Memo for Protect Our Care and PPP’s Latest Poll
Toplines for Protect Our Care and PPP’s Latest Poll
Washington DC — Today, a new poll from Public Policy Polling for Protect Our Care shows that voters support key provisions of the recently passed coronavirus relief bill known as the Heroes Act championed by House Democrats, and strongly oppose Mitch McConnell’s push to reopen schools in the fall even as the pandemic rages on across the country. The poll finds broad support for common sense provisions in the Heroes Act like funding for coronavirus testing and treatment, and opening up a special enrollment period for Kentuckians to sign up for health care coverage under the Affordable Care Act. A majority of Kentuckians also disagree with McConnell’s stated position of opening schools back up in the fall. The poll also found that McConnell’s approval rating trails significantly to that of Democratic Governor Andy Beshear who has been a leader for Kentuckians and listened to medical experts during the pandemic.
“Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans’ blind loyalty to a president who refuses to listen to medical experts or take action to fight this virus flies in the face of their constituents who want their leaders to enact common sense solutions outlined in the Heroes Act,” said Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse. “Kentuckians understand that in order to fight this deadly virus we need increased federal funding for coronavirus testing and treatment and the creation of a special enrollment period to sign up for health care under the Affordable Care Act. It’s clear that Kentuckians soundly reject McConnell and Trump’s reckless position to send kids back to school in the fall without a plan or resources to do so safely. Senate Republicans are putting their desire to please this president over the grave concerns of medical experts and their own constituents who are pleading with them to put the health and safety of the nation first.”
Key Findings From the Survey Include:
- 73% support increasing funding for testing and treatment for the coronavirus, while only 14% oppose it
- 68% support increasing federal funding for Medicaid, so states do not have to reduce Medicaid coverage and benefits during a pandemic, with only 17% opposed
- 65% support allocating $1 trillion to state and local governments to pay vital workers like first responders, health workers, and teachers, while just 21% oppose this
- 52% support creating a special enrollment period for Americans to sign up for health coverage under the Affordable Care Act, while just 26% oppose it
- 61% of Kentucky voters trust medical experts more than President Trump, including a majority of independents (61%) and a plurality (42%) of Republicans
- 56% disagree with McConnell’s stated position on sending kids back to school in the fall even as coronavirus infections continue to rise
- Senator Mitch McConnell is underwater in his overall job approval in his home state by a margin of 8 points (40-48) while Governor Andy Beshear, a Democrat, has a job approval rating of 54% with Kentucky voters versus only 35% who disapprove of his performance in office