National survey-1,328 voters, Three focus groups-swing voters September 2007 HART RESEARCH P e t e r D ASSOTESCIA Winning The Battle Of Budget Research conducted for Americans United, AFSCME, and USAction

Winning The Battle Of Budget – September 2007/Hart Research 2 In veto fights over appropriations, Democrats start with an edge. “President Bush has said he will veto several of the appropriations bills for federal spending being considered by the Democratic Congress. President Bush says the Democrats' appropriation bills contain too many wasteful pork-barrel spending projects, and go too far in busting the budget and increasing government spending. Democrats say their bills make responsible and necessary invest-ments in important priorities that the Bush administration has short-changed.” When you hear that President Bush will veto several of the Democrats’ appropriations bills for these reasons, who are you more inclined to side with on this issue? Side with the Democrats Side with Pres. Bush Much more 26% Much more 25% 46% 40%

Winning The Battle Of Budget – September 2007/Hart Research 3 A Democratic frame based on GOP willingness to fund Iraq but not priorities at home trumps the toughest GOP hits on Democrats. In this pair of statements, which concerns you more? Democrats will raise spending/ pork barrels/ raise taxes Pres. Bush/ GOPs will oppose needed funding for priorities after spending so much in Iraq Bush/GOPs will oppose needed funding for priorities after spending so much in Iraq Democrats will raise spending/pork barrels/ raise taxes Demo- crats 82% 9% Inde- pendents 50% 32% Repub- licans 14% 77%

Winning The Battle Of Budget – September 2007/Hart Research 4 Voters side with Democrats over Bush on a wide range of specifics. $3.7 B more than Bush on veterans’ health care $630M more than Bush on highways/bridges=jobs $1 B more than Bush on disease research $200 M more than Bush on health care for uninsured $35 B more than Bush on S-CHIP for uninsured kids $2 B more than Bush on homeland security $65 M more than Bush on food/medicine safety $1.5 B more than Bush on schools/Head Start $1.6 M more than Bush on law enforcement/crime 74% 71% 68% 67% 65% 64% 63% All voters

Winning The Battle Of Budget – September 2007/Hart Research 5 Support for Democrats on S-CHIP cuts across key electoral groups. Spending $35 B more than Bush wants on S-CHIP to provide affordable health insurance to uninsured children 63% All voters Agree with Democrats 88% 59% 33% 63% 63% 64% Democrats Independents Republicans 2004 red states 2004 purple states 2004 blue states Agree with Democrats 57% 69% 74% 68% 64% 62% Men Women Unmarried women White non-college women Under age 50 Age 50/over

Winning The Battle Of Budget – September 2007/Hart Research 6 Making the Democratic case turns a narrow edge into a strong advantage. When you hear that President Bush will veto several of the Democrats’ appropriations/spending bills, with whom are you more inclined to side? Initial Support Support after Arguments Demo- crats Pres Bush Dems – Bush Demo- crats Pres Bush Dems – Bush All voters Swing voters Independents Men/non-college Men/college grad Women/non-college Women/college grad 46% 33% 37%33% 41% 49% 40% 40% 32% 52% 59%40% % 53% 57% 44% 38% 58% 59% 31% 25% 18% 42% 56% 27% 34% Total Dem Gain

National survey-1,328 voters, Three focus groups-swing voters September 2007 HART RESEARCH P e t e r D ASSOTESCIA Winning The Battle Of Budget: Framing The Best Case In The Upcoming Appropriations Fights Research conducted for Americans United, AFSCME, and USAction