CBS NEWS POLL For release: Tuesday, December 18, 2012 7:00 am ET *All Results Embargoed until 7:00

am ET, Tuesday, Dec. 18th * Americans Views on the Fiscal Cliff

December 12-16, 2012

With the so called fiscal cliff deadline looming, only half of Americans think a deal on taxes and spending cuts will be made before the end of the year. More than four in ten expect time will run out. Democrats (58%) are much more optimistic about a deal than Republicans (38%). Will a Budget Deal Get Done? Probably will 50% Probably wont 44 Right now all parties involved President Obama and Democrats and Republicans in Congress -- receive negative marks for how they are handling the negotiations over taxes and spending cuts. But the public is more critical of the Republicans in Congress on this matter, and more approve of how the President and Democrats are handling these negotiations than approve of Congressional Republicans. Handling of Fiscal Cliff Negotiations Approve Disapprove Obama and Democrats 38% 50 Republicans in Congress 17% 69 Raising taxes on those with household incomes of $250,000 is supported by most Americans, but they are divided on reducing government services and programs that benefit people like themselves in the name of deficit reduction; 45% favor that, while 48% oppose it. Measures To Reduce the Deficit Favor Raise tax rate on $250K 69% Reduce govt programs for people like you 45% Oppose 29 48

As the current debate in Washington demonstrates, there are political differences when it comes to raising taxes and reducing government programs. 84% of Democrats, and 66% of independents, favor raising taxes on higher income households. Even a slim 51% majority of Republicans support this measure for reducing the deficit. There are large partisan differences on cutting government spending; 58% of Republicans favor this, while 60% of Democrats oppose it. Views on Two Measures To Reduce the Deficit Reps Dems Inds Raise tax rate on $250K Favor 51% 84% 66% Oppose 46 15 30 Reduce govt programs for people like you Favor Oppose 58% 32 33% 60 48% 46

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This poll was conducted by telephone from December 12-16, 2012 among 1,179 adults nationwide. Phone numbers were dialed from samples of both standard land-line and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups may be higher. This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.