Support for health reform law creeps up — poll

Support for the recently enacted healthcare reform law climbed to 48 percent in June, up seven percentage points from May, according to a new survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

In the survey released Wednesday, 41 percent of those polled said they held an “unfavorable” view of the new law, down from 44 percent in May.

Among the 41 percent who said they held an unfavorable view of the law about two out of three said they wanted the law repealed as soon as possible.

The remainder of those with an unfavorable view, however, said they thought the law should be given a chance to work, with Congress making necessary changes along the way.

Overall, 60 percent of those polled either viewed the law favorably or said they thought the law should be given a chance to work.

However, a substantial percentage, 25 percent, continue to report they have a “very unfavorable” view of the law and 27 percent of all those polled favor “repeal as soon as possible.”

When asked what was the top issue for them, healthcare was not ranked at the top. Instead, 29 percent said the economy and unemployment, 13 percent said dissatisfaction with government, 12 percent said healthcare and 9 percent each listed the Gulf Coast oil spill or the budget deficit.

The poll results did not indicate that either party was benefiting from the healthcare reform controversy. Overall, about a third of registered voters said that a candidate who supported reform would be more likely to get their vote, a third said less likely and a third said it “wouldn’t make much difference.”

Republicans held stronger views than Democratic voters with 46 percent saying they were “much more likely to oppose” a candidate who supported the new law while only 31 percent of Democrats said it would make them “much more likely to support” such a candidate.

Independents, who are seen as crucial in the upcoming mid-term elections, straddled the middle: a third saying a candidate’s support of the law would make it more likely they’d support the candidate, a third, less likely; and a third saying it wouldn’t make much difference.

To learn more:

• Read the survey results at the Kaiser Family Foundation website.

Tags: Health-care Reform

Category: Healthcare Reform