Poll: Americans Reject Unconditional Iraq Funding, Support Congress Using Funds to Redeploy Troops

From Congressional Progressive Caucus

(Washington, DC) - On Wednesday morning, the fifth anniversary of the House vote to authorize military force against Iraq, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) held a press conference on Capitol Hill to release the results of a new national poll that shows the American people are strongly opposed to the status quo in Iraq. The poll results not only show strong opposition to Congress providing further Iraq funding without conditions, but also broad support for Congress acting to end the Bush administration's policy in Iraq by providing the funding necessary for the redeployment of U.S. troops from Iraq. She was joined by a number of the 86 members of Congress who have signed onto a letter to President Bush, circulated by Lee and Representatives Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) and Maxine Waters (D-CA), stating that they will only vote for Iraq-related funding to protect US troops and bring them home.

"Five years ago today, over the strong objections of many of those present, Congress voted to authorize this war. We are here today to say not only that Congress has the power to end it, but that the American people support us doing so," said Lee. "The President wants to pretend that Congress' only choice is to provide the funds he has requested unconditionally or 'cut off funding for our troops.' That's just not true. We can use our constitutionally mandated appropriations power to end his failed policy, to protect our troops and to bring them home. We have the power to fully fund redeployment, and that is what we must do."

Asked what Congress should do with President Bush's pending Iraq supplemental request, the poll found that 70 percent of respondents want Congress to either vote against the request or to require that funds can only be used to protect troops and bring them home, and that by a two to one margin respondents favored requiring funds be spent on redeployment over providing the administration funds without conditions.

Specifically, the poll asked respondents "President Bush wants Congress to approve a $200 billion dollar request to continue funding the Iraq war and keep the troops in Iraq. Should Congress: (read and rotate) vote against the $200 billion funding request; vote for the $200 billion funding request without conditions; or vote for the $200 billion funding request, but specify that it can be used ONLY to protect US troops and contractors and bring them home, rather than to continue the war."

Twenty four percent of respondents supported voting against the funding, 22 percent supported unconditional funding and 46 percent supported providing funding only for redeployment (eight percent responded "don't know"). Results were similar among registered voters: 22 percent supported voting against the funds, 23 percent supported unconditional funding and 47 percent supported providing funds only for redeployment (seven percent responded "don't know").

The poll, which reached 1,000 adults and 796 registered voters nationwide between September 20-23, was designed by Lake Research Partners and administered by Caravan as part of an omnibus telephone survey. The margin of error for the full sample of adults is +/- 3.1% and +/- 3.5% among registered voters. It was commissioned by OneVoicePac.org, Congresswoman Barbara Lee's leadership PAC.

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From: Lake Research Partners

Re: Americans’ Attitudes on Additional Funding for Iraq

Date: October 2, 2007

The majority of voters reject giving President Bush additional funds for Iraq with no strings attached. When presented with several options for how to respond to President Bush’s request for an additional $200 billion to support his Iraq war strategy, nearly half of registered voters nationwide (47 percent) say that Congress should approve the funding request, but specify that it can only be used to protect the troops and bring them home. Additionally, over a fifth of voters (22 percent) say Congress should vote against the funding request entirely. Only 23 percent support Congress voting for the funding request without any conditions. Attitudes among registered voters closely mirror those of the adult population overall.

 There is a significant gender gap in attitudes, with 52 percent of women voters versus 42 percent of male voters supporting the $200 billion funding request but specifying that funds be used to protect and bring home the troops. Overall, 75 percent of women voters would stop the funding entirely or put conditions on it, compared to 63 percent of male voters.

 Other demographic groups that tend to express greater support for this idea include: Voters under 40 (54 percent among 18 to 29 year olds and 56 percent among 30 to 39 year olds), non-college educated female voters (57 percent), Democratic voters (58 percent), particularly Democratic women (60 percent), and African American voters (58 percent).

 Only Republican male voters have a majority in favor of approving the funding request without conditions, but even their support is only 57 percent. Other voters who express greater support for approving the funding request without conditions, include male voters (29 percent), particularly male voters over 55 (37 percent), college-educated male voters (35 percent), and married male voters (34 percent), though these groups are still solidly below 50 percent.

This survey was designed by Lake Research Partners and administered by Caravan by telephone using professional interviewers. The survey reached a total of 1,000 adults nationwide. Respondents were asked if they are currently registered to vote. The survey reached a total of 796 registered voters. The margin of error for the full sample of adults is +/- 3.1% and +/- 3.5% among registered voters. The survey was conducted September 20-23, 2007.