1. Key findings from nationwide voter survey Conducted June 2012 for
HART
RESEARCH A S O T E C I
Winning The Tax Wars: A Three-Step Program For Fairness And A Strong Economy
Key findings from nationwide voter survey Conducted June for
J:\10549

2. Survey Methodology Survey among 1,200 U.S. registered voters
Interviews conducted online June 4 – 10, 2012
Overall margin of error = ±2.9 percentage points
Oversamples among white Catholic and white evangelical voters yielded total samples of 349 white Catholics and 326 white evangelicals.
The survey design was substantially informed by prior focus groups conducted by Lake Research Associates.

3. Voters Say Tax Reform Should Be About Fairness, Not Lower Tax Rates
% rating each as a very important goal* for reforming federal tax system
Make tax system more fair
Simplify tax system
Maintain tax deductions for families (child credit, college tuition deduction)
Keep taxes low
Reduce tax rates on small businesses
Reduce tax rates on all taxpayers
Q.4
* ratings on zero-to-10 scale, 10 = extremely important goal

4. Tax Reform Priorities: The Expenditure Side
% rating each as a very important goal* for reforming federal tax system
Reduce federal government spending
Reduce federal budget deficit
Ensure enough revenue for investments that strengthen economy: education, research, transportation
Ensure enough revenue to fund priorities that middle-class families depend on, like education and Medicare
Ensure enough revenue to fund the military and national defense
Ensure enough revenue for investments that create jobs: education, research, transportation
Q.4
* ratings on zero-to-10 scale, 10 = extremely important goal 4

5. Strong Support For Taxing The Richest 2%
Which one of these statements comes closer to your point of view?
We should raise income taxes on the richest 2% of households
Strongly agree 56%
63%
Mixed feelings
We should not raise income taxes on anyone at this time
Strongly agree 29%
32%
Q.2

6. But Many Voters Don’t Yet See The Need For More Revenue
Which one of these statements comes closer to your point of view?
The country needs more tax revenue to fund priorities like education, transportation, and Medicare
Strongly agree 24%
31%
Mixed feelings
The country does not need more tax revenue, we only need to reduce wasteful government spending
57%
Strongly agree 48%
Q.2

7. Pro-tax voters: Tax the rich/Need more tax revenue to fund priorities
While Most Voters Are Either “Pro-Tax” Or “Anti-Tax,” One-Third Wants To Tax The Rich But Does Not See Need For Revenue
Combined View: Taxing Rich/Need for Revenue
Pro-tax voters: Tax the rich/Need more tax revenue to fund priorities
Anti-tax voters: Don’t raise taxes/Don’t need more revenue, just cut spending
Banner 1 points
“Tax & cut” voters: Tax the rich/Don’t need more revenue, just cut spending

8. Voters Want To End Bush Tax Cuts On Income Over $250,000
The Bush tax cuts are due to expire at the end of this year, tax rates will increase unless Congress takes action. Which is the better way to deal with the Bush tax cuts?
Continue the tax cuts for income under $250,000 but end them for income above $250,000
Continue the tax cuts for all income levels
Feel strongly 59%
68%
32%
Feel strongly 27%
Q.11ab, 11c

9. Which Is The Best Reason To End The Bush Tax Cuts For Richest 2%?
Voters who want to end tax cuts over $250,000 only
45%
21%
16%
12%
All voters
So that the wealthy pay their fair share of taxes
To protect priorities like Medicare and education
To get the federal budget deficit under control
To make investments in roads, bridges, and schools to create jobs
Q.12

10. Reasons To End Bush Tax Cuts For Richest 2%
(among voters who want to end tax cuts for income over $250K only)
Very convincing*
72%
69%
43%
41%
35%
31%
30%
The wealthiest people in our country have received the biggest tax breaks, and we just can’t afford to keep giving tax cuts to those who need it the least.
The wealthiest people in our country have received the biggest tax breaks, and now it’s time for them to pay their fair share.
If we give more tax breaks to the top 2%, we won’t be able to afford to protect middle-class priorities like education and Medicare from deep cutbacks.
If we give more tax breaks to the top 2%, we won’t be able to bring the federal budget deficit under control and we will have to keep borrowing billions from China every year.
Ending tax breaks for the top 2% will allow us to create jobs by investing in areas like education, research, and transportation.
These tax cuts were always intended to be temporary, and we should let them expire now that the country’s needs have changed.
This is a modest tax increase on the wealthy: a family making $300K would get to keep about $9,000 of their Bush tax cuts and lose only about $100.
Q.15
* 6-7 ratings on seven-point scale, 7 = extremely convincing reason

11. Reasons To Keep Bush Tax Cuts For All Incomes
(among voters who want to end tax cuts for income over $250K only)
Very convincing*
52%
37%
34%
33%
16%
12%
The national debt was caused by out-of-control government spending, not low taxes. We should reduce the deficit by cutting wasteful spending, not raising taxes on the American people.
Raising taxes on small businesses and job creators will hurt our economy and cost millions of Americans their jobs.
The politicians may claim they are only raising taxes on high-income families, but once they start increasing taxes you know they will raise taxes on the struggling middle class too–and we just can’t afford that.
Politicians raise taxes so they can keep growing the federal government. Until Washington starts respecting taxpayers’ dollars, we shouldn’t give them any more.
The top 1% of taxpayers already pay almost 40% of all income taxes, while nearly half of all people don’t pay any federal income taxes at all. We shouldn’t penalize those who have been successful.
Raising taxes only on those who have done well is class warfare, dividing America when we should be uniting the country.
Q.16
* 6-7 ratings on seven-point scale, 7 = extremely convincing reason

12. Fairness of the tax system
Ending Bush Tax Cuts For Richest 2% Will Improve Tax Fairness, Deficit, And Education
Impact of Ending Bush Tax Cuts for Income above $250K on Several Issues
Will have bad impact on this
Will have good impact on this
Funding for education
Budget deficit
Fairness of the tax system
Strength of Medicare
The economy
Jobs
+40
+39
+33
+28
Q.17
+19 +8

13. Public Priorities For New Revenue: Deficit Reduction, Medicare, Education, Infrastructure
If Congress ends the Bush tax cuts for income above $250,0000, in which three of these areas should Congress use the additional tax revenue?
Reducing budget deficit
Medicare
K – 12 public education
Health care
Infrastructure and transportation
National defense
College loans and tuition assistance
Job training
Scientific research
Q.19

14. Strong Language In Support Of Rich Paying Their Fair Share
% who strongly agree* with each statement
59%
53%
51%
47%
To get our nation back on track we need everyone to do their part, and that includes the wealthy and large corporations.
With a $1-trillion deficit, the country simply can’t afford to keep giving out tax breaks to the wealthy and large corporations and still meet our pressing needs.
We don’t begrudge financial success in this country; we admire it. But when the rich get tax breaks they don’t need and the country can’t afford, somebody else has to make up the difference–and that’s not right.
Our tax code should reward hard work instead of giving special tax breaks to the privileged and comfortable who sit around collecting income on their wealth.
We don’t begrudge success
Reward hard work, not privileged
Demo- crats
63%
64%
Inde- pendents
53%
43%
Pro-tax voters
67%
Tax & cut
65%
56%
Q.21
* 9-10 ratings on zero-to-10 scale, 10 = totally agree 14

15. Summary: The Bush Tax Cuts for the Richest 2%
Call them “the Bush tax cuts for the richest 2%.”
Central message focus: having the rich pay their fair share of taxes.
Do not make this fight about jobs and the economy.
Acknowledge need to get deficit under control. Do not say that tax breaks, not spending, caused the deficit.
Key debate will not be whether to tax the rich, but defining the choice: A) end or extend cuts for the richest 2%?, or B) end or extend all tax cuts?
Who will be blamed if all tax cuts expire?
Q.9, 21, 4

16. We Have An Opportunity – For The First Time In 30 Years – To Take The Offensive On Taxes
The combination of strong public demand for tax fairness and conservatives’ anti-tax absolutism creates an opportunity to go on offense against leaders and groups that defend unpopular tax breaks for the rich and large corporations.
We can potentially discredit the Americans for Tax Reform pledge and make it an electoral liability, transforming the politics of the tax issue.
The tax issue can become a wedge issue that divides the conservative coalition.
Q.9, 21

17. Voters Reject Tax Pledge That Protects Corporate Loopholes And Tax Breaks For Rich
About half the Members of Congress have signed a pledge promising that they will never vote for any tax increase. This pledge includes a promise that they will never vote to make the very wealthy and corporations pay a penny more in taxes, even by eliminating special tax breaks or loopholes. What is your view of those who signed this pledge never to raise taxes?
Unfavorable:
Democrats 89%
Independents 73%
Republicans 43%
Northeast 73%
South 60%
Midwest 76%
West 72%
68%
32%
Very unfavorable
43%
However, 60% have a favorable view of a pledge not to raise taxes if we don’t say it applies to tax breaks and loopholes.
Q.6b, 6a
Very 9%
Favorable
Unfavorable

18. Going On Offense Raises Major Doubts About Conservatives In Congress
% who say each raises very major doubts
48%
47% 47%
47%
46%
Signed a pledge promising that they will never vote to make big corporations pay a penny more in taxes, even by closing loopholes that reward them for shipping American jobs overseas.
Voted for a tax plan that increases taxes on 18 million low-income working families, but cuts taxes by 30% for corporations and millionaires.
Passed a budget that ends the Medicare guarantee and requires seniors to pay $6,000 more per year for fewer benefits than they get now, while giving the richest Americans a $300,000 tax break.
Favor giving more tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans and large corporations while demanding cuts in programs that average families rely on, like Medicare, Medicaid, and college tuition assistance.
Are protecting huge tax breaks for the oil companies, even though these companies are gouging consumers and reporting record profit.
Favor keeping the policies that allow multimillionaire investors like Mitt Romney to pay a tax rate of just 14% – far below what many middle- class families pay.
Q.23a

19. Voters More Concerned Over Protecting Wealthy/Corporations Than Cutting Investments
Which concerns you more?
Cutting middle-class investments like education, Medicare, and transportation
Protecting tax breaks and loopholes that mainly benefit the wealthy and big corporations
Protecting tax breaks for wealthy/ corporations
Cutting investment
Q.23b

20. Position Conservative Politicians As Defenders Of A Status Quo Rigged Against Middle Class
% who strongly agree* with each statement
61%
59%
55%
Too many politicians are willing to stack the deck in favor of their wealthy campaign contributors and corporate interests, while the middle class gets stuck with the tab.
We need to stop wasteful spending in Washington, and that includes getting rid of wasteful tax breaks for corporate CEOs and billionaire hedge fund managers.
Our current tax code is full of special deals for powerful interests, and it needs to be overhauled so everyone plays by the same rules.
Today our tax system is rigged in favor of the rich and big corporations who can afford to hire lobbyists and tax lawyers, unlike the rest of us.
Q.21
* 9-10 ratings on zero-to-10 scale, 10 = totally agree

21. Our Long-Term Challenge: Making The Link Between Taxes And A Strong Economy
Voters are skeptical of the claim that taxes are “needed” to avoid cuts or create jobs.
Use criticisms of GOP to help voters begin connecting taxes to consequences for the middle class: the same leaders who oppose taxing the rich also want to cut Medicare, education, and other middle-class priorities.
Progress is more likely to be made in fights over federal spending (transportation, education) than in tax reform context. In these spending debates, we should link conservatives’ defense of tax breaks/loopholes to their anti-investment position.
Focus on strengthening America’s economy for the long- term (less emphasis on short-term job creation).
Q.9, 21

22. Key findings from nationwide voter survey Conducted June 2012 for
HART
RESEARCH A S O T E C I
Winning The Tax Wars: A Three-Step Program For Fairness And A Strong Economy
Key findings from nationwide voter survey Conducted June for
J:\10549