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Labor - AFL-CIO: Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Inc.
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Labor - AFL-CIO: Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Inc.
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FOIA Number: 2013-0306-F
FOIA
MARKER
This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the William J. Clinton
Presidential Library Staff.
Collection/Record Group:
Clinton Presidential Records
Subgroup/Office of Origin:
Political Affairs
Series/Staff Member:
Craig Hughes
Subseries:
OA/ID Number:
14933
FolderID:
Folder Title:
Labor - AFL-CIO: Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Inc.
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Row:
Section:
Shelf:
Position:
S
28
3
7
2
CLINTON LIBRARY PHOTOCOPY
Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Inc.
CLINTON LIBRARY PHOTOCOPY
1724 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.
Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Inc.
Washington, D.C. 20009
202-234-5570
"Working Families Agenda"
AFL-CIO Research
1/19/98
Fresh research shows that the economic situation of working people is
mixed. Yes, wages are slowly getting better - but bills are high and it's still
hard to make ends meet. They worry about the rich getting richer while the
rest of us are left behind. Participants in three out of four recent focus groups
raised, without prompting, personal debt and increasing bankruptcies. They
say too many people are living on credit and borrowed time.
Health care - affordability even more than quality and HMO problems
- was the most often cited concern.
State of the Union
Strong economy and bringing responsibility to gov't spending
are huge accomplishments of the Clinton administration - done
with the help of Congress.
But our new global economy prsents challenges as well as
opportunities. We must craft answers which protect ours standard
of living as we seek to extend prosperity around the world.
Some have done better than others in this economy, however, and
some have not been brought along. Income equality grew in the
80's and early 90's. While there has been some recent
improvement, we must do better.
This administration will devote it's last three years to making our
economy and our nation fairer for working families, so that
everyone benefits from our strong economy to address
important issues that can prove again that a strong middle class is
what makes America strong.
Focus will be on important and fiscally responsible steps that
improve health coverage, pensions, child care, and other family
necessities.
And ensuring the long-run health of, and confidence in, our
uniquely effective Social Security system.
Today's there's a deficit of balanced information.
People need the facts about Social Security - the
foundation of our retirement system that has largely
eliminated poverty among the elderly, protects
families of all ages against disability, and greatly
reduces the dependency of the older generations on
their children.
They need to know that the often used description of
Social Security going broke in 2030, as if there
would be no more money then, is a whopper of a lie.
They need to understand the options we have that
will preserve and protect Social Security for all
generations to come.
Above all, we need to be guided by the values that
have made this nation great.
Peter D. Hart Research Associates
23% L35
Americans' Americans' jozall indest
Surplus unwn 35% SS
Views On
Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Inc.
Key National Issues
Nationwide survey among 1,002 general public and 622 union members
January 7-11, 1998
Conducted on behalf of the AFL-CIO
A More Positive Economic Climate
Public very/somewhat satisfied with country's economic situation
Public hopeful/confident abut achieving own financial goals
64%
52%
49%
Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Inc.
41%
34%
33%
May
February
January
1996
1997
1998
Americans' Views on Issues/January 1998
Q.2b,3b
Still, Only Two In Five People Are Able
To Put Money Aside
My family income is:
Less than I need to
Not sure
keep up with bills
1%
16%
Enough to pay bills
and put some money
aside in savings
41%
Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Inc.
42%
Only enough to keep
up with bills
Americans' Views on Issues/January 1998
Q.3a
Top Concerns: Health Care, Education,
Wages, Pensions
Serious problem: 8-10 on 10-point scale
HMOs' restricting access to care
69%
67%
Lack of affordable health coverage
Lack of quality public education
66%
Wages/salaries VS. cost of living
65%
Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Inc.
63%
Pensions being cut
U.S. firms moving jobs overseas
61%
More part-time jobs w/no benefits
59%
Economy favors rich/big corps.
57%
Juggling work and family
56%
Jobs cut but CEOs get big salary
55%
Americans' Views on Issues/January 1998
Q.5ab
Public Approval Of GOP Congress High,
But Democrats Lead In Generic Race
54%
Somewhat
35%
approve
33%
28%
Somewhat
Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Inc.
disapprove
Democrat
Republican
Strongly
Strongly
disapprove
approve
Job Performance of
Preference in 1998
Republicans in Congress
U.S. House Race
* Among union members, Democrat
leads by 49% to 16%.
Americans' Views on Issues/January 1998
Q.8,9a
GOP's Strengths And Vulnerabilities
Among The Public
(% differential: more likely minus less likely to support
Congressional candidate taking this position)
Simplify tax code/crack down on IRS
77%
Cut federal income taxes
58%
Adopt flat tax
9%
Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Inc.
-5%
Pro-educational voucher system
-20%
Pro-Gingrich agenda
-37%
Voted to weaken overtime laws
-62%
Voted to cut health/safety on job
-67%
Voted for corporate tax loopholes
Americans' Views on Issues/January 1998
Q.10ab
Fairness Is Public's Biggest Tax Priority
33%
29%
Make it fair
for average
Cut taxes
family/
eliminate
18%
loopholes
Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Inc.
Make it
simpler
Most Important Goal for Income Tax System
*
Cutting taxes is low priority for budget surplus, behind
investing in trust funds and paying down debt.
Americans' Views on Issues/January 1998
Q.25
Public Believes Government
Has Role To Play
Government should play
active role in solving
Neither/
Some
America's problems/we
not sure
of both
4%
should focus on
8%
reforming, not reducing
The best way to solve
government
America's problems is to
Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Inc.
51%
have less government/
government is too big,
costly, interfering
37%
Americans' Views on Issues/January 1998
Q.18b
Populist Message Trumps
Anti-Government View
The bigger problem today is:
Government is too
Neither/
concerned with big
Both
not sure
corporations/wealthy
equally
5%
special interests, doesn't
12%
do enough for average
Government spends
working families
Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Inc.
too much, taxes too
54%
much, interferes too
much in things better
left to others
29%
*
Democrats have a 12-point advantage (44 points among union
members) on "looking out for the economic interests of people like you.
:
Americans' Views on Issues/January 1998
Q.18a
A Broad Array Of Retirement Security
Initiatives Are Popular
Strongly support this proposal
Make it easier to continue pension
78%
coverage when you change jobs
78%
Protect/strengthen Social Security
Tax incentives for retirement savings
71%
Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Inc.
Require full funding of pensions/
68%
prohibit using funds for other things
Let people invest part of Social
64%
Security contribution
63%
Require basic pension benefits
Require pension benefits for part-
53%
time employees
Americans' Views on Issues/January 1998
Q.21
The Public And Social Security
By 67% to 28%, Americans prefer to fix Social Security
by strengthening its financial condition, rather than
replace it with a system based on individual investments
(age 18 to 34: 65% to 32%).
People want more options for tax-advantaged retirement
Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Inc.
savings, but as a supplement to Social Security.
Key elements of Social Security to preserve: guaranteed
monthly income that can never be lost; keep seniors out
of poverty.
Women voters are especially committed to strengthening
Social Security, and more strongly oppose privatization.
Americans' Views on Issues/January 1998
Health Care Environment
The public expresses a mixed view of the system,
but satisfaction is up since 1994 (46% satisfied).
Affordability is the top concern (45%), well ahead
of coverage (16%), choice (9%), and quality (7%).
Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Inc.
People are more negative toward "health insurance
companies" (48%) than HMOs (41%).
There is strong support (66%) for employer
mandate, up 11% since 1994.
Americans' Views on Issues/January 1998
Public Support For
Health Care Proposals
Strongly support this proposal
Require that HMOs give more
71%
choice of doctors
Affordable coverage for nursing
69%
home/long-term care
Government coverage for
66%
poor children
Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Inc.
Right to appeal denial of treatment/
66%
access to specialist
Allow retirees to purchase
63%
Medicare before age 65
Require companies with 50/more
60%
employees to provide coverage
Require health coverage for
56%
part-time workers
Allow people to sue insurance
55%
company for malpractice
Americans' Views on Issues/January 1998
Q.23ab
Other Proposals That Garner Strong
Support Among The Public
Strongly support this proposal
Foreign companies pay fair taxes
81%
Stronger equal pay laws for women
75%
No imports from child labor country
75%
Stronger age discrimination laws
67%
Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Inc.
No tax break if move jobs overseas
66%
National reading/math tests
65%
Child care training/nat'l standards
64%
Raise minimum wage to $6.65
64%
Expand FMLA for teacher meetings
63%
Cut capital gains break/$ to schools
63%
Raise cigarette tax/fund research
52%
Americans' Views on Issues/January 1998
Q.26ab