Virginia Poll Shows Farm Subsidy Cuts and More Conservation Spending Would Improve Public's View of Congress
- Two out of three (66%) poll respondents disapprove of the overall job that Congress has been doing in 2007.
- Almost two out of three (62%) poll respondents would have a more favorable opinion of Congress if it passed a Farm Bill that substantially increases funding for cleaner water; protects wildlife; preserves farmland; and conserves soil.
- About two out of three (64%) poll respondents said that current farm subsidy spending is ‘somewhat’ or ‘way too much.’ Respondents were told that the Congressional Budget Office estimates that farm subsidies will cost a minimum of $40 billion in the next five years under an extension of the current Farm Bill. Similar subsidy spending would occur under the bill passed by the House of Representatives.
- More than seven out of 10 (73%) poll respondents said they prefer reducing farm subsidies over tax increases or spending that increases the budget deficit to obtain more money to help farmers make our rivers, streams, lakes and bays cleaner; protect wildlife; and conserve soil.
- Almost eight out of 10 (79%) of poll respondents agree that their U.S. senators should support a Farm Bill that shifts money from farm subsidies and invests it in programs that help farmers make our rivers, streams, lakes and bays cleaner; promote a healthier food supply; and produce renewable energy that could reduce our reliance on foreign oil.
- Almost eight out of 10 (78%) poll respondents would have a more favorable opinion of Congress if it passed a Farm Bill that prevents people and corporations with million dollar incomes from receiving farm subsidy payments. The House-passed Farm Bill allows farmers and farming corporations with adjusted gross incomes of up to $1 million and farmer couples with adjusted gross incomes of up to $2 million to receive subsidy payments.
The sample size of the online interactive poll was 694 adults. The poll’s margin of error is +/- 3.8 percentage points. For information about the methodology and reliability of Zogby’s online polls, visit: http://interactive.zogby.com/
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