Congress, Obama not trusted with tax increases

Rasmussen Reports:

Americans think tax hikes are more likely than spending cuts in any deficit reduction deal that comes out of Congress and are more convinced than ever that any new tax monies will be spent on new government programs.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 62% of American Adults believe that if Congress and President Obama raise taxes to reduce the federal deficit, the new tax money will be spent on new government programs instead of deficit reduction. That’s up four points from 58% in February 2010.

Just 23% think the new tax revenue will go instead to reducing the deficit, while 15% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Sixty-four percent (64%) of adults feel it is at least somewhat likely that Congress will raise taxes if it reaches a deficit agreement with the president that includes tax hikes. That includes 34% who say it is Very Likely. Only 26% think tax increases are unlikely in that scenario, but just four percent (4%) say it’s Not At All Likely.

By contrast, if a new deficit reduction agreement includes spending cuts, just 38% of Americans think it’s likely that spending will actually be cut. Fifty-six percent (56%) think Congress is unlikely to actually deliver on the spending cuts.

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I see most Americans are as cynical as I am when it comes to trusting government to reduce the deficit.