Polls & Research
Archive Search
Americans Assess Federal Tax Contributions
(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Many adults in the United States are disappointed with the sum of money the federal government collects each year, according to a poll by Gallup released by USA Today. 48 per cent of respondents think their taxes are too high, while 44 per cent feel they contribute the right amount.
The U.S. Congress approved a $350 billion U.S. tax package in 2003. The measures would come to an end in 2010, unless a sunset provision is repealed.
In his Apr. 1 radio address, U.S. president George W. Bush discussed his fiscal policies, saying, "The debate in Congress over taxes ultimately comes down to this: Who knows best how to use your money—the politicians in Washington or you? I believe the money we spend in Washington is your money, not the government's money. I trust you to make the best decisions about what to do with your hard-earned dollars, because when you do, your family is better off, our economy grows, and prosperity and opportunity spread throughout our great land."
Yesterday, Bush appointed U.S. trade representative Rob Portman as the director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), declaring, "The job of the OMB director is to ensure that the government spends the taxpayers' money wisely or not at all. (Portman) is the person in charge of meeting our goal to cutting the budget deficit in half by 2009."
Polling Data
Do you consider the amount of federal income tax you have to pay as too high, about right, or too low?
Apr. 2006 | Apr. 2005 | Apr. 2004 | |
Too high | 48% | 51% | 50% |
About right | 44% | 44% | 43% |
Too low | 2% | 2% | 3% |
No opinion | 5% | 3% | 4% |
Source: Gallup / USA Today
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,005 American adults, conducted from Apr. 10 to Apr. 13, 2006. Margin of error is 3 per cent.
