Utahns agree more with Republicans concerning the tax reform plans now in the U.S. House and Senate than they do with Democratic criticisms of the proposals, a new UtahPolicy.com poll shows.
There are different plans put forward by the Republicans in the House and their Senate counterparts.
The House GOP plan is explained here. How the two plans differ is here.
Both plans have complex reforms. Thus, it would be difficult to poll on each of the specific plans.
So UtahPolicy.com pollster Dan Jones & Associates asked Utahns if they believe more what Republicans or Democrats in Congress are saying about the alternatives.
Jones finds:
- 53 percent of Utahns agree with what Republicans are saying about their tax reforms.
- 34 percent believe more what Democrats are saying about the two proposals.
- While 13 percent don’t know what to believe.
Utah is a Republican state, and so it would make sense that most citizens agree with the plans put forward by their preferred political party.
Still, Democrats are in the low 20s in percent of the Utah population – so on this issue, a number of political independents are going with the Democrats in questioning the congressional Republicans’ tax proposals.
Some of the demographic numbers:
- Men and women see the GOP tax plans differently; 57 percent of men like the Republicans’ ideas, while only 48 percent of women do.
- Republicans stand with their party, 80-8 percent.
- Democrats hate the GOP plans, 93-4 percent.
- And political independents don’t like the Republican proposals, 44-36 percent.
The House has already passed its tax reform bill.
Thus, if the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate passes tax reform, they are doing it mostly on their own.
Those who told Jones they are “conservatives” politically like the GOP ideas, the “liberals” hate them, and the “moderates” are split, 51 percent against, 30 percent for.
Both bills keep the personal income tax deductions for charitable giving and home mortgages (which are capped under both proposals).
Jones finds that “very active” Mormons like the GOP plans, 64-20 percent; “somewhat active” Mormons like the GOP plans, 46-33 percent; Mormons who are no longer active in the LDS faith like the plans, 60-28 percent.
Utah Catholics are against the GOP plans, 75-20 percent; Protestants (which include born-again Christians) like the proposals, 55-45 percent; other religions dislike them, 52-41 percent: while those with no religion dislike the plans, 73-22 percent.
Republicans hold all four U.S. House seats in Utah. And citizens of all four districts like the GOP plans.
However, the lowest favorability comes in GOP Rep. Mia Love’s 4th District. There, 48 percent of adults like the GOP plans, 33 percent are opposed, and 18 percent don’t know.
Jones polled 600 adults from Nov. 16-21. The survey has a statewide margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent.
