Poll: 62 Percent of Voters Favor Comprehensive Spending Cuts

A hefty 62 percent of likely voters favor across-the-board spending cuts in the federal budget, according to a Rasmussen Reports poll.

That compares to 26 percent who disagree. But only 39 percent of voters think it’s likely that spending will be significantly reduced over the next few years, while 57 percent don’t think so.

Given that government spending has increased every year since 1954, that’s not an unreasonable assumption, according to the Rasmussen study. “Voters are far more willing than their politicians to make the hard choices that are needed to address fiscal policy realities,” it states.

The report shows that respondents don’t support spending cuts when some areas of the budget are exempt. For example, only 28 percent of voters want spending to be reduced for all areas but defense, while 62 percent reject that idea.

And only 16 percent support cuts in all areas excluding entitlements, while 67 percent are opposed.

“Support for overall spending cuts is unchanged from surveys for over a year now, but this marks a jump in opposition to excluding the military from potential cuts,” the report states. “In November, voters were evenly divided when asked if thoughtful spending cuts should be considered in every program except the military.”