1
AMERICANS’ VIEWS OF
PRESIDENT TRUMP’S AGENDA
ON HEALTH CARE,
IMMIGRATION, AND
INFRASTRUCTURE
March 2018
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. Health Care ...........……………..………...............................................……...
3
II. Immigration……………………………………...............................................
7
III. Infrastructure……………………..……………………………..…….............
12
3
AMERICANS’ VIEWS OF PRESIDENT TRUMP’S AGENDA ON HEALTH CARE,
IMMIGRATION, AND INFRASTRUCTURE
***
This report, part of a continuing series that examines the public’s response to President Trump’s
evolving policy agenda, focuses on three issues now under debate: health care, immigration, and
infrastructure.
PART I: HEALTH CARE
In recent months, President Trump has changed his focus in the health care area from the
Affordable Care Act (ACA) to trying to lower prescription drug prices. Drug prices are likely to
be an important issue because, according to a new poll by POLITICO and Harvard T.H. Chan
School of Public Health, there is large-scale bipartisan support for a number of policies to try to
deal with the problem. But a note of caution also emerges. The poll also finds that if the public
thinks consumers could be negatively affected by a specific policy aimed at lowering drug
prices, support declines sharply.
As shown in Table 1, an overwhelming share of the public (90%) favors the federal government
negotiating with pharmaceutical companies to lower the prices of prescription drugs for seniors
on Medicare.
However, support substantially declines if it meant that because of these government-negotiated
lower prices some pharmaceutical companies might stop selling certain prescription drugs to
seniors through Medicare. This is a consequence which has been raised in prior national debates.
When given this scenario, only 42% of the public favors government negotiations of prescription
drug prices for those on Medicare.
Table 1: The Public’s Views on Government Negotiating with Pharmaceutical Companies
to Lower Prices of Prescription Drugs for Seniors on Medicare, by Party Identification
Total
Rep
Dem
Favor the federal government
negotiating with pharmaceutical
companies to lower the prices of
prescription drugs for seniors on
Medicare
90
91
93
Favor even if it meant some
pharmaceutical companies might
stop selling certain prescriptions
drugs to seniors through Medicare
because of these lower prices
42
45
42
POLITICO/Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Americans’ Views of President Trump’s Agenda
on Health Care, Immigration, and Infrastructure, February 21 – 25, 2018. Base: U.S. adults.
4
When asked about measures that some states have approved or are considering to address high
drug prices, public support is high when there are no obvious ramifications in terms of potential
impact on consumers. As shown in Table 2, more than eight in ten (81%) favor requiring
pharmaceutical companies to provide advance notice of price increases of more than 15%. More
than seven in ten favor requiring health insurance plans to disclose which drugs they spend the
most money on (74%) and allowing a state’s attorney general to sue generic drug manufacturers
if they try to significantly raise prices for older drugs (71%).
Table 2: The Public’s Views on Measures Some States Have Approved or Are Considering
to Address High Drug Prices, by Party Identification
% favoring each measure
Total
Rep
Dem
Ind
Requiring pharmaceutical companies to
provide advance notice of price increases
of more than 15%
81
87
78
81
Requiring health insurance plans to
disclose which drugs they spend the most
money on
74
74
75
75
Allowing a state’s attorney general to sue
generic drug manufacturers if they try to
significantly raise prices for older drugs
71
69
72
71
POLITICO/Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Americans’ Views of President Trump’s Agenda
on Health Care, Immigration, and Infrastructure, February 21 – 25, 2018. Base: U.S. adults.
Another policy being debated at the state level that has strong public support (80%) is requiring
pharmaceutical companies to sell drugs to state health programs for the same price paid by the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which typically pays the lowest prices on drugs. However,
as shown in Table 3, when offered arguments that opponents of the policy have raised before,
public support declines sharply. Only about three in ten would still support such a requirement if
it meant that everyone outside those state programs would pay higher drug prices (28%) or some
pharmaceutical companies might choose to not sell certain prescription drugs in that state (30%).
Only 38% would continue to favor such a requirement if it meant that pharmaceutical companies
might spend less on research and development of new drugs.
One notable finding is that there are no significant differences in support between Republicans
and Democrats for any of these proposed policies to try to lower drug prices.
5
Table 3: The Public’s Views on Requiring Pharmaceutical Companies to Sell Drugs to
State Health Programs for the Same Price Paid the Department of Veterans Affairs,
by Party Identification
Total
Rep
Dem
Ind
Favor requiring pharmaceutical
companies to sell drugs to state health
programs for the same price paid by
the Department of Veterans Affairs,
or V.A., which typically pays the
lowest prices on medicines
80
80
77
85
Favor even if it meant that
pharmaceutical companies might
spend less on research and
development of new drugs
38
37
40
38
Favor even if it meant some
pharmaceutical companies might
choose to not sell certain
prescription drugs in that state
30
30
28
35
Favor even if it meant that
everyone outside those state
programs would pay higher drug
prices
28
28
28
29
POLITICO/Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Americans’ Views of President Trump’s Agenda
on Health Care, Immigration, and Infrastructure, February 21 – 25, 2018. Base: U.S. adults.
President Trump continues to mention the ACA in many of his remarks about health care. Health
policy experts have noted that although the ACA has not been repealed, a number of
administrative changes have been made since President Trump took office. To date, half (50%)
of the public does not think much has changed in how well the ACA is working since Trump
became president (Table 4). Substantially more see the ACA as having gotten worse (31%) than
better (12%), but most do not blame President Trump.
In his State of the Union address, President Trump specifically mentioned changing federal
policy to allow “right-to-try” decision-making by physicians and patients. The poll finds
considerable public support. Even after being told some potential downsides, about two-thirds
(68%) of the public favor allowing doctors caring for terminally ill patients to access
experimental drugs that have not been fully tested to treat their patients (Table 5).
6
Table 4: The Public’s Views on Whether the ACA Has Been Working Better, Worse, or the
Same Over the Past Year, and Whom They Credit or Blame,
by Party Identification
Total
Rep
Dem
Ind
Working better and
12
9
18
12
President Trump and the Republicans
are most responsible
3
6
2
2
The Democrats are most responsible
4
1
9
4
Someone else is most responsible
3
2
5
3
Don’t know/Refused who is most
responsible
2
-
2
3
Working worse and
31
50
10
33
President Trump and the Republicans
are most responsible
5
2
7
4
The Democrats are most responsible
18
41
1
18
Someone else is most responsible
6
7
2
8
Don’t know/Refused who is most
responsible
2
-
*
3
About the same
50
36
67
48
Don’t know/ Refused if working better or
worse
7
5
5
7
POLITICO/Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Americans’ Views of President Trump’s Agenda
on Health Care, Immigration, and Infrastructure, February 21 – 25, 2018. Base: U.S. adults.
Table 5: The Public’s Views About Allowing Doctors Caring for Terminally Ill Patients to
Have Access to Experimental Drugs That Have Not Been Fully Tested to Treat Their
Patients, Even When Told of Potential Downsides, by Party Identification
Total
Rep
Dem
Favor
68
72
66
Oppose
28
25
32
Don’t know/ Refused
4
3
2
POLITICO/Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Americans’ Views of President Trump’s Agenda on
Health Care, Immigration, and Infrastructure, February 21 – 25, 2018. Base: U.S. adults.
Question: Some people have proposed that doctors caring for dying patients should have access to experimental
drugs that have not yet been fully tested but which might improve their patient’s condition. Others argue that this
could make the patient worse and might undermine the development of new drugs. Do you favor or oppose allowing
doctors caring for terminally ill patients to have access to experimental drugs that have not been fully tested to treat
their patients?
7
PART II: IMMIGRATION
One of the most visible and widely debated issues raised by President Trump has been the future
of immigration policy in the U.S., including his ending of the DACA exception to immigration
policy authorized by President Obama. Table 6 shows that unlike in earlier elections,
immigration is likely to be a significant issue in the 2018 congressional elections. More than six
in ten registered voters (62%), including similar proportions of both Republican (64%) and
Democratic (61%) registered voters, say that the immigration issue will be extremely or very
important to them in deciding which candidate to vote for.
Table 6: How Important the Immigration Issue Will Be to Registered Voters in Deciding
Which Candidate to Vote for in the 2018 Congressional Election, by Party Identification
Total
registered
voters
Rep
registered
voters
Dem
registered
voters
Extremely important
25
31
24
Very important
37
33
37
Somewhat important
30
31
33
Not too important
4
1
4
Not at all important
4
3
2
Don’t know/ Refused
1
1
*
POLITICO/Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Americans’ Views of President Trump’s Agenda on
Health Care, Immigration, and Infrastructure, February 21 – 25, 2018. Base: U.S. registered voters
The immigration debate includes a number of elements: DACA, how to deal with both legal and
illegal immigration, and what to do with people not legally authorized to be in the U.S.
The poll finds strong public support for having those in the DACA program remain in this
country. More than eight in ten (84%), including a majority of both Republicans (76%) and
Democrats (94%), favor allowing young people who were brought to the U.S. illegally as
children to remain in the country as long as they meet certain requirements – such as being in the
military or in school or having graduated – and don’t have a criminal record (Table 7).
8
Table 7: The Public’s Views About DACA, by Party Identification
DACA is the Deferred Action for
Childhood Arrivals policy that grants
temporary legal status to young people
known as "dreamers" who were brought to
the U.S. illegally as children.
Total
Rep
Dem
Ind
Favor allowing these immigrants who were
brought to the U.S. illegally as children to
remain in the country as long as they meet
certain requirements – such as being in the
military or in school or having graduated –
and don’t have a criminal record
84
76
94
84
Oppose
11
16
4
14
Don’t know/ Refused
5
8
2
2
POLITICO/Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Americans’ Views of President Trump’s Agenda
on Health Care, Immigration, and Infrastructure, February 21 – 25, 2018. Base: U.S. adults.
For many following the immigration debate, the issue can be confusing because the public has
different views about legal immigrants versus those not authorized to be in the U.S. As Table 8
and Table 9 show, while only 20% see the current level of legal immigration as being bad for the
country, a majority (52%) have this negative view of the effect of immigration by those who did
not enter the country legally.
Table 8: The Public’s Views About Whether the Current Level of Legal Immigration Is a
Good Thing or a Bad Thing for the Country, by Party Identification
Total
Rep
Dem
Good thing
50
52
55
Bad thing
20
27
13
Doesn’t make much difference
27
17
31
Don’t know/ Refused
3
4
1
Table 9: The Public’s Views About Whether the Current Level of Illegal Immigration Is a
Good Thing or a Bad Thing for the Country, by Party Identification
Total
Rep
Dem
Good thing
15
5
21
Bad thing
52
85
27
Doesn’t make much difference
29
9
46
Don’t know/ Refused
4
1
6
POLITICO/Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Americans’ Views of President Trump’s Agenda
on Health Care, Immigration, and Infrastructure, February 21 – 25, 2018. Base: U.S. adults.
9
Possibly not recognized is how wide the partisan divide on immigration is. A strong majority of
Republicans (85%) see the current level of illegal immigration as bad for the country, while a
majority of Democrats (73%) do not.
As shown in Table 10, a majority of the public does not believe the U.S. should either increase or
decrease the number of legal immigrants the country takes in. However, a substantial proportion
of Republicans (41%) think the number should be decreased.
Table 10: The Public’s Views About Whether the Number of Legal Immigrants Entering
the U.S. in the Future Should Be Increased, Decreased, or Kept About the Same,
by Party Identification
Total
Rep
Dem
Ind
Increased
18
10
25
20
Decreased
22
41
13
16
Kept about the same
55
44
56
61
Don’t know/ Refused
5
5
6
3
POLITICO/Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Americans’ Views of President Trump’s Agenda
on Health Care, Immigration, and Infrastructure, February 21 – 25, 2018. Base: U.S. adults.
A majority (54%) of the public believes the federal government should do more to reduce the
number of illegal immigrants already in the U.S. This is overwhelmingly the view among
Republicans (85%), while a majority of Democrats (65%) do not believe the federal government
should do more (Table 11).
Table 11: The Public’s Views About Whether the Federal Government Should Do More,
Less, or About the Same to Reduce the Number of Illegal Immigrants Already Living in the
U.S., by Party Identification
Total
Rep
Dem
Ind
More
54
85
30
50
Less
19
4
37
16
About the same
23
9
28
29
Don’t know/ Refused
4
2
5
5
POLITICO/Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Americans’ Views of President Trump’s Agenda
on Health Care, Immigration, and Infrastructure, February 21 – 25, 2018. Base: U.S. adults.
As for future immigration policy, the public appears to favor moving away from the existing
admission policy that prioritizes people who have family members, including extended family, living
in the U.S. A majority (60%) of the public believes that priority for admission should be based on
education, job skills and work experience, rather than to people who have family living in the U.S.
(32%) (Table 12).
10
Table 12: The Public’s Views About What the U.S. Government’s Priority Should Be in
Deciding Which Immigrants to Admit, by Party Identification
Total
Rep
Dem
U.S. government should give priority to
people who have family living in the U.S.
32
24
39
Priority should be based on education,
job skills and work experience
60
69
50
Don’t know/ Refused
8
7
11
POLITICO/Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Americans’ Views of President Trump’s Agenda
on Health Care, Immigration, and Infrastructure, February 21 – 25, 2018. Base: U.S. adults.
Although the public expresses considerable concern about people who have entered the U.S.
without authorization, Table 13 shows that the public is resistant to deporting those who have
been in the U.S. without authorization for a long period of time, have a family and job in the
U.S., and have not committed a violent or drug-related crime. This is reflected in two recent
cases where such individuals were made subject to deportation. When given a case where the
person was brought to the U.S. without authorization as a child and has no criminal record at all,
a large majority (84%) opposes deportation. When it comes to a person who came to the U.S. as
an adult without authorization and has committed some infraction of the law, the public is split,
with 48% favoring and 48% opposing deportation. In this second case, a large majority (70%) of
Republicans favor deportation, while a majority (71%) of Democrats are opposed. Neither of
these two cases involved violent or drug-related crimes.
Table 13: Public Attitudes About Deportation in Two Scenarios, by Party Identification
Total
Rep
Dem
Ind
The person was brought into the country from Mexico illegally
30 years ago as a child and does not qualify for DACA. He is
married with two children, has worked as a landscaper, and does
not have a criminal record.
Should be deported
14
26
4
14
Should not be deported
84
68
95
85
Don’t know/ Refused
2
6
1
1
The person came illegally to the U.S. from Honduras in 2000 as
an adult. He is married, has two children and has worked as a
construction worker. He was approached outside his home by
immigration officers who were looking for other undocumented
immigrants in the neighborhood. He was placed under arrest after
those officers learned he was convicted of drunk driving nine
years earlier and had ignored a 16-year-old deportation order.
Should be deported
48
70
23
52
Should not be deported
48
25
71
45
Don’t know/ Refused
4
5
6
3
POLITICO/Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Americans’ Views of President Trump’s Agenda on
Health Care, Immigration, and Infrastructure, February 21 – 25, 2018. Base: U.S. adults.
11
When it comes to increasing federal government security along the U.S.-Mexico border, public
opinion differs according to what policy is being discussed. As Table 14 shows, a large majority
(67%) favor a substantial increase in federal government security along the U.S.-Mexico border,
such as more border patrols or electronic surveillance. On the other hand, Table 15 shows that a
majority (55%) of the public opposes building a wall along most of the border to try to stop
illegal immigration, although a large majority of Republicans (85%) favor such a wall.
Table 14: The Public’s Views About a Substantial Increase in Federal Government
Security Along the US-Mexico Border, Such as More Border Patrols or Electronic
Surveillance, by Party Identification
Total
Rep
Dem
Ind
Favor
67
93
54
63
Oppose
28
6
40
33
Don’t know/ Refused
5
1
6
4
Table 15: The Public’s Views About a Wall Along Most of the US-Mexico Border
to Try to Stop illegal Immigration, by Party Identification
Total
Rep
Dem
Ind
Favor
41
85
12
34
Oppose
55
12
86
62
Don’t know/ Refused
4
3
2
4
POLITICO/Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Americans’ Views of President Trump’s Agenda on
Health Care, Immigration, and Infrastructure, February 21 – 25, 2018. Base: U.S. adults.
Looking at President Trump’s immigration policies as a whole, the country remains divided.
Table 16 shows that 46% approve of his policies, while 47% disapprove. This is likely to have
implications for the 2018 congressional elections, because the partisan divisions are so sharp. A
majority of Republicans strongly approve (63%), while a majority of Democrats strongly
disapprove (73%). That fact that people on both sides feel strongly about the issue means it is
likely to be salient in the 2018 elections.
Table 16: The Public’s Views About President Trump’s Position on Immigration Policies,
by Party Identification
Total
Rep
Dem
Approve strongly
28
63
5
Approve somewhat
18
28
3
Disapprove somewhat
10
2
13
Disapprove strongly
37
4
73
Don’t know/ Refused
7
3
6
POLITICO/Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Americans’ Views of President Trump’s Agenda on
Health Care, Immigration, and Infrastructure, February 21 – 25, 2018. Base: U.S. adults.
12
PART III: INFRASTRUCTURE
In the November 2017 POLITICO/Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health poll, 53% of the
public, including similar proportions of Republicans (47%) and Democrats (54%), said that
increased spending on the nation’s infrastructure should be an extremely or very important
priority for Congress and President Trump.
In his State of the Union address, President Trump introduced an initiative to improve the
nation’s infrastructure. The current POLITICO/Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health poll
asked the public what priorities within the term “infrastructure” they have for these large-scale
investments.
When the poll asked how high a priority each of several possible areas for infrastructure
spending should be, the public named three areas most prominently. As shown in Table 17, about
seven in ten cited improving bridges (72%), school buildings (72%), and roads (71%) as
extremely or very important priorities for increased infrastructure spending. A majority (58%)
also named improving the power grid. Fewer thought that improving airports (44%), deepening
and clearing harbors and rebuilding ports (37%), and improving and expanding access to high-
speed broadband internet should be top priorities (32%).
Table 17: The Public’s Views About Priorities for Increased Infrastructure Spending,
by Party Identification
% saying extremely or very important priority
Total
Rep
Dem
Improving bridges
72
73
75
Improving school buildings
72
68
76
Improving roads
71
77
70
Improving the power grid
58
61
59
Improving airports
44
41
46
Deepening and clearing harbors and
rebuilding ports
37
42
33
Improving and expanding access to high-
speed broadband internet
32
21
39
POLITICO/Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Americans’ Views of President Trump’s Agenda
on Health Care, Immigration, and Infrastructure, February 21 – 25, 2018. Base: U.S. adults.
What has received less coverage in current discussions about infrastructure is how these
investments will be paid for. This is important because after a major tax cut agreement was
passed by Congress, the poll shows that much of the public is concerned about future federal
budget deficits. About half (52%) of the public believes that the federal budget deficit increasing
over the next decade is an extremely or very important problem for the country (Table 18).
13
Table 18: The Public’s Views About the Seriousness of the Federal Budget Deficit
Increasing Over the Next Decade as a Problem for the Country, by Party Identification
Total
Rep
Dem
Extremely serious
17
16
15
Very serious
35
31
43
Somewhat serious
24
25
28
Not too serious
4
3
*
Not a problem
15
21
10
Don’t know/ Refused
5
4
4
POLITICO/Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Americans’ Views of President Trump’s Agenda on
Health Care, Immigration, and Infrastructure, February 21 – 25, 2018. Base: U.S. adults.
That would suggest the need for Congress to raise funds from some source to pay for the
infrastructure initiative. President Trump has suggested a 25¢ per gallon increase in the federal
gasoline tax as a way to pay part of the cost of infrastructure improvements. The poll shows little
support for that source of funding. Nearly two-thirds of the public (64%) are opposed to the
proposed gasoline tax increase. Similar levels of opposition were found among both Republicans
(65%) and Democrats (61%) (Table 19).
Table 19: The Public’s Views About Raising the Federal Gasoline Tax by 25¢ per Gallon
As a Way to Pay Part of the Cost of Infrastructure Improvements,
by Party Identification
Total
Rep
Dem
Favor
34
35
36
Oppose
64
65
61
Don’t know/ Refused
2
-
3
POLITICO/Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Americans’ Views of President Trump’s Agenda
on Health Care, Immigration, and Infrastructure, February 21 – 25, 2018. Base: U.S. adults.
Although much of today’s polling highlights the deep partisan divisions in the U.S., it is
important to note that there are not large differences on trying to lower high prescription drug
prices, infrastructure improvements, and right-to-try, which suggests areas of possible bipartisan
agreement in the future. In terms of immigration, majorities of both parties’ adherents support
DACA and favor stronger border security controls, other than a border wall. But large
differences remain on many of the other immigration issues.
14
METHODOLOGY
The results are based on polling conducted by Politico and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public
Health. Representatives of the two organizations worked closely to develop the survey
questionnaires and analyze the results of the polls. Politico and Harvard T.H. Chan School of
Public Health paid for the surveys and related expenses.
The project team was led by Robert J. Blendon, Sc.D., Richard L. Menschel Professor of Health
Policy and Political Analysis at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and Joanne Kenen,
Executive Editor, Health Care at Politico/Politico Pro. Harvard research team also included John
M. Benson, Logan S. Casey, and Justin M. Sayde.
Interviews were conducted with a nationally representative sample of 1,007 randomly selected
adults, ages 18 and older, via telephone (including cell phones and landlines) by SSRS of Glen
Mills, Pennsylvania. The interviewing period was February 21 – 25, 2018. The data were
weighted to reflect the demographics of the national adult population as described by the U.S.
Census.
When interpreting these findings, one should recognize that all surveys are subject to sampling
error. Results may differ from what would be obtained if the whole U.S. adult population had
been interviewed. The margin of error for the full sample is ±3.7 percentage points. For
questions asked of half-samples, the margin of error is ±5.2 percentage points.
Possible sources of non-sampling error include non-response bias, as well as question wording
and ordering effects. Non-response in telephone surveys produces some known biases in survey-
derived estimates because participation tends to vary for different subgroups of the population.
To compensate for these known biases and for variations in probability of selection within and
across households, sample data are weighted by household size, cell phone/landline use and
demographics (sex, age, race/ethnicity, education, and region) to reflect the true population.
Other techniques, including random-digit dialing, replicate subsamples, and systematic
respondent selection within households, are used to ensure that the sample is representative.
Politico/Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Poll
AMERICANS’ VIEWS OF PRESIDENT TRUMP’S AGENDA ON HEALTH
CARE, IMMIGRATION, AND INFRASTRUCTURE
This survey was conducted for Politico and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health via telephone
by SSRS, an independent research company. Interviews were conducted via telephone (cell phone
and landline) February 21 – 25, 2018, among a nationally representative sample of 1,007 U.S.
adults. The margin of error for total respondents is ±3.7 percentage points at the 95% confidence
level. For questions asked of half-samples, the margin of error is ±5.2 percentage points. More
information about SSRS can be obtained by visiting www.ssrs.com.
Federal Budget Deficit
(Asked of half-sample A; n=504)
POLQ1. Projections now have the federal budget deficit increasing over the next decade. Do you
think this is a problem for the country, or not? (If a problem) Do you think it is an extremely serious
problem, very serious, somewhat serious, or not too serious a problem?
Total
Reps
Dems
Inds
Extremely serious
17
16
15
21
Very serious
35
31
43
30
Somewhat serious
24
25
28
23
Not too serious
4
3
*
5
Not a problem
15
21
10
16
Don’t know/Refused
5
4
4
5
2
Immigration
(Asked of half-sample A – Responses of registered voters; n=426)
POLQ2. Thinking ahead to the November 2018 congressional election, how important will the
immigration issue be to you in deciding which candidate to vote for? Will it be…
Total
registered
voters
Rep
registered
voters
Dem
registered
voters
Extremely important
25
31
24
Very important
37
33
37
Somewhat important
30
31
33
Not too important
4
1
4
Not at all important
4
3
2
Don’t know/Refused
1
1
*
(Asked of half-sample A; n=504)
POLQ3. Do you think the current level of LEGAL immigration into the U.S. is generally a good thing
or a bad thing for the country, or doesn’t it make much difference?
Good thing
Bad thing
Doesn’t make
much
difference
Don’t know/
Refused
Total
50
20
27
3
Reps
52
27
17
4
Dems
55
13
31
1
Inds
47
20
31
2
(Asked of half-sample A; n=504)
POLQ4. Thinking about the future, do you think the number of LEGAL immigrants entering the U.S.
should be increased, decreased, or kept about the same?
Increased
Decreased
Kept about
the same
Don’t know/
Refused
Total
18
22
55
5
Reps
10
41
44
5
Dems
25
13
56
6
Inds
20
16
61
3
3
(Asked of half-sample A; n=504)
POLQ5. Do you think the current level of ILLEGAL immigration into the U.S. is generally a good
thing or a bad thing for the country, or doesn’t it make much difference?
Good thing
Bad thing
Doesn’t make
much
difference
Don’t know/
Refused
Total
15
52
29
4
Reps
5
85
9
1
Dems
21
27
46
6
Inds
15
51
30
4
(Asked of half-sample A; n=504)
POLQ6. Do you think the federal government should do more, less, or about the same to reduce the
number of ILLEGAL immigrants already living in the U.S. today?
More
Less
About the
same
Don’t know/
Refused
Total
54
19
23
4
Reps
85
4
9
2
Dems
30
37
28
5
Inds
50
16
29
5
(Asked of half-sample A; n=504)
POLQ7. As you know, American citizens and legal residents can now generally bring family
members, including extended family, into the United States as legal residents. When deciding in the
future which immigrants to admit,
U.S. government
should give priority to
people who have
family living in the U.S.
Priority should be
based on education,
job skills and work
experience
Don’t know/
Refused
Total
32
60
8
Reps
24
69
7
Dems
39
50
11
Inds
33
60
7
4
(Asked of half-sample A; n=504)
POLQ8. DACA is the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy that grants temporary legal
status to young people known as "dreamers" who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children. In
general, do you favor or oppose allowing these immigrants who were brought to the U.S. illegally as
children to remain in the country as long as they meet certain requirements – such as being in the
military or in school or having graduated – and don’t have a criminal record?
Favor
Oppose
Don’t know/
Refused
Total
84
11
5
Reps
76
16
8
Dems
94
4
2
Inds
84
14
2
(Asked of half-sample A; n=504)
POLQ9. Now I’m going to read you two examples of people who did not enter the U.S. legally who
are being considered for deportation. For each one, please tell me whether or not you think that
person should be deported. (The first person) was brought into the country from Mexico illegally
30 years ago as a child and does not qualify for DACA. He is married with two children, has worked
as a landscaper, and does not have a criminal record. Do you think this person should be deported,
or not?
Yes, should be
deported
No, should not
be deported
Don’t know/
Refused
Total
14
84
2
Reps
26
68
6
Dems
4
95
1
Inds
14
85
1
(Asked of half-sample A; n=504)
POLQ10. (The second person) came illegally to the U.S. from Honduras in 2000 as an adult. He is
married, has two children and has worked as a construction worker. He was approached outside his
home by immigration officers who were looking for other undocumented immigrants in the
neighborhood. He was placed under arrest after those officers learned he was convicted of drunk
driving nine years earlier and had ignored a 16-year-old deportation order. Do you think this
person should be deported, or not?
Yes, should be
deported
No, should not
be deported
Don’t know/
Refused
Total
48
48
4
Reps
70
25
5
Dems
23
71
6
Inds
52
45
3
5
(Asked of half-sample A; n=504)
POLQ11. Do you favor or oppose a substantial increase in federal government security along the
U.S.-Mexico border – such as more border patrols or electronic surveillance -- to try to stop illegal
immigration?
Favor
Oppose
Don’t know/
Refused
Total
67
28
5
Reps
93
6
1
Dems
54
40
6
Inds
63
33
4
(Asked of half-sample A; n=504)
POLQ12. Do you favor or oppose building a wall along most of the U.S.-Mexico border to try to stop
illegal immigration?
Favor
Oppose
Don’t know/
Refused
Total
41
55
4
Reps
85
12
3
Dems
12
86
2
Inds
34
62
4
(Asked of half-sample A; n=504)
POLQ13. Do you approve or disapprove of President Trump’s position on immigration policies for
the U.S.? Do you approve/disapprove strongly or somewhat?
Approve
strongly
Approve
somewhat
Disapprove
somewhat
Disapprove
strongly
Don’t
know/
Refused
Total
28
18
10
37
7
Reps
63
28
2
4
3
Dems
5
3
13
73
6
Inds
26
20
14
31
9
6
Drug Prices
President Trump has said that bringing down high drug prices will be a top priority this year.
Congress has discussed some options, and I’m going to ask you about a few of these proposals.
(Asked of half-sample B; n=503)
POLQ14. Would you favor or oppose the federal government negotiating with pharmaceutical
companies to lower the prices of prescription drugs for seniors on Medicare?
Favor
Oppose
Don’t know/
Refused
Total
90
8
2
Reps
91
5
4
Dems
93
6
1
Inds
91
9
*
(Asked of half-sample B; n=503)
POLQ14. Would you favor or oppose the federal government negotiating with pharmaceutical
companies to lower the prices of prescription drugs for seniors on Medicare?
(Asked if favor)
POLQ15. Would you still favor this if it meant some pharmaceutical companies might stop selling
certain prescriptions drugs to seniors through Medicare because of these lower prices, or would
you now oppose these negotiations?
POLQ14/POLQ15 Combo Table
Based on half-sample B; n=503
Total
Reps
Dems
Inds
Favor even if it meant some pharmaceutical
companies might stop selling certain
prescription drugs to seniors through Medicare
because of these lower prices
42
45
42
42
Oppose (NET)
47
43
51
47
Oppose the federal government negotiating
with pharmaceutical companies to lower
the prices of prescription drugs for seniors
on Medicare
8
5
6
9
Oppose if it meant some pharmaceutical
companies might stop selling certain
prescription drugs to seniors through
Medicare because of these lower prices
39
38
45
38
Don’t know/Refused
11
12
7
11
7
A number of states have approved or are considering measures targeting high drug prices. Please
tell me if you favor or oppose each of the following.
(Asked of half-sample B; n=503)
POLQ16. Do you favor or oppose requiring pharmaceutical companies to provide advance notice of
price increases of more than 15%?
Favor
Oppose
Don’t know/
Refused
Total
81
17
2
Reps
87
10
3
Dems
78
21
1
Inds
81
18
1
(Asked of half-sample B; n=503)
POLQ17. Do you favor or oppose requiring health insurance plans to disclose which drugs they
spend the most money on?
Favor
Oppose
Don’t know/
Refused
Total
74
22
4
Reps
74
19
7
Dems
75
24
1
Inds
75
21
4
(Asked of half-sample B; n=503)
POLQ18. Do you favor or oppose allowing a state’s attorney general to sue generic drug
manufacturers if they try to significantly raise prices for older drugs?
Favor
Oppose
Don’t know/
Refused
Total
71
27
2
Reps
69
30
1
Dems
72
27
1
Inds
71
27
2
8
(Asked of half-sample B; n=503)
POLQ19. Do you favor or oppose requiring pharmaceutical companies to sell drugs to state health
programs for the same price paid by the Department of Veterans Affairs, or V.A., which typically
pays the lowest prices on medicines?
Favor
Oppose
Don’t know/
Refused
Total
80
17
3
Reps
80
18
2
Dems
77
21
3
Inds
85
13
2
(Asked of half-sample B; n=503)
POLQ19. Do you favor or oppose requiring pharmaceutical companies to sell drugs to state health
programs for the same price paid by the Department of Veterans Affairs, or V.A., which typically
pays the lowest prices on medicines?
(Asked if favor)
POLQ20. Would you still favor this if it meant that everyone outside those state programs would
pay higher drug prices, or would you now oppose such a requirement?
POLQ19/POLQ20 Combo Table
Based on half-sample B; n=503
Total
Reps
Dems
Inds
Favor even if it meant that everyone outside
those state programs would pay higher drug
prices
28
28
28
29
Oppose (NET)
66
66
68
64
Oppose requiring pharmaceutical
companies to sell drugs to state insurance
programs for the same price paid by the
Department of Veterans Affairs, or V.A.,
which typically pays the lowest prices on
medicines
17
18
21
13
Oppose if it meant that everyone outside
those state programs would pay higher
drug prices
49
48
47
51
Don’t know/Refused
6
6
4
7
9
(Asked of half-sample B; n=503)
POLQ19. Do you favor or oppose requiring pharmaceutical companies to sell drugs to state health
programs for the same price paid by the Department of Veterans Affairs, or V.A., which typically
pays the lowest prices on medicines?
(Asked if favor)
POLQ21. Would you still favor doing this if it meant that pharmaceutical companies might spend
less on research and development of new drugs, or would you now be opposed to such a
requirement?
POLQ19/POLQ21 Combo Table
Based on half-sample B; n=503
Total
Reps
Dems
Inds
Favor even if it meant that pharmaceutical
companies might spend less on research and
development of new drugs
38
37
40
38
Oppose (NET)
55
58
55
54
Oppose requiring pharmaceutical
companies to sell drugs to state insurance
programs for the same price paid by the
Department of Veterans Affairs, or V.A.,
which typically pays the lowest prices on
medicines
17
18
21
13
Oppose if it meant that pharmaceutical
companies might spend less on research
and development of new drugs
38
40
34
41
Don’t know/Refused
7
5
5
8
10
(Asked of half-sample B; n=503)
POLQ19. Do you favor or oppose requiring pharmaceutical companies to sell drugs to state health
programs for the same price paid by the Department of Veterans Affairs, or V.A., which typically
pays the lowest prices on medicines?
(Asked if favor)
POLQ22. Would you still favor doing this if some pharmaceutical companies might choose to not
sell certain prescriptions drugs in that state, or would you now be opposed to such a requirement?
POLQ19/POLQ22 Combo Table
Based on half-sample B; n=503
Total
Reps
Dems
Inds
Favor even if it meant some pharmaceutical
companies might choose to not sell certain
prescription drugs in that state
30
30
28
35
Oppose (NET)
62
63
66
57
Oppose requiring pharmaceutical
companies to sell drugs to state insurance
programs for the same price paid by the
Department of Veterans Affairs, or V.A.,
which typically pays the lowest prices on
medicines
17
18
21
13
Oppose if it meant some pharmaceutical
companies might choose to not sell certain
prescription drugs in that state
45
45
45
44
Don’t know/Refused
8
7
6
8
11
Infrastructure
POLQ23. President Trump and Congress have been discussing a major initiative to improve
community facilities in the U.S., often called infrastructure. Here is a list of some things that could
be included, keeping in mind that there is a limited amount of money that can be spent on this
initiative. For each one, please tell me if you think it SHOULD BE a priority, or SHOULD NOT BE a
priority. (If a priority) And should (insert item) be an extremely important, very important, or only
somewhat important priority?
(Asked of half-sample B; n=503)
a. Improving roads
Extremely
important
priority
Very
important
priority
Somewhat
important
priority
Should not
be a
priority
Don’t
know/
Refused
Total
31
40
22
6
1
Reps
37
40
16
7
-
Dems
29
41
23
6
1
Inds
29
41
25
4
1
(Asked of half-sample B; n=503)
b. Improving bridges
Extremely
important
priority
Very
important
priority
Somewhat
important
priority
Should not
be a
priority
Don’t
know/
Refused
Total
31
41
20
6
2
Reps
37
36
21
6
-
Dems
29
46
18
6
1
Inds
28
41
22
5
4
(Asked of half-sample B; n=503)
c. Improving airports
Extremely
important
priority
Very
important
priority
Somewhat
important
priority
Should not
be a
priority
Don’t
know/
Refused
14
30
31
22
3
18
23
31
27
1
12
34
37
16
1
13
31
28
25
4
12
(Asked of half-sample B; n=503)
d. Deepening and clearing harbors and rebuilding ports
Extremely
important
priority
Very
important
priority
Somewhat
important
priority
Should not
be a
priority
Don’t
know/
Refused
Total
11
26
36
23
4
Reps
14
28
31
24
3
Dems
12
21
38
25
4
Inds
9
29
37
21
4
(Asked of half-sample B; n=503)
e. Improving and expanding access to high-speed broadband internet
Extremely
important
priority
Very
important
priority
Somewhat
important
priority
Should not
be a
priority
Don’t
know/
Refused
12
20
26
38
4
9
12
22
54
3
14
25
31
27
3
14
22
24
37
3
(Asked of half-sample B; n=503)
f. Improving the power grid
Extremely
important
priority
Very
important
priority
Somewhat
important
priority
Should not
be a
priority
Don’t
know/
Refused
Total
25
33
22
16
4
Reps
34
27
13
23
3
Dems
18
41
26
11
4
Inds
24
31
26
16
3
(Asked of half-sample B; n=503)
g. Improving school buildings
Extremely
important
priority
Very
important
priority
Somewhat
important
priority
Should not
be a
priority
Don’t
know/
Refused
Total
34
38
16
10
2
Reps
27
41
13
18
1
Dems
34
42
18
4
2
Inds
39
36
14
9
2
13
(Asked of half-sample B; n=503)
POLQ24. These types of public investments are very expensive. As a way to pay part of the cost of
these infrastructure improvements, the Trump Administration has proposed increasing the federal
gasoline tax by 25 cents per gallon. Do you favor or oppose raising the federal gasoline tax for this
purpose?
Favor
Oppose
Don’t know/
Refused
Total
34
64
2
Reps
35
65
-
Dems
36
61
3
Inds
34
64
2
14
ACA
(Asked of half-sample A; n=504)
POLQ25. In terms of how well the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, has been working, do you
think over the past year it has been working better, worse, or about the same?
Working
better
Working
worse
About the
same
Don’t know/
Refused
Total
12
31
50
7
Reps
9
50
36
5
Dems
18
10
67
5
Inds
12
33
48
7
(Asked of half-sample A; n=504)
POLQ25. In terms of how well the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, has been working, do you
think over the past year it has been working better, worse, or about the same?
(Asked if working better or worse)
POLQ26. Who do you think is most responsible for this? President Trump and the Republicans, the
Democrats, or someone else?
POLQ25/POLQ26 Combo Table
Based on half-sample A; n=504
Total
Reps
Dems
Inds
Working better and
12
9
18
12
President Trump and the Republicans are
most responsible
3
6
2
2
The Democrats are most responsible
4
1
9
4
Someone else is most responsible
3
2
5
3
Don’t know/Refused who is most responsible
2
-
2
3
Working worse and
31
50
10
33
President Trump and the Republicans are
most responsible
5
2
7
4
The Democrats are most responsible
18
41
1
18
Someone else is most responsible
6
7
2
8
Don’t know/Refused who is most responsible
2
-
*
3
About the same
50
36
67
48
Don’t know/Refused if working better or worse
7
5
5
7
15
Right-to-Try
(Asked of half-sample A; n=504)
POLQ27. Some people have proposed that doctors caring for dying patients should have access to
experimental drugs that have not yet been fully tested but which might improve their patient’s
condition. Others argue that this could make the patient worse and might undermine the
development of new drugs. Do you favor or oppose allowing doctors caring for terminally ill
patients to have access to experimental drugs that have not been fully tested to treat their patients?
Favor
Oppose
Don’t know/
Refused
Total
68
28
4
Reps
72
25
3
Dems
66
32
2
Inds
69
27
4