December 2012 Omnibus Week 1 Princeton Survey Research Associates International for National Journal Final Topline Results

December 10, 2012 Total: 1,001 adults age 18 and older Margin of error: Plus or minus 3.7 percentage points

Interviewing dates: December 6-9, 2012 LANDLINE INTRO: Hello, my name is ________ and I'm calling for Princeton Survey Research. Were conducting a study about some important issues today, and would like to include your household. RANDOMIZE RESPONDENT SELECTION - DO NOT RANDOMIZE BY FORM: May I please speak with the YOUNGEST ADULT MALE, age 18 or older, who is now at home? AND May I please speak with the YOUNGEST ADULT FEMALE, age 18 or older, who is now at home? IF NO MALE/FEMALE ASK: May I please speak with the YOUNGEST ADULT FEMALE/MALE, age 18 or older, who is now at home? CELL PHONE INTRO: Hello, I am ___ calling for Princeton Survey Research. We are conducting a national study of cell phone users. I know I am calling you on a cell phone. This is not a sales call. (IF R SAYS DRIVING/UNABLE TO TAKE CALL: Thank you. We will try you another time...) CELL PHONE SCREENING INTERVIEW: S1. Are you under 18 years old, OR are you 18 or older? 1 Under 18 2 18 or older 9 Dont know/Refused IF S1=2, CONTINUE WITH MAIN INTERVIEW IF S1=1,9, THANK AND TERMINATE: This study is limited to adults age 18 and over. I wont take any more of your time... READ TO ALL CELL PHONE - INTRODUCTION TO MAIN INTERVIEW: Were interested in learning more about people with cell phones. If you are now driving a car or doing any activity requiring your full attention, I need to call you back later. The first question is... Notes: Due to rounding, percentages may not add to 100. An asterisk (*) indicates values less than 0.5%.

Princeton Survey Research Associates International December 2012 Omnibus Week 1

Page 2

ASK ALL: CC1 As you may know, if Congress does not come up with a deficit reduction plan that passes by the end of this year it will trigger automatic cuts in government spending, including $600 billion each from defense and domestic programs. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea? Dec 6-9 2012 22 63 15 Oct 12-14 2012 17 64 19 Nov 9-14 20111 34 56 9

Good idea Bad idea Dont know/Refused (VOL.) CC2

If Congress fails to reach an agreement on the federal budget deficit, who do you think would be most to blame: [READ AND RANDOMIZE 1-3, ALWAYS READ 4 LAST]2 Dec 6-9 2012 27 16 5 50 3 Oct 12-14 2012 18 10 6 61 5 Nov 17-20 20113 19 10 8 54 8

Republicans in Congress President Obama Democrats in Congress Or all parties equally? Dont know/Refused (VOL.) CC3

Which one of the following possible outcomes of an agreement to reduce the deficit concerns you most? [READ AND RANDOMIZE] Dec 6-9 2012 35 27 15 13 Oct 12-14 2012 36 24 15 15 Nov 17-20 2011 38 23 17 12

It will cut too much from government programs like Medicare and Social Security It will raise taxes on people like you It will not meet its target for reducing the federal deficit and debt It will allow for too much federal spending in the next few years
1

Modified Pew Religion and Politics trend: As you may know, if this (Congressional) super committee does not come up with a plan that passes by the end of this year (2011) it will trigger automatic cuts in government spending, including both defense and domestic programs. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea? 2 Added on the federal budget deficit 3 Modified Omnibus Trend As you may know, the congressional super committee is reaching its deadline to produce a plan to reduce the federal deficit by at least $1.2 trillion over the next decade. If the committee fails to reach an agreement, who do you think would be most to blame

Princeton Survey Research Associates International December 2012 Omnibus Week 1

Page 3
Dont know/Refused (VOL.) 9 11 10 CC4 As part of the discussions over how to reduce the federal deficit, President Obama and Congress are considering reducing some of the deductions and tax credits that people can take to lower their taxes. As I read a list of the following tax credits, tell me if you think they should be reduced for all taxpayers, taxpayers earning over $250,000 per year, or not reduced for any taxpayers. First, what about [INSERT ITEM; RANDOMIZE]? Next, [INSERT NEXT ITEM; RANDOMIZE]? [READ IF NECESSARY: Do you think it should be reduced for all taxpayers, taxpayers earning over $250,000 per year, or not reduced for any taxpayers?] Reduced for taxpayers earning over $250,000 per year only 21 19 19 Not reduced for any taxpayers 31 31 37 (VOL.) Dont know/ Refused 8 7 6

Reduced for all taxpayers a. The deduction for interest on home mortgages Dec 6-9, 2012 b. The deduction for state and local taxes Dec 6-9, 2012 c. The deduction for charitable donations Dec 6-9, 2012 d. The tax exemption for the value of health insurance coverage provided by an employer Dec 6-9, 2012 CC5 41 42 38

40

19

30

10

Rather than limiting individual deductions such as those for mortgage or state and local taxes, some have proposed to put a ceiling on the total amount of deductions that any taxpayer can take to reduce their taxes. As part of a plan to reduce the deficit, would you favor [READ IN ORDER] Dec 6-9 2012 25 36 31 9

Imposing such a ceiling on all taxpayers, Imposing such a ceiling only on those earning over $250,000 per year, or Not imposing such a ceiling on any taxpayers [VOL. DO NOT READ] Dont know/Refused

Princeton Survey Research Associates International December 2012 Omnibus Week 1

Page 4

CC6

As you may know, income that people receive from dividends and capital gains on stocks is now taxed at a lower rate than the income people receive from wages. Some say those lower rates are necessary to promote investment, which encourages jobs and economic growth. Others say that these lower rates are unfair to workers who receive most of their income from wages. As part of a plan to reduce the deficit, would you favor [READ AND RANDOMIZE] Dec 6-9 2012 48 42 10

Maintaining the current lower rates on income from dividends and investments [or] Taxing dividends and investment income at the same rates as wages [VOL. DO NOT READ] Dont know/Refused

11DEMOGRAPHICS I have one last set of questions to help us better understand the people who took part in our survey. SEX Respondents Sex 49 51 Male Female

EMPLOY Are you now employed full-time, part-time, or not employed? 45 11 44 1 PAR Employed full-time Employed part-time Not employed (DO NOT READ) Dont know/ Refused

Are you the parent or guardian of any children under 18 years of age? 32 67 1 Yes No (DO NOT READ) Dont know/Refused

AGE

What is your age? 19 36 25 17 2 18 to 29 30 to 49 50 to 64 65 and older (DO NOT READ) Refused

Princeton Survey Research Associates International December 2012 Omnibus Week 1

Page 5

EDUC What is the highest level of school you have completed or the highest degree you have received? 3 8 31 19 9 15 2 13 1 HISP Less than high school (Grade 1-8 or no formal schooling) High school incomplete (Grades 9-11 or Grade 12 with NO diploma) High school graduate (Grade 12 with diploma or GED certificate) Some college, no degree (includes community college) Two year associate degree from a college/university Four year college or university degree/Bachelors degree Some postgraduate or professional schooling, no postgraduate degree Postgraduate or professional degree, including masters, doctorate, medical or law degree (DO NOT READ) Dont know/Refused

Are you of Hispanic or Latino background, such as Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban or other Spanish background? 12 87 1 Yes No (DO NOT READ) Dont know/Refused

RACE What is your race? Are you white, black, Asian, or some other race? [IF R SAYS HISPANIC OR LATINO, PROBE: Do you consider yourself a WHITE (Hispanic/Latino) or a BLACK (Hispanic/Latino)? 68 30 12 12 2 4 2 INC INC1 INC2 INC3 White non-Hispanic Total non-White Black non-Hispanic Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander Other non-Hispanic (DO NOT READ) Dont know/Refused

Last year, that is in 2011, approximately what was your total family income before taxes just tell me when I get to the right category. (IF DONT KNOW OR REFUSED) Keeping in mind that this is a completely confidential survey, can you please tell me if your total household income BEFORE taxes last year was over or under $75,000? (IF UNDER $75,000) Was it over or under $50,000? (IF UNDER $50,000) Was it over or under $30,000? 26 15 17 34 8 $75,000 or more $50,000 to under $75,000 $30,000 to under $50,000 Under $30,000 Undesignated

Princeton Survey Research Associates International December 2012 Omnibus Week 1

Page 6

REG

Which of these statements best describes you? 78 3 18 1 Are you ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN that you are registered to vote at your current address Are you PROBABLY registered, but there is a chance your registration has lapsed [OR] Are you NOT registered to vote at your current address? (DO NOT READ) Dont know/Refused

PARTY In politics TODAY, do you consider yourself a Republican, Democrat, or Independent? 22 35 35 4 1 4 Republican Democrat Independent No preference (VOL.) Other party (VOL.) Don't know/Refused (VOL.)

That completes the interview. Thank you very much for your time and cooperation. Have a nice day/evening.

Princeton Survey Research Associates International December 2012 Omnibus Week 1