Post Election Messaging

Public Notice: Pundits are already interpreting the results of the election and what it means for the winners, the losers and future policymaking, but the only thing that really matters is whether politicians in Washington keep the promises that got them elected in the first place.

While the status quo held in Washington, the status quo cannot hold when it comes to how Washington handles the nation's finances. This isn't politics, it’s math.

The fiscal challenges we face are immediate and the hole gets deeper by the day. Both presidential candidates made deficit reduction central to their agendas for the next four years. The time for talk is over. The time for action is now

Responsible spending over tax increases: The president has countless times that Americans should pay their “fair share” in taxes, that deficit reduction should take a “balanced approach.” What does this all mean? It means a tax increase when our economy can least afford it.

Why, after all, should we trust Washington with more of our hard earned money until the government proves it can spend what it already has responsibly? Americans know higher taxes isn’t the answer. According to an NBC exit poll, 63% of voters say taxes should not be raised to help cut the deficit.

We need real solutions: Four years ago, Americans were optimistic; sensing the country was taking a step in a new, better direction. Four years later, it’s clear we took a step – but this one was backwards. Soaring rhetoric sounds nice, but it won’t help middle class families put food on the table. We deserve better. We deserve bold, competent leadership that insists on decisive action and real solutions.

KEY POLLING DATA
According to NBC exit polls, 63% of voters said taxes should not be raised to help cut the deficit; 33% said taxes should be.

Congress: Average approval for mid-September to early November was 17% according to the RealClearPolitics average. Average disapproval was 75.2%.

Right Track/Wrong Track: According to the RealClearPolitics average, which covered late October and early November, 41.2% think the country is headed in the right direction while 54.2% think it is headed in the wrong direction.

According to CNN exit polls, 60% of voters said the economy was the most important issue on their minds; 17% said health care; 17% said the deficit; and 4% said foreign policy.

According to exit polls, 38% of voters said unemployment was the biggest issue facing people like them; 37% said rising prices; 14% said taxes; and 8% said the housing market.
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Public Notice is an independent non-profit dedicated to providing facts and insight on the economy and how government policy affects Americans’ financial well-being.

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