Majority Disapproves of Debt-Ceiling Agreement in One-Day Poll

By Steven Shepard  //  August 2, 2011 | 10:34 a.m.
Updated: August 4, 2011 | 8:35 a.m.

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Even after months of Sturm und Drang about the danger of the U.S. defaulting on its debt, a majority of Americans -- and an overwhelming majority of independents -- disapproves of the agreement to raise the federal debt ceiling and make major cuts in government spending set to be signed into law, according to a new, one-day CNN/ORC International poll released Tuesday.

Just 44 percent of Americans approve of the agreement between Democrats and Republicans to "raise the federal government's debt ceiling through the year 2013 and make major cuts in government spending over the next few years," while 52 percent disapprove.

Republicans and independents are driving this disapproval. Democrats approve of the agreement, 63 percent to 32 percent. But only 35 percent of Republicans and independents approve of the agreement. More than three-in-five independents disapprove.

Specific elements of the agreement are more popular than the agreement overall, however, suggesting the tumultuous and often times messy process had a negative impact on Americans and their perception of Washington. One measure of that: the percentage of Americans who approve of the way Congress is handling its job has shrunk to an abysmal 14 percent, easily the lowest measure in five years of CNN polling.

Asked specifically about raising the debt ceiling, Americans are more mixed, with 48 percent approving and 51 percent disapproving. But here too, independents are squarely against raising the debt limit, 37 percent to 61 percent. A strong majority supports cutting about a trillion dollars in spending over the next ten years, with provisions to cut more in the future. Democrats (68 percent), Republicans (72 percent) and independents (60 percent) all approve of the spending cuts. But Americans disapprove of the lack of tax increases on businesses and higher-income Americans in the final agreement. Just 40 percent approve of the fact that the agreement does not contain tax increases. A majority, 60 percent, disapprove of the final package not containing those increases. Americans think congressional Republicans are more responsible for the final agreement: 43 percent, versus 34 percent who say President Obama and congressional Democrats are more responsible. But considering the agreement's lack of popularity at this early juncture, that may be to the GOP's detriment. Just 30 percent of Americans approve of how Republican leaders in Congress have handled the debt negotiations, while more than two-thirds of Americans disapprove. Americans are more split on Obama, with 46 percent approving of his handling of the negotiations, and 53 percent disapproving. The CNN/ORC International poll was conducted on Monday, surveying 860 adults. The margin of error is +/- 3.3 percent.

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