The Hill Poll: GOP seen as more reasonable in spending-cut debate

A plurality of likely voters believes Republicans have been more reasonable than Democrats in the negotiations over spending cuts.

A new poll conducted for The Hill showed 41 percent polled said the GOP had been “more reasonable,” while 29 percent said Democrats had been more sensible. Twenty-two percent said neither party was more reasonable than the other, and 7 percent were not sure.

But the survey also found that, despite the favorable view of Republicans’ tactics, respondents said it wouldn’t change their votes from last year.

Forty-five percent of respondents said they voted for a Republican last November, and 47 percent said they would do so if the election were held now. Forty percent of respondents said they voted for a Democrat, and 42 percent said they would do so now, according to the March 31 survey of 1,000 likely voters.

Congress has been passing short-term funding bills as both parties seek a compromise on a budget for the remainder of this fiscal year.

Republicans, led by House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, have been pushing for $61 billion in spending cuts for the rest of the fiscal year. The White House and Senate Democrats have made a counter-offer to cut $20 billion from 2010 spending levels on top of the $10 billion already cut by two short-term continuing resolutions enacted this month. 

The poll was conducted March 31 for The Hill by Pulse Opinion Research and has a margin of error of 3 percent.

Erik Wasson contributed reporting.