A poll released Monday by the Public Policy Polling reveals that 74 percent of Americans agree that anti-Affordable Care Act lawmakers should give up their own government-funded healthcare coverage.
“Americans are making it pretty clear that if they’re going to hurt because of a government shutdown, the members of Congress responsible for it should too,” said Dean Debnam, the President of Public Policy Polling (PPP).
The poll found a general consensus among Americans on whether members of Congress should keep their government-funded healthcare plans while opposing the opportunity for others to get government-funded health care. There was not much difference of opinion across party lines: 80 percent of Independents, 75 percent of Democrats, and 69 percent of Republicans agreed.
The poll also found that voters feel Congress members, who are paid more than $170,000 a year, are over-compensated. Only 11 percent felt that members of Congress should make over $150,000 a year. 58 percent think their pay should be under $100,000 a year.
In light of the government shutdown, the poll numbers could be particularly bad news for Republicans, who represent the majority of “Obamacare” opponents.
Other polls have shown that the GOP will largely be held responsible for shutting down the government and affecting 800,000 federal employees, as well as the military, food programs, public health programs like the Centers for Disease Control, travel and tourism areas, such as national parks, courts, mail services, homeland security, and more.
The PPP poll was conducted last week, before the shutdown was a certainty.
Alisha is a writer and researcher with Ring of Fire. Follow her on Twitter @childoftheearth.
