www.people-press.org/2013/03/21/section-1-obama-job-approval-confidence-on-budget-deficit/#entitlements-priorityhttp://www.people-press.org/2013/02/21/if-no-deal-is-struck-four-in-ten-say-let-the-sequester-happen/http://www.people-press.org/2013/02/21/if-no-deal-is-struck-four-in-ten-say-let-the-sequester-happen/http://www.people-press.org/interactives/top-priorities/http://www.people-press.org/2013/01/24/deficit-reduction-rises-on-publics-agenda-for-obamas-second-term/http://www.people-press.org/2013/03/21/section-1-obama-job-approval-confidence-on-budget-deficit/#entitlements-priority


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budget-deficit /#en titl em ents-pr iority )

Our February survey(htt p://www.people-press.org/2013/02/22/as-sequester-

deadline-looms-litt le-support-for-cutt ing-most-programs/) showed that

majorities also disapproved of many of the most-talked-about deficit

reduction proposals in other areas as well.

(http://www.people-press.org/2013/02/22/as-

sequester-deadline-looms-little-support-for-cutting-most-programs/)

Not surprisingly, partisans have markedly different views on many of the

debt reduction ideas.
http://www.people-press.org/2013/02/22/as-sequester-deadline-looms-little-support-for-cutting-most-programs/http://www.people-press.org/2013/02/22/as-sequester-deadline-looms-little-support-for-cutting-most-programs/http://www.people-press.org/2013/03/21/section-1-obama-job-approval-confidence-on-budget-deficit/#entitlements-priority


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Still, most Americans see a need for a combination (www.people-

press.org/2013/02/21/if-no-deal-is-struck-four-in-ten-say-let-the-sequester-

happen/#mixofmeasures)of cutting major programs and increasing taxes toreduce the deficit.
http://www.pewresearch.org/2013/03/22/debt-and-deficit-key-data-points-from-pew-research/www.people-press.org/2013/02/21/if-no-deal-is-struck-four-in-ten-say-let-the-sequester-happen/#mixofmeasureshttp://www.pewresearch.org/2013/03/22/debt-and-deficit-key-data-points-from-pew-research/www.people-press.org/2013/02/21/if-no-deal-is-struck-four-in-ten-say-let-the-sequester-happen/#mixofmeasures


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(www.people-

press.org/20 1 3 /02/2 1 /if-no-deal-is-struc k-four -in-ten-say -let-the-sequester-

happen/#mixofmeasures)

There are partisan differences (http://www.people-press.org/2013/02/20/section-1-

opinions-about-major-issues/) on the question of deficit-cutting strategy.

(http://www.people-

press.org/2 01 3/02 /20/section-1 -opinions-about-major-issues/)

In a survey last December (http://www.people-press.org/2012/12/13/section-1-

views-of-obama -congress-the-part ies/#mostissues) , the public gave Democrats

an edge when it comes to which party can do a better job dealing with

Medicare and Social Security, though the parties run nearly even on

dealing with the deficit.
http://www.people-press.org/2012/12/13/section-1-views-of-obama-congress-the-parties/#mostissueshttp://www.people-press.org/2012/12/13/section-1-views-of-obama-congress-the-parties/#mostissueshttp://www.people-press.org/2013/02/20/section-1-opinions-about-major-issues/http://www.people-press.org/2013/02/20/section-1-opinions-about-major-issues/http://www.pewresearch.org/2013/03/22/debt-and-deficit-key-data-points-from-pew-research/www.people-press.org/2013/02/21/if-no-deal-is-struck-four-in-ten-say-let-the-sequester-happen/#mixofmeasures


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(ht tp://www .people-press.org/20 1 2/1 2/1 3/section-1 -v iews-of-obam a-congr ess-the-

parties/#mostissues)

While there has been little change in public views on government spending

in the last two years, the long-term trend (http://www.people-

press.org/2013/02/22/as-sequester-deadline-looms-little-support-for-cutting-most-

programs/) over the past quarter-century is, for the most part, away from

spending growth.
http://www.people-press.org/2013/02/22/as-sequester-deadline-looms-little-support-for-cutting-most-programs/http://www.people-press.org/2013/02/22/as-sequester-deadline-looms-little-support-for-cutting-most-programs/http://www.people-press.org/2012/12/13/section-1-views-of-obama-congress-the-parties/#mostissues


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(ht tp://www .people-press.org/2 01 3/02 /22 /as-sequester-deadline-loom s-litt le-support-for-

cutting-most-programs/)

Read more Pew Research reports on the Debt and Deficit

(http://www.pewresearch.org/topics/economic-policy/) .

Browse our data point sheets on other issues:

Overview | Economy | Middle Class | Gun Control | U.S.-China

Relations | Immigration | Climate Change | Gay Marriage | U.S.-Middle EastRelations | Foreign Policy | Iran | U.S. Catholics
http://www.pewresearch.org/2013/02/25/u-s-catholics-key-data-from-pew-research/http://www.pewresearch.org/2013/02/26/iran-key-data-points/http://www.pewresearch.org/2013/02/08/u-s-foreign-policy-key-data-points/http://www.pewresearch.org/2013/02/08/u-s-middle-east-relations-key-data-points/http://www.pewresearch.org/2013/02/07/gay-marriage-key-data-points-from-pew-research/http://www.pewresearch.org/2013/02/07/climate-change-key-data-points-from-pew-research/http://www.pewresearch.org/2013/02/06/immigration-tip-sheet-on-u-s-public-opinion/http://www.pewresearch.org/2013/02/07/u-s-china-relations-key-data-points-from-pew-research/http://www.pewresearch.org/2013/02/07/gun-control-key-data-points-from-pew-research/http://www.pewresearch.org/2013/02/08/the-middle-class-pew-research-key-data-points/http://www.pewresearch.org/2013/02/07/economy-key-data-points-from-pew-research/http://www.pewresearch.org/2013/02/08/state-of-the-union-2013-pew-research-tip-sheet/http://www.pewresearch.org/topics/economic-policy/http://www.people-press.org/2013/02/22/as-sequester-deadline-looms-little-support-for-cutting-most-programs/


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Key Points Debt and Deficit 2013

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