Voters Don’t Want a Shutdown, They Want Action on the National Debt Instead
Congress faces a September 30 deadline to find agreement on a budget and avert a government shutdown. A vast majority of voters is urging them to come together to find a solution.
A new Peterson Foundation poll shows that nine-in-ten Americans want policymakers to work together to avoid a shutdown and focus on implementing solutions to our growing national debt. Strong majorities of voters across party lines believe a shutdown should be avoided because it harms the economy (77%) and because it distracts from America’s larger fiscal challenges (70%).
As Foundation CEO Michael Peterson said, “Nobody wins in a government shutdown, especially our economy and the American people.”
See the below infographic for further details on this new polling.
Further Reading
Infographic: The Facts About U.S. Defense Spending
National security is both a vital priority and a significant part of the federal budget.
What Is Budget Reconciliation?
The reconciliation process avoids the potential need to gather 60 votes to end debate and, therefore, allows the Senate to adopt legislation with a simple majority.
Budget Basics: National Defense
The national defense budget funds a wide range of activities and represents a significant share of overall federal spending.