IWV and the polling company(TM)/ WomanTrend Health Care Poll: 60% of Voters in Swing Districts Say Start Over or Stop Working on Health Care Altogether

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Mar 15, 2010, 11:00 ET

WASHINGTON, March 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Independent Women's Voice (IWV) and the polling company™/ WomanTrend release their latest poll today - a survey of voters' attitudes in 35 swing congressional districts regarding the health care plan being debated in Washington, D.C. The full poll will be posted on the IWV website (www.iwvoices.org) at 11am ET.

Congressional districts surveyed include: AR-01, AR-04, AZ-08, CA-18, CO-03, CO-04, IL-14, IN-08, IN-09, KY-06, MI-07, NC-07, NC-11, ND-At Large, NJ-03, NM-02, NV-03, NY-24, NY-20, OH-01, OH-06, OH-15, OH-16, OH-18, PA-03, PA-04, PA-08, PA-10, TN-06, TX-17, VA-02, VA-05, VA-09, WA-03, WI-08.

National polls don't capture the demographics or sentiment of these districts. Respondents from these districts self-identify as 40% Republican v. 32% Democrat, 90% have insurance, 71% are married, and 48% self-identify as conservative. They have paid attention to the heath care debate (73% saw at least some of the summit) – and 55% say that what they've seen and heard lately have left them less supportive of the legislation, while 60% say "start over with a bipartisan plan" or "stop working on health care altogether."

Indeed, they massively reject the individual aspects of health care reform. Many national polls have only asked about BENEFITS PROVIDED BY THE PLAN without asking about the costs and consequences they entail. That's like asking how many kids want ice cream at recess, without mentioning that their allowance for the year will be taken in exchange and the principal gets to choose the flavor. This poll put the individual aspects in context.

Most important, critical masses of voters say they will actually support their Member of Congress this November if that Member opposes the bill. Voters will hold Members accountable for process as well as content: 63% don't think a Member should vote for a reconciliation package unless they mean for the Senate bill, as is, to become law.

Nearly seven in ten voters also feel that health care is distracting Congress from bigger priorities, like jobs.

Independent Women's Voice is a 501(c) (4) nonpartisan, nonprofit organization for women, men and families. IWV is dedicated to promoting limited government, free markets, and personal responsibility.