Public Notice http://thepublicnotice.org Tue, 21 May 2013 16:37:58 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 NEW POLL: Majority of Americans Support Prioritizing Debt Payments http://thepublicnotice.org/posts/new-poll-majority-of-americans-support-prioritizing-debt-payments/ http://thepublicnotice.org/posts/new-poll-majority-of-americans-support-prioritizing-debt-payments/#comments Wed, 08 May 2013 13:41:33 +0000 Messaging http://thepublicnotice.org/?p=2055 ]]> Media Contact: Public Notice Press Office | Press@ThePublicNotice.org | 571.970.6490

NEW POLL: MAJORITY OF AMERICANS SUPPORT PRIORITIZING DEBT PAYMENTS

Arlington, Va. – Public Notice today released the results of a national survey on prioritizing debt payments in the event Congress fails to reach a debt ceiling compromise in the coming months.  The survey was conducted by The Tarrance Group via telephone and 25 percent via cellphone from Apr. 14 – Apr. 17. , 2013, among N=819 registered “likely” voters nationwide with a margin of error of +/– 3.5%. A majority (55 percent) support requiring the government to pay the principal and interest on the debt before it pays for any other government expenses.  Support for the proposal is strong among Republicans (65%) and Independents (53%), while Democratic voters are split evenly between favor (46%) and oppose (47%).

Poll Memo Bar Graph

Click Here to read the full polling memo.  

Public Notice is an independent, nonpartisan, non-profit, 501(c)(4) organization dedicated to providing the facts and insights on the effects public policy has on Americans’ financial well-being.

poll_66_thumb]]> http://thepublicnotice.org/posts/new-poll-majority-of-americans-support-prioritizing-debt-payments/feed/ 0 NEW POLL: Majority of Americans Want Spending & Taxes Cut To Balance Budget http://thepublicnotice.org/posts/new-poll-majority-of-americans-want-spending-and-taxes-cut-to-balance-budget/ http://thepublicnotice.org/posts/new-poll-majority-of-americans-want-spending-and-taxes-cut-to-balance-budget/#comments Mon, 22 Apr 2013 14:00:33 +0000 Messaging http://thepublicnotice.org/?p=1998 ]]> Media Contact: Public Notice Press Office | Press@ThePublicNotice.org | 571.970.6490

NEW POLL: MAJORITY OF AMERICANS WANT SPENDING AND TAXES CUT TO BALANCE BUDGET

Arlington, Va. – Public Notice today released the results of a national survey on federal spending and economic issues conducted by The Tarrance Group via telephone and 25 percent via cellphone from Apr. 14 – Apr. 17, 2013, among N=819 registered “likely” voters nationwide with a margin of error of +/– 3.5%.  The survey found that with serious fiscal battles ahead, the significant majority of Americans believe the best way to improve the economy is for Washington to cut spending, cut taxes and balance the budget. The results show that the economy and government spending remain top concerns for voters. Two-thirds of Americans (66 percent) believe the federal government should cut spending and 62 percent believe taxes should also be lowered to create jobs and grow the economy. A significant majority (70 percent) also believes that a balanced budget would help the nation’s economy. In the wake of the sequester, more than 60 percent of Americans still say the first thing Washington should do is find more spending to cut.  This included a majority of Independent voters (63 percent) and a plurality of Democrats (40 percent). An overwhelming 73 percent said that any agreement to raise the debt ceiling should also require spending cuts. The survey also found that most voters (54 percent) disagree with President Obama when he says that “there’s not a lot of smoke and mirrors” in his budget. In fact, when breaking down this question, women and young voters were the most likely to disagree at 57 and 55 percent, respectively. Gretchen Hamel, executive director of Public Notice, issued the following statement regarding the poll:

“The problem in Washington isn’t from a lack of revenue. It’s a matter of spending too much and wasting taxpayer funds while crippling the economy with debt. Americans agree: Let people keep more of their money, and the economy will grow. Voters are tired of smoke and mirrors and are tuning out the rhetoric. They want a responsible path toward growth, which entails cutting spending, lowering taxes and balancing the budget. Even after the sequester and the fear mongering leading up to the sequester, Americans believe the government can cut more, and it’s time lawmakers took them seriously.”

Key Findings: A strong majority favors both cutting spending (66 percent) and cutting taxes (62 percent) when presented with both options for growing the economy.

 -A majority of Republicans (86 percent) and a plurality of Democrats (47 percent) say cutting spending would do more for the economy.

-A vast majority of voters (70 percent) expressed support for a balanced budget, saying it would help the economy.

 -Fifty-four percent of voters disagree with the president’s statement that “there’s not a lot of smoke and mirrors” in his budget. Fifty-seven percent of those who disagreed were young voters, and 55 percent were women.

 -Even after the sequester spending cuts, a strong majority (61 percent) of voters say the government should cut more spending.

 -A vast majority (73 percent) of voters say that if Congress increases the debt limit, then Congress should also require the government to cut spending.

 Click here to read the full polling memo. Click here to see poll addendum.

Public Notice is an independent, nonpartisan, non-profit, 501(c)(4) organization dedicated to providing the facts and insights on the effects public policy has on Americans’ financial well-being

62 Percent of People Say Thumbnail]]> http://thepublicnotice.org/posts/new-poll-majority-of-americans-want-spending-and-taxes-cut-to-balance-budget/feed/ 0 The Hill: New Ad Promotes Flexibility in Sequestration Cuts http://thepublicnotice.org/posts/the-hill-new-ad-promotes-flexibility-in-sequestration-cuts/ http://thepublicnotice.org/posts/the-hill-new-ad-promotes-flexibility-in-sequestration-cuts/#comments Tue, 05 Mar 2013 16:39:07 +0000 Messaging http://thepublicnotice.org/?p=1917 ]]> New Ad Promotes Flexibility in Sequestration Cuts By Alexandra Jaffe As seen in The Hill A group supporting deficit reduction is launching a national advertising campaign targeting President Obama’s opposition to the across-the-board budget cuts known as sequestration that began on March 1. Public Notice, which bills itself as “an independent non-profit dedicated to providing facts and insight on the economy and how government policy affects Americans’ financial well-being” and is lead by former George W. Bush aide Gretchen Hamel, is putting six figures behind the ad. It will run for a week and a half on cable and online. … The ad frames sequestration as amounting to “three cents out of every dollar Washington spends.”… Click here for the full article.thumb2]]> http://thepublicnotice.org/posts/the-hill-new-ad-promotes-flexibility-in-sequestration-cuts/feed/ 0 The Washington Post: New Ad Hits Obama’s Claim That Sequester is a ‘Meat Cleaver Approach’ http://thepublicnotice.org/posts/the-washington-post-new-ad-hits-obama%e2%80%99s-claim-that-sequester-is-a-%e2%80%98meat-cleaver-approach%e2%80%99/ http://thepublicnotice.org/posts/the-washington-post-new-ad-hits-obama%e2%80%99s-claim-that-sequester-is-a-%e2%80%98meat-cleaver-approach%e2%80%99/#comments Mon, 04 Mar 2013 16:28:14 +0000 Messaging http://thepublicnotice.org/?p=1910 ]]> New Ad Hits Obama’s Claim That Sequester is a ‘Meat Cleaver Approach’ By Aaron Blake As seen in The Washington Post  A new ad from a deficit reduction group takes on President Obama’s claims that the sequester represents a “meat cleaver approach” to cutting the deficit, noting that it eliminates just 3 percent of the government’s budget. The ad, which will officially be released Tuesday, is called “Three Pennies” and is being run by the group Public Notice, which was founded by a former top aide to President George W. Bush, Gretchen Hamel. It will run for a week and a half on cable and online… “Americans have made tough choices and cut back; Washington refuses,” the ad says. “Call Washington. Ask them why it’s so hard to cut spending.”… Click here to read the full article.thumb1]]> http://thepublicnotice.org/posts/the-washington-post-new-ad-hits-obama%e2%80%99s-claim-that-sequester-is-a-%e2%80%98meat-cleaver-approach%e2%80%99/feed/ 0 New Poll: Majority of Americans Disagree with President on Spending http://thepublicnotice.org/posts/new-poll-majority-of-americans-disagree-with-president-on-spending/ http://thepublicnotice.org/posts/new-poll-majority-of-americans-disagree-with-president-on-spending/#comments Fri, 18 Jan 2013 20:52:41 +0000 Messaging http://thepublicnotice.org/?p=1849 ]]> For Immediate Release: January 18, 2013 Media Contact: Press Office | Press@ThePublicNotice.org | 571.970.6490

NEW POLL: MAJORITY OF AMERICANS DISAGREE WITH PRESIDENT ON SPENDING

More Americans Trust Oprah Than Government with Their Money 

Arlington, Va. – Public Notice today released the results of a national survey on federal spending, the debt and the recent fiscal cliff deal. The survey was conducted by The Tarrance Group via telephone and 25% via cellphone from Jan. 13 – Jan. 16. , 2013, among N=805 registered “likely” voters nationwide with a margin of error of +/– 3.5%. The results show that the vast majority of Americans (74 percent) believe the federal government spends too much, and the same percentage (74) disagree with President Obama’s statement that “We don’t have spending problem.” In fact, 79 percent of those surveyed say that overspending is a bigger problem for our economy than generating new revenue, while spending and deficits were tied with jobs (29 percent) as their top concern. Soaring debt and deficits, along with more than three years without a budget, also seemed to have eroded trust in the government’s ability to manage money. By a margin of more than two-to-one (52 percent), Americans would prefer Oprah Winfrey to handle their budget instead of Washington (22 percent). And a majority (56 percent) say it is extremely or very important that President Obama call for specific spending cuts in his upcoming Inaugural address. Gretchen Hamel, executive director of Public Notice, issued the following statement regarding the poll:

“The reason that spending and deficits are once again a top issue is because Americans recognize that it's not only hurting our overall economy, but it's also having a direct impact on their own personal finances. The idea that we don't have a spending problem is out of step with nearly three-quarters of those surveyed and it's that view in Washington that is eroding public trust in the federal government’s ability to manage a budget. Americans trust Oprah over Washington to handle their family finances by a more than two-to-one margin; it's time for our leaders to come clean about their addiction to spending."

Key Findings:

- Spending and the federal deficit are tied with jobs and the economy as the top concern on people’s minds (29 percent).  The next top concern is education at 11 percent.

-74 percent disagree and 22 percent agree with President Obama’s statement that “We don’t have a spending problem.”  In fact, 56 percent say it is extremely or very important that President Obama call for specific spending cuts in his upcoming Inaugural address.

-Voters also distrust the government’s ability to handle money.  A majority (52 percent) would trust Oprah Winfrey over the federal government (22 percent) to set and manage their family’s budget.

-Pessimism remains high among voters, as 57 percent say things in the country are on the wrong track.  Just 37 percent say things are moving in the right direction.  On the economy specifically, just 27% say it is getting better.  A plurality (39 percent) believe the economy is getting worse, and one third (33 percent) say it is staying the same.

Click here to read the full polling memo.   

To schedule an interview, please contact The Public Notice Press Office at (571) 970-6490 or e-mail Press@ThePublicNotice.org. 

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Public Notice is an independent, nonpartisan, non-profit, 501(c)(4) organization dedicated to providing the facts and insights on the effects public policy has on Americans’ financial well-being.

money1-e1264801769743]]> http://thepublicnotice.org/posts/new-poll-majority-of-americans-disagree-with-president-on-spending/feed/ 0 Buzzfeed: Poll: Majority Want Obama To Lay Out Spending Cuts In Inaugural Address http://thepublicnotice.org/posts/poll-majority-want-obama-to-lay-out-spending-cuts-in-inaugural-address/ http://thepublicnotice.org/posts/poll-majority-want-obama-to-lay-out-spending-cuts-in-inaugural-address/#comments Fri, 18 Jan 2013 15:32:00 +0000 Messaging http://thepublicnotice.org/?p=1861 ]]> Poll: Majority Want Obama To Lay Out Spending Cuts In Inaugural Address By Zeke Miller As seen on Buzzfeed A new poll released by the non-partisan fiscal conservative group The Public Notice finds that a majority of Americans want Obama to lay out specific spending cuts in his second Inaugural address Monday. The poll, conducted by the GOP pollster The Tarrance Group, finds nearly three in four Americans disagree with the statement Obama reportedly made to Speaker of the House John Boehner that "We don't have a spending problem." 56 percent of Americans want Obama to lay out cuts in his remarks this weekend. Jobs and the economy and spending and the deficit are tied for the most important issue on the minds of Americans… The poll also found that a majority of Americans would rather have Oprah manage their money than the federal government … Click here for the full article.

Public Notice is an independent, nonpartisan, non-profit, 501(c)(4) organization dedicated to providing the facts and insights on the effects public policy has on Americans’ financial well-being.

 PN-thumb1]]> http://thepublicnotice.org/posts/poll-majority-want-obama-to-lay-out-spending-cuts-in-inaugural-address/feed/ 0 Rove: A GOP Strategy for the Debt-Ceiling Fight http://thepublicnotice.org/posts/rove-a-gop-strategy-for-the-debt-ceiling-fight/ http://thepublicnotice.org/posts/rove-a-gop-strategy-for-the-debt-ceiling-fight/#comments Wed, 09 Jan 2013 19:27:41 +0000 Messaging http://thepublicnotice.org/?p=1829 ]]> Rove: A GOP Strategy for the Debt-Ceiling Fight By Karl Rove As seen in the Wall Street Journal ... Mr. Obama's use of straw-man arguments to misrepresent the GOP's position became tiresome long ago. He does this in part because he can get away with it, thanks to a compliant press corps. His reliance on the tactic may also spring from his recognition that he has a weak case and cannot win the argument otherwise. For their part, Republicans finally appear reasonably united around something practical and reasonable—the "Boehner Rule," named after its author. It requires matching any debt increase dollar for dollar with spending cuts. Here, the GOP will likely find wide public support. For example, in December 2012 76% of respondents in a Battleground Poll favored across-the-board spending cuts and 73% in a Rasmussen survey believed government should cut spending rather than increase it. In a September 2012 Public Notice Poll, 74% did not believe federal spending has helped the economy, while 86% said it has not helped their own personal situation.

The GOP congressional leadership is right to say that they will not negotiate in private with Mr. Obama, and that tax increases are not on the table, especially after the president received $620 billion in new taxes to end the "fiscal cliff" crisis.

Click here to read the full articleshiney$$_crop]]> http://thepublicnotice.org/posts/rove-a-gop-strategy-for-the-debt-ceiling-fight/feed/ 0 Twelve Years Ago We Had No Deficit and No iPods http://thepublicnotice.org/posts/twelve-years-ago-we-had-no-deficit-and-no-ipods/ http://thepublicnotice.org/posts/twelve-years-ago-we-had-no-deficit-and-no-ipods/#comments Sat, 15 Dec 2012 21:56:48 +0000 admin http://thepublicnotice.org/?p=1802 ]]> Twelve Years Ago We Had No Deficit and No IPods. By Gretchen Hamel As seen in POLITICO'S Arena Upon hearing the Treasury Department’s announcement of another deficit for the month of November and its projection that we’re on track for our fifth straight year of a trillion dollar budget deficit, I took a trip down memory lane. … It’s hard enough to believe it’s been four years since Washington passed a budget, and harder still to comprehend that that the last budget surplus was eleven years ago. ... So the last time there was a surplus, a morning jog while listening to Justin Bieber on an iPod was impossible. … Many often use the 2001 budget surplus as a political tool to call for higher taxes. … But what everyone overlooks is how much less we were spending in 2001 compared to now. In fiscal year 2012 we took in $2.45 trillion in tax revenue, compared to $2.6 trillion we brought in fiscal year 2001, after adjusting for inflation. However, if you look at spending, you can see where the problem lies. We spent $2.43 trillion in 2001 (adjusted for inflation) and spent an unreal $3.5 trillion last year. As our tax revenue has remained fairly steady when counting inflation, the spending is out of control. ... As the fiscal cliff negotiations continue … we know some things to be certain: Leaders on both sides have acknowledged spending cuts must be tackled. … But is it fair to put forth a plan that demands Clinton-era tax rates without Clinton-era spending? Had spending remained the same as in 2001, with current tax rates, we would still have a surplus. Instead we have had four straight years of trillion dollar deficits. Click here to read the op-ed.budget]]> http://thepublicnotice.org/posts/twelve-years-ago-we-had-no-deficit-and-no-ipods/feed/ 0 Bankrupting America Launches Mobile App http://thepublicnotice.org/posts/bankrupting-america-launches-mobile-app/ http://thepublicnotice.org/posts/bankrupting-america-launches-mobile-app/#comments Thu, 06 Dec 2012 19:15:09 +0000 admin http://thepublicnotice.org/?p=1789 ]]> BANKRUPTING AMERICA LAUNCHES MOBILE APP

New App Empowers Users To Spotlight Wasteful Spending

Arlington, Va. - Bankrupting America, a project of Public Notice, today announced its official mobile app, now available for iOS devices in Apple’s App Store. The new Bankrupting America app creates a personalized experience for Americans concerned with fiscal responsibility and empowers users to highlight examples of wasteful spending in their communities.

Utilizing the geo-location function on iOS devices, the app geographically targets users’ newsfeeds to ensure they are informed of the latest national and local news on government spending and budget issues. The app also provides mobile-ready access to all of Bankrupting America’s great products including infographics, videos and briefing books. But the app is not just a news or product aggregator. The most unique feature allows users to upload photos or video of wasteful spending examples in their communities. Bankrupting America will share this content with our supporters in an effort to bring more pressure to bear on government to spend responsibly at the national, state and local level. Gretchen Hamel, executive director of Public Notice, issued the following statement on Bankrupting America’s official mobile app: “Since its launch, Bankrupting America has worked toward two goals: educating Americans on fiscal issues and urging Washington to spend responsibly. This app will keep our supporters informed while empowering them to take action against wasteful government spending in their communities. By facilitating a two-way flow of information, Bankrupting America will energize Americans to be active participants in the national conversation on spending rather than passive observers.”

Click here to download the new Bankrupting America mobile app.

To schedule an interview, please contact The Public Notice Press Office at (571) 970-6490 or e-mail Press@ThePublicNotice.org 

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BankruptingAmerica.org is an educational project of Public Notice, an independent, nonpartisan, non-profit, 501(c)(4) organization dedicated to providing facts and insight on the effects public policy has on Americans’ financial well-being.

PNthumb_BAapp]]> http://thepublicnotice.org/posts/bankrupting-america-launches-mobile-app/feed/ 0 Thomas Fitzgerald: The Norquists of the Left http://thepublicnotice.org/posts/thomas-fitzgerald-the-norquists-of-the-left/ http://thepublicnotice.org/posts/thomas-fitzgerald-the-norquists-of-the-left/#comments Mon, 03 Dec 2012 17:01:57 +0000 admin http://thepublicnotice.org/?p=1764 ]]> Thomas Fitzgerald: The Norquists of the Left  By Thomas Fitzgerald As seen in The Philadelphia Inquirer  In a cartoon ricocheting around the Web, the conservative antitax crusader Grover Norquist is depicted as the disembodied head of the Wizard of Oz – a green, glowering face floating above Republican politicians bowing in reverence, the entire scene lit by votive torches. It’s a mad, maniacal image of the man the left, some Democratic members of Congress, and even former Republican Sen. Alan Simpson blame for bringing the United States to the brink of fiscal disaster. They say Norquist’s power – stemming from an ironclad “no tax” pledge most GOP lawmakers have signed – has all but ruled out rational discussion and compromise. But intransigence cuts both ways, and Democrats have their own Grovers. Elements of organized labor, the AARP, and various grassroots pressure groups have declared that Medicare, Social Security, and Medicaid, the largest and fastest-growing federal programs, are sacrosanct and cannot be cut as part of any fiscal deal. They don’t have a single symbolic figure as well-known as Norquist. And unlike Norquist, they don’t have written pledges from pols, each co-signed by two witnesses and stored in a fireproof vault. But the message is clear: No cuts. For instance, the National Education Association, AFSCME, and SEIU have launched radio and television ads aimed both at moderate Democratic senators who might be tempted to deal, in Missouri, Virginia, and Colorado, and at Republican House members in competitive districts – including Pat Meehan and Mike Fitzpatrick of suburban Philadelphia. “It’s unhelpful for either side, Democrat or Republican, to say that something is completely off the table,” said Lenwood Brook, policy director of Public Notice, a nonprofit advocacy group pushing to reduce the deficit and debt. “At the same time, no tax increase out there is going to be capable of solving a $1 trillion deficit. You need spending cuts.” Click here to read the full article.Petition_PNthumb]]> http://thepublicnotice.org/posts/thomas-fitzgerald-the-norquists-of-the-left/feed/ 0