Poll: Americans Skeptical Of A Long-Term Balanced Budget

By Keating Holland/CNN

WASHINGTON (Jan. 8) -- Despite rosy forecasts, less than one quarter of the American public believes the next federal budget will be balanced, according to the latest CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll.

Even if the government does eliminate the deficit this year, only 26 percent believe that the budget will stay balanced for the next several years.

If the federal budget has a surplus this year -- a big "if," given the high amount of skepticism on the issue -- 43 percent of the public would like to see most of that surplus spent on government programs such as Social Security, Medicare and public schools.

Only 22 percent would like to see most of a possible surplus spent on a tax cut.

Three Americans in 10 would like to see most of the surplus go toward reducing the debt that the government owes from previous years when the federal budget was out of balance.

Who gets the credit?

So, who gets most of the credit for cutting the deficit by more than $260 billion since 1992?

Sixty-three percent of people surveyed say Clinton deserves some credit while 54 percent say the Republicans in Congress should get a share of the credit as well.

But even more Americans -- 77 percent -- say that credit should go to good economic conditions.

The reduction in the deficit has also reduced the public's concern on the issue. Throughout the 1980s, a majority of Americans said the deficit was a very serious problem, peaking in 1989 when nearly two-thirds felt that way.

Today, only 40 percent of the public thinks the federal budget deficit is a serious problem.

Clinton also retains his high approval rating, with 59 percent of Americans saying they approve of the way he is handling his job.

The survey of 1,015 adult Americans was conducted Jan. 6-7 and has a margin of error of +/- 3 percent.

Thursday Jan. 8, 1998

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• Sources: Lott To Deliver GOP Response To State Of The Union
• Jones Will Attend Clinton's Deposition
• Justice Concludes No Evidence Of Crime In Ron Brown Death
• U.S. Softens Initial Reaction To Iranian President
• Palm Springs Expects Full House For Bono's Farewell
• Cisneros Pleads Not Guilty

Poll
• Americans Skeptical Of A Long-term Balanced Budget