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 sound
80%  A top priority
15   Important but lower priority
2    Not too important
2    Should not be done
1    Don't know/Refused

Passing laws to make Medicare financially sound
73%  A top priority
21   Important but lower priority
3    Not too important
1    Should not be done
2    Don't know/Refused

Passing laws to help uninsured Americans get health insurance
61%  A top priority
28   Important but lower priority
5    Not too important
4    Should not be done
2    Don't know/Refused

Passing a law setting federal education standards for public schools nationwide
55%  A top priority
24   Important but lower priority
7    Not too important
11   Should not be done
3    Don't know/Refused

Passing HMO and managed care reform
54%  A top priority
27   Important but lower priority
9    Not too important
4    Should not be done
6    Don't know/Refused

Cutting taxes
50%  A top priority
33   Important but lower priority
11   Not too important
5    Should not be done
1    Don't know/Refused

Passing tougher gun control laws
41%  A top priority
27   Important but lower priority
11   Not too important
19   Should not be done
2    Don't know/Refused

Passing a law to ban late-term or 'partial birth' abortions
39%  A top priority
22   Important but lower priority
11   Not too important
23   Should not be done
5    Don't know/Refused

Passing stricter environmental regulations
37%  A top priority
43   Important but lower priority
12   Not too important
6    Should not be done
2    Don't know/Refused

Passing anti-tobacco laws to reduce teen smoking
34%  A top priority
33   Important but lower priority
16   Not too important
16   Should not be done
1    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.