Most think GOP tax bill will help wealthy, harm the poor: Survey

Most Americans think President Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” which he signed into law July 4, will help those who are wealthy and harm those who are poor, according to a survey released Friday morning. 

The new Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll found 64 percent of U.S. adults surveyed said the Republican-led tax and spending bill will do "more to help" wealthy people. On the flip side, 7 percent said it would do more to hurt them, while 27 percent said it would not make a difference. 

Just more than a quarter, 26 percent, said the bill would benefit middle-class people. Just more than half, 51 percent, said it would hurt them, while 22 percent said it would not make a difference, according to the survey. 

Similarly, 24 percent of respondents argued the legislation would do more to help “people like you,” while 51 percent argued it would do more to hurt them, according to the poll. Some 23 percent stated the bill would not make a difference. 

Just 1 in 5 said the tax and spending law would do more to help low-income people. The majority, 61 percent, said the legislation would do more to hurt those people, while 17 percent argued it would not make a difference, the survey showed. 

Democratic Party voters were more likely to say the legislation would assist the wealthy and hurt the middle class and the poor, compared to Republicans. GOP voters were more likely to state the “big, beautiful bill” will aid rather than harm the middle class, according to the poll. 

When it comes to the impact on low-income Americans, the sides were divided. About 4 in 10 Republicans said they think the bill would do more to help low-income people, while just 3 percent of Democrats said the same. Some 17 percent of independents argued the legislation would do more to help those who are low income. 

Trump’s massive spending bill would bring new tax breaks for older adults and overtime workers. The legislation includes funding to help hire border patrol agents and officers. The package also reduces green energy tax credits and cuts Medicaid and food assistance programs. 

A CNN poll released Wednesday found 61 percent of Americans opposed the GOP’s massive package. Only 11 percent said they “strongly support” the bill, along with 27 percent who said they “somewhat support” it.

A Harvard CAPS/Harris poll published Monday found Americans were split, with 44 percent saying they supported the “big, beautiful bill.” Another 44 percent said they did not support it. Some 12 percent were unsure. 

The poll was conducted July 10-14 among 1,437 adults. It had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points.