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

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

The new Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that 64 percent of U.S. adults said the Republican-led tax and spending bill, which Trump signed into law on July 4, 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 over a quarter, 26 percent, said the bill would benefit middle-class people. Just over 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 are more likely to say the legislation would assist the wealthy and hurt the middle-class and the poor, compared to Republicans. GOP voters are 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 are divided. Around four-in-10 Republicans think the bill would do more to help low-income people, while just three 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 that 61 percent of Americans oppose 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, which was published on Monday, found that 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 from July 10-14 among 1,437 adults. It had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points.