Mass. Voters Say 'No' to Cuts in Fiscal Cliff Talks in Recent Poll

As Congress wrestles with how to avoid the imminent fiscal cliff, a poll finds that Massachusetts voters strongly favor increased taxes on the rich, less corporate welfare and no cuts in social security, Medicare or Medicaid.

"I think that this survey really gives us a clear view of voters expectations of their elected officials," said Jason Stephany of MassUniting, a coalition of community groups, neighborhoods, faith organizations and workers advocating for good jobs, corporate accountability.

MassUniting conducted the poll along with Public Policy Polling. It was conducted from Nov. 27-29 and included 638 Massachusetts voters. 

"Essentially, the big thing that this poll tells us is that this election was not a fluke or a one-off thing," Jim Williams of Public Policy Polling said.

The top priorities for Massachusetts voters continue to be "job creation, deficit reduction and affordable health care," he added.

By strong margins, voters support raising revenue rather than cutting services. When asked whether those making more than $250,000 should pay more in taxes, 61 percent said yes. 

When asked if Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid should be cut, 73 percent said no. Upward of 77 percent support eliminating oil subsidies and corporate tax loopholes, and 76 percent said Congress should pass meaningful legislation to support job creation. 

And if Congress doesn't reach an agreement, a plurality of Bay State voters—42 percent—would blame Republicans. But Democrats wouldn't entire escape blame; 28 percent would blame the Dems and 27 percent of those polled said both parties would be equally to blame.

, Mayor Michael McGlynn said, as part of the half-billion worth of cuts that Gov. Deval Patrick proposed on Tuesday, in anticipation of the fiscal cliff combined with projected state tax revenues that are more than $500,000 lower than previously expected.

"The fiscal cliff and the potential of the federal cuts, or even if a deal is struck in Washington, they're going to be far worse than anything we're looking at right now," McGlynn previously told Medford Patch. 

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