Majority of50+MaineVotersOpposeChainedCPI SaySocialSecurityDebateShouldBeSeparatefrom Deficit Discussions

Rightnow,lawmakersinWashingtonareconsideringaproposaltochangethewaycostoflivingadjustmentsare calculatedforbothcurrentandfutureSocialSecuritybeneficiariesandthosereceivingveteransbenefits.The changewouldreduceexpectedincreaseseachyearstartingnowandreductionswouldgrowovertime.The proposal,thesocalledchainedorsuperlativeCPI,wouldalsoaffecthowthetaxcodeisadjustedforinflation, whichwouldtranslateintohighertaxesformosttaxpayers.Theproposalisbeingconsideredaspartofalarger agreementtoreducethedeficit.ThissurveyexaminedMainevotersopinionsonaproposaltoadoptachainedor superlativeCPItoreducethedeficit.ItalsolookedathowfavorabilitywouldbeaffectedtowardsMembersof Congresswhovotedforsuchaproposal.

SurveyFindings
TodaysseniorsshouldnotbeaffectedbychangestoSocialSecurity:Eightyninepercentofvoters50+in MainesayitisveryimportanttothemthatSocialSecuritybenefitsarenotreducedforcurrentseniors(90% Democrat,90%Republican,88%Independent).

NocutstoSocialSecuritytoreducethedeficit:Acrosspartylines,alargemajorityof50+Mainevoters (90%)opposereducingSocialSecuritybenefitsinordertoreducethedeficit(94%Democrat,86%Republican, 91%Independent).Infact,82%stronglyoppose.

Mainevotersage50+saynotothechainedCPI:Voters50+inMaineopposethechainedCPIasawayto reducethebudgetdeficit.

OversevenintenMainevotersage50+(73%)opposechangingthewaytheSocialSecuritycostof livingadjustmentiscalculated(79%Democrat,69%Republican,71%Independent).

Roughlyeightintenvotersage50+inMaine(79%)opposechangingthewaythecostofliving adjustmentiscalculatedforretiredanddisabledveteransbenefits(80%Democrat,80%Republican, 78%Independent). AbouthalfofMainevotersage50+(48%)opposechangingthewaythetaxcodeisadjustedfor inflationtoreducethedeficit(45%Democrat,57%Republican,46%Independent).However,16% saidtheydonotknowiftheysupportoropposethis,indicatingthereislittlepublicunderstandingof howthechainedCPIwouldaffectapersonstaxes.

MainevoterslessfavorabletolawmakerssupportingchainedCPI:SixtyeightpercentofMainevotersage 50+saytheywillbelessfavorabletowardstheirMemberofCongressifheorshevotesforthechainedCPI proposal(69%Democrat,71%Republican,68%Independent).

AlargemajoritysaySocialSecurityshouldbediscussedseparately.Eightyfivepercentof50+votersin MaineagreethatthefutureofSocialSecurityshouldbeconsideredseparatelyfrombudgetreduction discussions(89%Democrat,83%Republican,82%Independent).

Methodology:WoelfelResearch,anindependentresearchfirm,conducted803interviewsofregisteredMainevoters age50+March30throughApril1,2013.Thissurveyhasamarginofsamplingerrorof+/3.5%. 1

ChainedCPISurvey Maine
Sample800RegisteredVotersAge50+ (N=803,samplingerror=+3.5%)

Hello,thisis_________callingfromWoelfelResearch,Inc.,anationalopinionresearchfirm.Wearenottelemarketersand arenottryingtosellyouanything.Wewouldliketofindoutyouropinionsonsomeimportantissues.Yourviewsare importantandwewouldgreatlyappreciateyourparticipation.Allyourresponseswillbekeptentirelyconfidential. S1. Areyouregisteredtovote? Base:TotalRespondents N=803 % 1. Yes 100 2. No 1. Asyoumayknow,differentproposalsarebeingdiscussedinWashingtontoreducethedeficit.Doyousupportoroppose reducingSocialSecuritybenefitsasameanstoreducethedeficit? Base:TotalRespondents N=803 % 1. Stronglysupport 2 2. Somewhatsupport 3 3. Somewhatoppose 7 4. Stronglyoppose 82 5. Dontknow(DONOTREAD) 4 6. Refused(DONOTREAD) 1 2. ManyleadersinWashingtonhavesaidthatanyproposedchangestoSocialSecuritywouldnotaffecttodaysseniors. Howimportantisittoyouthatbenefitsarenotreducedfortodaysseniors? Base:TotalRespondents N=803 % 1. Veryimportant 89 2. Somewhatimportant 7 3. Notveryimportant 1 4. Notatallimportant 1 5. Dontknow(DONOTREAD) 1 <0.5 6. Refused(DONOTREAD) 3. As you may know, Social Security benefit reductions are on the table to address our nations federal budget deficit. Given this, which of the following statements do you agree with more? (READ & ROTATE) Base:TotalRespondents N=803 % 1. ReducingSocialSecuritybenefitsmustbepartofanyagreementinWashingtontoreduce 10 thebudgetdeficit

2.

ThefutureofSocialSecurityshouldbeconsideredseparatelyfromthebudgetdeficit discussions.

85

3. 4.

Dontknow(DONOTREAD) Refused(DONOTREAD)


4. Inordertoreducethedeficit,therehavebeendiscussionsinWashingtonaboutchangingthewaytheannualcostof livingincreaseiscalculatedforfederalprograms.Thischangewouldreducetheexpectedbenefitincreaseeachyearand reductionswouldgrowlargerovertime.TheproposedchangeisoftenreferredtoasachainedorsuperlativeCPI.For eachone,pleasetellmewhetheryouwouldsupportoropposeittoreducethedeficit.(RotateAandB) a. WouldyousupportoropposechangingthewaytheSocialSecuritycostoflivingincreaseiscalculatedwhichwould reducetheannualbenefitincreasethatindividualsreceivefromSocialSecurity?

Base:TotalRespondents

1. Stronglysupport 2. Somewhatsupport 3. Somewhatoppose 4. Stronglyoppose 5. Dontknow(DONOTREAD) 6. Refused(DONOTREAD) b. Wouldyousupportoropposechangingthewaythecostoflivingincreaseiscalculatedforveteransbenefitswhich wouldreducetheannualbenefitincreasethatretiredanddisabledveteransreceive?

N=803 % 6 11 7 66 9 1

Base:TotalRespondents

1. Stronglysupport 2. Somewhatsupport 3. Somewhatoppose 4. Stronglyoppose 5. Dontknow(DONOTREAD) 6. Refused(DONOTREAD) 5. Changingthewayinflationismeasuredwouldalsoaffectthetaxcodewhichwouldincreasetaxesformosttaxpayers. Wouldyousupportoropposechangingthewaythetaxcodeisadjustedforinflationtoreducethedeficit?

N=803 % 5 8 11 68 7 1

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Base:TotalRespondents Stronglysupport Somewhatsupport Somewhatoppose Stronglyoppose Dontknow(DONOTREAD) Refused(DONOTREAD)

N=803 % 14 20 10 38 16 1

6. WouldyoubemoreorlessfavorabletowardsyourMemberofCongressiftheyvotedforachainedorsuperlativeCPI whichwouldreducetheannualcostoflivingincreaseforSocialSecurityandveteransbenefits?Wouldyoube

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Base:TotalRespondents Muchmorefavorable Somewhatmorefavorable Noimpactonopinion(VOLUNTARY) Somewhatlessfavorable Muchlessfavorable Dontknow(DONOTREAD) Refused(DONOTREAD)

N=803 % 5 15 5 17 51 6 2


DEMOGRAPHICS NowIdliketoaskyouafewquestionsforstatisticalpurposesonly. D1.Whatisyourageasofyourlastbirthday?[RECORDINYEARS] Base:TotalRespondents N=803 % 61 1. 5064 24 2. 6574 3. 75+ 15 D2.RecordGender Base:TotalRespondents N=803 % 1. Male 47 2. Female 53 D3.Doyouconsideryourself?(ROTATEFIRSTTWO) Base:TotalRespondents N=803 % 1. Democrat 34 2. Republican 23 3. Independent 34 4. Noneoftheabove 6 5. Dontknow <0.5 2 6. Refused

Note:Annotationnumbersmaydifferfromreportnumbersbyonepercentagepointduetorounding.

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