Looks like Max isn't the ONLY Socialist in America....

[KevinTheOmnivore]

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...on/5898806.htm

Posted on Mon, May. 19, 2003

Poll finds most Americans want smaller tax cut, more aid to states

BY CARRIE STURROCK
Knight Ridder Newspapers

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - (KRT) - A majority of Americans would prefer a smaller federal tax cut if it meant more aid to the states to maintain public schools and universities, according to a survey by independent researchers at the University of California at Berkeley and Stanford University.

The survey is the first to gauge support for President Bush's proposed $550 billion tax cut in light of shrinking education budgets.

"I think it highlights the fact that given tough economic times, public education is still a very high priority relative to federal tax cuts," said Emlei Kuboyama, an associate director at Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE), a research center based at Cal and Stanford. "People are very concerned about the state impact."

Survey respondents were asked:

"Which would you prefer, the full $550 billion tax cut that President Bush is proposing to stimulate the economy, or a smaller federal tax cut and increased federal aid to states to help maintain funding for public schools?"

Of those surveyed, 67 percent preferred a smaller tax cut, and more federal aid to the states to shore up funding for public schools, while 25 percent wanted the $550 billion tax cut.

As for higher education, 64 percent preferred a smaller tax cut and more money for state universities while 28 percent preferred the president's tax cut.

University researchers commissioned Peter D. Hart Research Associates of Washington, D.C., to survey 1,003 randomly selected adults between May 8 and 13. The margin of error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.

While it's unclear what will happen with Bush's proposal, observers are predicting he will secure one of the largest tax cuts in history. Federal lawmakers are working to reconcile two versions: the House bill would cut taxes by $550 billion, the Senate's by $350 billion.

The Senate bill also includes $20 billion in aid for struggling cities and states. Both plans call for a reduction on the dividends tax. The PACE researchers noted that states could lose up to $8 billion from a dividends tax cut.

The PACE survey found that a majority of the nation's wealthiest people supported a smaller federal tax cut if it meant more aid to states for public schools. Fifty-nine percent of survey respondents who earn more than $75,000 annually preferred the smaller cut, while 33 percent preferred the full Bush proposal.

"It's telling that even the people who would presumably benefit the most from these tax cut proposals … would have more federal aid go to the states for public education," Kuboyama said.

Those in the study's lowest income bracket overwhelmingly supported a smaller tax cut - 79 percent versus 15 percent.

When it came to a smaller tax cut in return for more aid to help states avoid cutting services generally or raising taxes, a gender gap emerged. Sixty-eight percent of women favored a small tax cut compared with 58 percent of men.

The survey researchers pointed out that "the nation's grass-roots Republicans are statistically tied on the issue." Of Republicans surveyed, 46 percent preferred the larger tax cut, compared with 43 percent who wanted more aid to the states. Democrats came down 11 percent to 82 percent on that question.

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© 2003, Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, Calif.).