10/6: Republicans Frustrated With GOP’s Handling of Health Care

There is growing dissatisfaction among Americans, especially Republicans, with how members of the GOP in Congress are handling health care reform.

Overall, 78% of Americans, up from 65% in June, disapprove of how the Republicans in Congress are handling health care. Slightly more than one in ten residents nationally, 11%, down from 21% previously, approve, and 10% are unsure.

More than two-thirds of Republicans, 67%, now say they are dissatisfied with how congressional Republicans are dealing with health care reform. This is a marked increase from 36% in June. There has also been an increase in the proportion of Trump supporters who say they are fed up with how the GOP is addressing the issue. 72% of Trump supporters, up from 38% previously, disapprove of how congressional Republicans are handling the issue.

Among Democrats, 92% up slightly from 87% previously, are dissatisfied with Republicans’ performance on health care. 80% of independents, an increase from 72%, also have this view.

“The failure to pass major legislation on health care has dealt a serious blow to congressional Republicans including growing dissatisfaction among their party faithful,” says Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, Director of The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion. “To compound matters, the direction of the Republicans’ efforts to repeal and replace Obamacare ran counter to public opinion.”

Should Congress repeal the Affordable Care Act known as Obamacare? Only 28% of residents nationally want Congress to completely repeal the ACA. A plurality, 42%, want it changed so that it does more, 6% want it amended so that it does less, and 18% want it to remain in its current form.

When this question was last reported in June, 46% of U.S. residents asserted that the scope of the ACA should be broadened, 7% said it should do less, and 17% thought Obamacare should stand as it is. 25%, at that time, thought the law should be repealed.

63% of Republicans, up from 53% in June, think Obamacare should be repealed while 63% of Democrats, little changed from 64%, say health care should be reformed so that it does more.

Complete October 6, 2017 PBS NewsHour/Marist Poll Release of the United States

Complete October 6, 2017 PBS NewsHour/Marist Poll of the United States Results and Methods