Source: Health Care in the 1998 Congressional Election: November 1998 Priority Level

Now, I am going to read you a list of some different things the President (Bill Clinton) and the new Congress might try to do in the next year. As I read each one, tell me if you think it should be one of their top priorities, important but a lower priority, not too important, or should not be done.

Passing laws to make Social Security financially sound80%  A top priority15   Important but lower priority2    Not too important2    Should not be done1    Don’t know/Refused

Passing laws to make Medicare financially sound73%  A top priority21   Important but lower priority3    Not too important1    Should not be done2    Don’t know/Refused

Passing laws to help uninsured Americans get health insurance61%  A top priority28   Important but lower priority5    Not too important4    Should not be done2    Don’t know/Refused

Passing a law setting federal education standards for public schools nationwide55%  A top priority24   Important but lower priority7    Not too important11   Should not be done3    Don’t know/Refused

Passing HMO and managed care reform54%  A top priority27   Important but lower priority9    Not too important4    Should not be done6    Don’t know/Refused

Cutting taxes50%  A top priority33   Important but lower priority11   Not too important5    Should not be done1    Don’t know/Refused

Passing tougher gun control laws41%  A top priority27   Important but lower priority11   Not too important19   Should not be done2    Don’t know/Refused

Passing a law to ban late-term or ‘partial birth’ abortions39%  A top priority22   Important but lower priority11   Not too important23   Should not be done5    Don’t know/Refused

Passing stricter environmental regulations37%  A top priority43   Important but lower priority12   Not too important6    Should not be done2    Don’t know/Refused

Passing anti-tobacco laws to reduce teen smoking34%  A top priority33   Important but lower priority16   Not too important16   Should not be done1    Don’t know/Refused

Survey by Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Harvard School of Public Health. Methodology: Fieldwork conducted by telephone by Princeton Survey Research Associates with 1,501 adults nationwide, 18 years and older, including 751 voters in the November election, between November 4 and December 6, 1998.