Poll: Most agree anti-ObamaCare lawmakers should give up their healthcare

{mosads}Support for the view suggests that members seeking to undercut ObamaCare in negotiations to fund the government could face a backlash if they’re seen as trying to preserve their own benefits.

The government shut down early Tuesday because of a congressional stalemate.

“Americans are making it pretty clear that if they’re going to hurt because of a government shutdown, the members of Congress responsible for it should too,” said Dean Debnam, president of the polling firm, in a statement.

Republicans have sought to capitalize on voter resentment by arguing that Congress’s employer healthcare subsidy is a “special exemption” now that members and staff will purchase coverage on the new exchanges.

Lawmakers like Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) have been working to strip out the subsidies to no avail in the continuing resolution fight.

Tuesday’s survey revealed a sense among voters that members of Congress are compensated too much.

Just 11 percent think that lawmakers — who are paid more than $170,000 annually — should make more than $150,000 per year.

Another 58 percent believe lawmakers’ salaries should be under $100,000 per year.

The poll was conducted last week before the shutdown took effect. At that time, voters gave Democrats a five-point edge over Republicans (45/40) up from one point (43/42) in July.

White House communications adviser David Simas pointed to the results as evidence that independent voters are moving away from Republicans. 

“Independents sour on GOP #Shutdown,” Simas tweeted Tuesday.