---
title: "Clinton Ratings Hold: Balanced Budget A Public Priority, But Few See Personal Payoff"
description: "Introduction and Summary Age and income make a difference in the perceived impact of a balanced budget and changes to Medicare. A majority of Americans with family incomes of $75,000 or more think they will be helped personally by a balanced budget, while smaller percentages of middle and lower income people foresee a personal payoff. […]"
date: "1996-01-18"
authors:
  - name: "Pew Research Center"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/1996/01/18/clinton-ratings-hold-balanced-budget-a-public-priority-but-few-see-personal-payoff/"
categories:
  - "Economic Policy"
datasets:
  - name: "February 1997 Media Study"
    url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/dataset/february-1997-media-study/"
---

# Clinton Ratings Hold: Balanced Budget A Public Priority, But Few See Personal Payoff

## Introduction and Summary

Age and income make a difference in the perceived impact of a balanced budget and changes to Medicare. A majority of Americans with family incomes of $75,000 or more think they will be helped personally by a balanced budget, while smaller percentages of middle and lower income people foresee a personal payoff. A majority of Americans 65 years and older think they will be hurt by the proposed Medicare changes, and most seniors see little personal financial benefit in a balanced budget. The political consequences of these perceptions are striking. Those who think a balanced budget agreement is very important and believe that it will provide a personal payoff support the GOP in the budget dispute. In contrast, among those who see deficit reduction as important yet not personally enriching, support for the President's approach prevails.

Nonetheless, a balanced budget is still largely a Republican issue. The poll finds that more Americans will credit the GOP (47%) than the President (31%) if a balanced budget plan is passed. However, if no deal is reached, the President will be blamed by as many (39%) as will fault Republican leaders (40%). The survey found no change since the summer in the percentage of Americans thinking that balancing the budget is very important (62%), and it observed a slight increase in the number feeling that Medicare faces serious problems in the future (56%, up from 52%).

The survey also reflected little change in basic political attitudes. Clinton's approval rating remained at 50% -- about where it has been since the budget showdown. Only about one-in-three approved of the plans and policies of GOP leaders (36%), which is also unchanged since the last Center for The People & The Press survey ("Voter Anxiety Dividing GOP; Energized Dems Backing Clinton." Times Mirror Center for The People & The Press, November 14, 1995. Washington, DC.) Voters continue to divide evenly between those inclined to support Republican (46%) and Democratic candidates (47%) for the House next fall. Echoing this, 47% report they are happy that the GOP took control of Congress in the midterm elections, while almost as many (43%) say they are now unhappy about this.

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**Next:** [Other Important Findings](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/1996/01/18/other-important-findings-16.md)