The Contraception Mandate and Religious Liberty
On Feb. 1, 2013, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proposed new rules that would exempt certain religious organizations from a new mandate to offer free contraception services to women employees.
Generation Gap Influences Views on Budget Tradeoffs
The record generation gap evident in the last two presidential elections is echoed by large differences by age in attitudes about the tradeoff between reducing the federal deficit and preserving entitlements for older adults.
A Bipartisan Nation of Beneficiaries
A majority of Americans, both Democrat and Republican, have received government benefits from one of the six best-known federal entitlement programs.
Medicare Voucher Plan Remains Unpopular
A proposal to shift Medicare to a voucher system, part of a Paul Ryan plan approved by the House last year, remains unpopular. Both Ryan and Democrat Joe Biden get negative marks as vice presidential candidates.
Older Americans Have Been Highly Resistant to Medicare Changes
Older Americans are wary of changes to Medicare than are younger people. They are more positive about the way the program operates, less apt to think that changes are needed and far less disposed towards Paul Ryan’s proposal to reshape Medicare.
Obama Holds Lead; Romney Trails on Most Issues
Despite the stagnant economy and broad dissatisfaction with national conditions, Barack Obama holds a significant lead over Mitt Romney. Obama is favored by a 50% to 43% margin among registered voters. Romney loses ground on issue of which candidate can best improve the economy.
Division, Uncertainty Over Court’s Health Care Ruling
The American public is divided over the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision upholding the 2010 health care law – 40% disapprove of the decision, while 36% approve. Nearly a quarter (24%) offer no opinion. And despite extensive public interest in the ruling, just 55% know that the Supreme Court upheld most of the law’s provisions.
The 10 Largest Hispanic Origin Groups: Characteristics, Rankings, Top Counties
A new tabulation of government data by the Pew Hispanic Center provides details on the ten largest groups that make up the 50.7 million Hispanics living in the U.S.
Health Care News Coverage Wanes; Opponents Won the ‘Messaging’ War
Health care reform largely disappeared as a subject in the American news media as it wended its way through the legal system to the Supreme Court. But during the the political battle over the legislation, opponents of the reform won the so-called “messaging war” in the coverage.
Any Court Health Care Decision Unlikely to Please
The public is unlikely to be satisfied with the Supreme Court’s upcoming ruling on the 2010 Affordable Care Act – no matter what the Court decides.
