Pat Dollard

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Rasmussen:

Fifty-seven percent (57%) of voters nationwide say that it would be better to pass no health care reform bill this year instead of passing the plan currently being considered by Congress. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 34% think that passing that bill would be better.

Middle-income voters are more likely than others to say that passing no legislation is the better option.

One reason for this is that most Americans now believe they will be worse off if reform passes. Fifty-four percent (54%) hold that view while just 25% believe they would be better off.

Senior citizens are more pessimistic than younger voters. Just 16% of seniors think they’ll be better off if the legislation passes while 59% have the opposite view.

Senate Democrats are currently looking for a legislative compromise that will let them gain the 60 votes needed to move the legislation forward without being held up by a Republican filibuster. Many liberals including former Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean, union leaders and MSNBC anchors have turned against the plan.

However, 70% of liberal voters nationwide say it would be better to pass the legislation rather than passing nothing at all. Most moderates (54%) and conservatives (80%) hold the opposite view.

Rasmussen Reports tracks attitudes about the proposed health care legislation weekly and releases results every Monday. The latest numbers show 40% in favor of the plan and 56% opposed. Most voters believe passage will increase the cost of health care and decrease the quality.

There is a strong correlation between views of President Obama and views about passing the proposed health care reform.

Among those who Strongly Approve of the president’s performance, 82% say it would be best to pass the legislation. Among those who Strongly Disapprove of the president’s performance, 97% say doing nothing is the better option.

By a 52% to 30% margin, those who Somewhat Approve of the President’s performance favor passage. By a 73% to 14% margin, those who Somewhat Disapprove of the President’s performance take the opposite view.