Poll: Public Worried About Federal Deficit

01/27/2006

Jan 27, 6:28 AM (ET)

The public thinks the federal deficit will grow larger by the end of President Bush’s second term and many people think the health care system will be weaker by then, according to a CBS-New York Times poll.

Seven in 10 said in the poll released Friday that they expect the deficit to grow larger by the end of his presidency.

Four in 10 said they think health care will be worse, while half said they expect it will be about the same.

The Bush administration’s new Medicare drug prescription program, which the administration said would save money for millions, has not inspired much optimism. About half in the poll, 51 percent, said they expect seniors will pay more for prescription drugs by the end of the president’s second term. A third said they will pay the same and the remainder said less.

People were divided on whether the economy will be stronger at the end of Bush’s presidency.

The poll also found that while many Americans would tolerate government eavesdropping on e-mails and phone calls without warrants to combat terrorism, they’re concerned the program the Bush administration is aggressively promoting could encroach on their civil liberties.

While the program has been criticized as illegal by Democrats and some Republicans, 53 percent of the respondents said they supported the eavesdropping “in order to reduce the threat of terrorism.”

Bush is viewed unfavorably by 48 percent and viewed favorably by 37 percent as he prepares for his sixth State of the Union address next week. The poll of 1,229 adults was taken Jan. 20-25 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.