Poll shows little suport for Medicare cuts

The poll also found little support for other controversial healthcare measures. More than a quarter (28 percent) strongly opposed a plan backed by Budget Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) to transform the Medicare program into a voucher system, while 12 percent said it was “totally acceptable.” In the absence of a GOP Medicare plan, Democrats have tried to tie Republicans to the Ryan plan as numerous GOP lawmakers have tried to distance themselves from it.

Just over half (51 percent) of survey respondents said they opposed GOP lawmakers’ efforts to cut off funding for part or all of the new healthcare reform law, while 46 supported it.

Most respondents (53 percent) also opposed GOP efforts to eliminate funding to Planned Parenthood for family planning and preventive healthcare services. A long-term spending bill passed by the House two weeks ago would have choked off federal funding to Planned Parenthood because of opposition from most Republicans and a handful of Democrats to abortion care provided by the organization. Forty-five percent of survey respondents said eliminating Planned Parenthood funds would be acceptable.