CBS Poll on Sequestration

How do Americans feel about the stalemate in Washington over sequestration? A new CBS poll shows a majority fear they will be impacted by the automatic budget cuts. CBS News Director of Surveys Sarah Dutton gives details.  “More than half of Americans, 53% expect that their own lives are going to be effected by the sequester.  Just 39% think they won’t be effected and in addition 46%, nearly half of Americans think the sequester is going to be bad for the country.” There is plenty of blame to go around for the cuts taking effect, says Dutton.  “38% of Americans blame the Republicans in Congress for failure to reach agreement by March 1. Almost as many, 33% blame President Obama and the Democrats in Congress and another one out of five blame both the President and the Republicans in Congress for the current situation.” Regardless of blame, the poll found Americans want a compromise, concludes Dutton. “Regardless of who they blame for the current situation, the majority of Americans want both President Obama and the Democrats in Congress and Congressional Republicans to compromise over tax increases and spending cuts, 78% say they want the President and Democrats to compromise, 73% want Congressional Republicans to do so.” There is a difference between Republicans and Democrats, not surprisingly, 74% of Democrats want a combination of spending cuts and tax increases, while 55% of Republicans, a majority, only want cuts to federal spending.