Most Americans Prefer Smaller Tax Cut Balanced with Aid to States, Schools, Survey Finds

5/20/2003

From: Emlei Kuboyama, 510-642-4953, or Bruce Fuller, 510-643-5362, both of Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE)

WASHINGTON, May 20 -- A clear majority of Americans, worried over deepening cuts in school budgets, now prefers a smaller federal tax cut, blended with aid for the states, according to a new survey conducted by Stanford University and University of California researchers.

By over a two to one margin, a representative sample of Americans said that "providing aid to state governments to help them avoid cutting services or raising taxes" should be a higher priority for Washington" than "passing a large tax cut."

Sixty-seven percent also prefer "a smaller tax cut and increased federal aid to states to help maintain funding for public schools," while 25 percent desire "the full $550 billion tax cut proposed by President Bush."

Even the nation's grassroot Republicans are statistically tied on the issue, with 46 percent supporting Bush's proposal versus 43 percent urging aid to states.

A gender gap of 12 percent has emerged, with 21 percent of women supporting the Bush tax cut, compared to 33 percent of men.

"As parents and all Americans read about their neighborhood schools laying-off teachers and college tuitions rising, they are looking for a balanced economic plan," said Emlei Kuboyama, a legal scholar who co-directed the study.

The university survey was conducted by Peter Hart Associates (D.C.), interviewing 1,003 adults between May 8-13. Graphics and details are available. Contact Kuboyama (510-642-4953) or Prof. Bruce Fuller (510-643-5362) at the Berkeley-Stanford PACE Research Center.