Majorities Oppose Cuts in Spending for Education, Science, Defense Disapprove
Majorities also oppose reducing military defense spending (56%) and funding for scientific research (54%). Opinion is divided over reducing funding to help low-income Americans (50% disapprove vs. 43% approve).
There also is resistance to making changes in Social Security and Medicare to reduce the debt and deficit: 57% oppose raising the amount Medicare recipients contribute to their health care, while 56% disapprove of gradually raising the Social Security retirement age. About as many disapprove (47%) as approve (49%) of reducing Medicare benefits for higher-income seniors.
Majorities Oppose Cuts in Spending for Education, Science, Defense  | Disapprove  | Approve  | Raise tax rate on income over $250 000  | 29  | 64  | Limit tax deductions forlarge corporations  | 34  | 58  | Reduce Medicare benefits for -higher income seniors  | 49  | 47  | Limit deduction for mortgage interest  | 44  | 47  | 44  | Raise the tax on investment income  | 49  | Reduce funding for programs to help low income  | 50  | 43  | Gradually raise age for Social Security  | 41  | 56  | Reduce military defense spending  | 40  | 56  | Reduce funding for scientific research  | 54  | 38  | 57  | Raise contributions to Medicare for health care  | 35  | Reduce federal funding for college student loans  | 61  | 34  | Reduce federal funding for educa tion  | 75  | 22  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER Oct, 4-7, 2012 Based on general public. 