Voters Revolt: Only 33% Support for New Senate Health Care Bill

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Friday December 18, 2009 · 10:11 AM PST

2009/12/18 · 10:11

A new Research 2000 poll from the Progressive Change Campaign Committee and Democracy for America shows that voters support a health care bill with a public option by an overwhelming majority, 59% to 31%--but when it comes to the newest Senate health care bill, with mandates and no public option, those numbers are nearly reversed. By caving to Joe Lieberman, Democrats are about to push for a bill with only 33% support.

This Research 2000 National Poll was conducted for the PCCC and DFA from Dec. 16 through Dec. 17, 2009. You can see the results here. And they are shocking. Voters are in full-blown revolt.

A health care bill with a public option has 59% support. A health care bill with a public option and Medicare expansion has 58% support. The current proposed health care bill with mandates, but no public option or Medicare expansion, has 33% support.

A strong majority of voters say that President Obama didn't fight Joe Lieberman hard enough for the public option: 63% to 29%.

One popular talking point is that this bill "provides" 30 million Americans with health coverage. But only 36% said they agreed with that statement. 48% of those polled said they felt that requiring people to buy insurance isn't the same as "providing" insurance.

So, over the past week or so, the Democrats have managed to move from a bill with 59% support to a bill with 33% support. Politically, they couldn't have done a worse job if they tried.

These poll numbers change the game. We need to re-insert the public option into the health care bill. Want to take action? Sign this petition to progressive senators telling them to be bold and "block the bill" without a public health insurance option.

UPDATE: Thank you for putting this on the Most Recommended list! Please keep the recs coming so we create more buzz around these important numbers.

(P.S. You can contribute to PCCC and DFA and help support our health care work--like paying for polls like this one--by clicking here.)

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Voters Revolt: Only 33% Support for New Senate Health Care Bill

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