A majority of Marylanders say they are concerned about the effects of the federal sequester on state and national economies even if they aren't sure it will affect them personally, according a poll released Tuesday afternoon.
The poll released by the Sarah T. Hughes Field Politics Center at Goucher College found that 75 percent of those surveyed said the automatic federal spending cuts that went into effect March 1 will negatively impact the state economy while 68 percent said the cuts would hurt the national economy.
National Issue, Local Effect
Closer to home, only 47 percent of those surveyed said the cuts would negatively impact their own personal finances.
Mileah Kromer, director of the Sarah T. Hughes Field Politics Center, said the disconnect may be driven by residents of western Maryland and the Eastern Shore who live outside the employment centers where there is a higher presence of federal jobs.
The poll showed a division of opinion as to who was to blame for the implementation of the federal cuts.
Republicans in congress took the brunt of the blame with 37 percent of those polled saying they were responsible compared to 20 percent who believed President Barack Obama is to blame.
- 37 percent hold the Republicans in Congress responsible.
- 20 percent hold President Obama responsible.
- 22 percent hold all of Congress and President Obama equally responsible.
- 14 percent hold all of Congress, but not President Obama, responsible.
- 4 percent hold the Democrats in Congress responsible.
The poll, conducted between March 3-7, involved 791 Maryland residents via landline phones and cell phones. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percent.
Cardin, Mikulski More Popular Than Congress
The poll also showed that while most people continue to dislike Congress as a whole, they like the representatives they elect.
Overall, 86 percent of those who responded to the Goucher poll gave an unfavorable rating compared to 10 percent who said they approved of how Congress does its job.
Those who responded were more divided when it came to the question of trusting government to act in the best interest of the public. Of those polled, 51 percent say they trust the federal government very little or none of the time compared to 47 percent who said they trust the federal government some or all of the time.
Closer to home, those polled gave more favorable ratings to Democratic Sens. Ben Cardin and Barbara Mikulski:
- 51 percent of residents view Mikulski favorably, while 23 percent view her unfavorably, and 26 percent indicated they didn't how to rate the senator.
- 41 percent of residents view Cardin favorably, while 22 percent view him unfavorably, and 36 percent indicated they didn’t know how to rate the senator.
Kromer said the poll re-affirms what other polls nationally have shown.
"People tend to see Congress as this gray-faced, horrible institution that is incapable of getting anything accomplished,"Kromer said. "But they see the people they elected as the ones who bring back projects to their state."
DON'T TAKE ANYTHING FROM OUR TROOPS, these men and women fight for our freedom. There are so many programs, and foreign aid to Egypt and other countries that need to be stopped. Charity begins at home. Ben Cardin, and these other politicians are full of BS. One reporter told Ben Cardin if he can't do the job then quit. Ben was flustered because no one every talked to him like this. The reporter told Ben the American people are not stupid, they are well informed these days.
"In an exclusive interview with ABC News, President Obama rejected calls to balance the federal budget in the next ten years and instead argued that his primary economic concern was not balancing the budget, but rather growing the economy. “My goal is not to chase a balanced budget just for the sake of balance. My goal is how do we grow the economy, put people back to work, and if we do that we are going to be bringing in more revenue,” he said." Translation: "I don't give a crap about the debt or the deficit, I will continue to fundamentally transform the USA as I see it. My goal is to not work with the GOP but to destroy them with the politics of personal destruction that i have used since I first stepped into politics. what is good for the country is not what is good for me."
2- Have you already forgotten the BP oil disaster and its still lingering effects on the southeast US? Apparently, you have. 3- First of all, anyone with a brain knows the Keystone Pipeline is going to be eventually approved. However... this 'oil from Canada' is low quality tar-sands oil that's not half as profitable (or useful) as you and others think. Third, if you really think they'll send the oil to China, this low profit oil to begin with, you're not understanding how unlikely it's going to be for them to be able to build a pipeline through British Columbia. They will fight it to the very end as it's the Canadian epicenter of environmentalism. There's a reason its one of the most beautiful regions in North America. Seriously, there's so much cumualtive ignorance in this thread overall, and others like it, it's not surprising this country's where it is. Just stop.
Debt is only a crisis when it's growth outstrips GDP. That hasn't been the case for most of our existence. Even now, the CBO estimates the budget deficit for 2013 to be 845 billion. That's down from 1.3 trillion just two years ago. Down 35%. Yes, government and military spending need to be intelligently reduced going forward. Much more in taxes are not the answer at this point. It's got to be done with reasonable caution, though. The reality is, unlike much of Europe, our country is steadily leaving the recession behind, despite uber conservatives best efforts to torpedo it with stupid, poorly thought out rhetoric. Even Paul Ryan understands this. He's one of the minority of Republicans with a properly functioning brain economically speaking. I don't agree with his views on the budget, but the guy at least makes sense. Most economists will tell you this - the time you reduce government and spending best, is when the economy is HEALTHY. Not when it's struggling. It's been proven time and time again throughout history. It's playing out today, too.
If you want to qualify conservatives to be the 'Rand Paul right wing' - that 25-30% of Republicans who think along this mindset - then yes, I'd agree with your view/previous statement.
CP: LOL, No. Only in the imaginary country you live in.
"The President, in accordance with to the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921, must submit a budget to Congress each year. In its current form, federal budget legislation law (31 U.S.C. 1105(a)) specifies that the President submit a budget between the first Monday in January and the first Monday in February." It starts with the President. i believe it has been 60 some years since the President has not submitted a budget.
Being a constant whipping boy for the general public gets old when you know how hard you work.
http://nationalpriorities.org/media/uploads/federal_budget_101/Figure4.3color.jpg
"Obama: I Didn't Cancel W.H. Tours, Secret Service and Congress to Blame" "Carney: White House Cancelled Tours" No one knew on 9-11 what was going on in Benghazi, they lied about what went on for weeks after. They can't get their lies straight.
"The author of Senate Democrats’ budget proposal has refused to release specifics on her legislation prior to a Budget Committee markup on Wednesday, a move Republicans say reveals the proposal’s unpopularity even among Democrats. However, committee Republicans have yet to see any details on how the proposal will reduce the federal budget deficit by $1.85 trillion, Murray’s stated benchmark. Murray has instead circulated “talking points” that generally outline the proposal, but include few specifics." http://freebeacon.com/we-waited-four-years-for-this/ These people are FAILING America.
"The Joint Committee on Taxation recently released a 96 page report on the tax provisions associated with Affordable Care Act. The report describes the 21 tax increases included in Obamacare, totaling $1.058 trillion – a steep increase from initial assessment, according to the Tax Prof Blog. The summer 2012 estimate is nearly twice the $569 billion estimate produced at the time of the passage of the law in March 2010. " http://www.economicpolicyjournal.com/2013/03/tax-prof-obamacare-tax-increases-are.html
“Humpf!" Humpfed a voice! ”For almost two days you've run wild and insisted on chatting with persons who've never existed. Such carryings-on in our peaceable jungle! We've had quite enough of you bellowing bungle! And I'm here to state," snapped the big kangaroo, "That your silly nonsensical game is all through!" And the young kangaroo in her pouch said, "Me, too!"