Save the Filibuster

YouGov
January 13, 2011, 6:13 PM GMT+0

Americans don't have high expectations for the new Congress. Just 19% in the latest Economist/YouGov Poll say the new Congress will accomplish more than usual; 27% expect it to accomplish even less than usual. Republicans are more hopeful: 37% of them think Congress will accomplish more than usual.


When it comes to approval of how Congress is handling its job overall, only 12% of Americans approve. One solution that has been proposed --- by some Democrats (including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid) --- is to make it easier to end a filibuster on the Senate floor. But Americans aren't there yet. Only 39% do call the requirement for 60 votes to end a filibuster unfair. 61% think that requiring 60 votes is a good thing, since it means nothing can pass the Senate without support from moderates.

However, more people now than a year ago see the filibuster as unfair. Much of that change has come from Republicans and independents. About half of Democrats now and a year ago called the filibuster "unfair."

There is some support for reducing the number of votes needed to end a filibuster from 60 to 51. 40% overall (and 52% of Democrats) favor that change; 34% oppose it.

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