Support for the Public Option Has Dropped

12/9/2009, by Proloy Bhatta

HIGHLIGHTS

• Support for the public option, Bloomberg: 46%.
• Poll of polls: 54%.
• 53% disapprove of the job Obama is doing as president with regards to health care -- 40% approve.

Bloomberg recently conducted a poll in which they asked adults where they stood on the public option. Just 46% were supportive of it -- 8% below the average of all polls taken since November. This indicates that support of the public option has likely dropped.

Here is what Bloomberg had to say:

Obama, 48, is struggling to win support on health care, his top priority, with about half of poll respondents saying they disapprove of the plans in Congress to overhaul the system. Sixty-two percent of Americans say they are mostly pessimistic they would benefit from any bill. The youngest Americans are more optimistic, with 47 percent of those under 35 saying they would benefit.

Other Polls

35% say the amount they pay in health care premiums or co-pays is worse this time than it was last year. Only 4% say they are better off.

62% say they are mostly pessimistic that a health care bill passed by congress would personally benefit them.

53% disapprove of the job Obama is doing as president with regards to health care -- 40% approve.

67% approve of a 5% tax on elective cosmetic surgery.

50% oppose taxing the most expensive insurance policies -- 40% approve.

65% favor an income surtax on individuals making more than $500,000 a year or couples making more than $1M per year.