Americans remain divided in their opinions of health reform, although most object to defunding the law, according to a poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation and Harvard School of Public Health.
The number of Americans against health reform increased to 50 percent this month, up from 41 percent in December, while those supporting the legislation remained basically the same at 41 percent. The slight uptick in opposition likely stemmed from independent voters supporting the GOP's renewed push for repeal, notes the Wall Street Journal's Health Blog.
The American public also has mixed feelings about what should happen next. Just as many people want to keep or expand the law--28 percent and 19 percent, respectively--as want to repeal or replace it--23 percent and 20 percent.
While the House voted last week to repeal the law, Republicans now are expected to focus on efforts to defund and slow down its implementation, notes Reuters. However, the poll finds that most Americans--62 percent--oppose this approach and do not want Congress to block funding for various provisions.
"The public is frustrated with politics as usual, and may be saying that defunding a law is not how government should work," Mollyann Brodie, senior vice president and director of the Foundation's Public Opinion and Survey Research group, said in a statement.
For more:
- check out the Kaiser poll
- read the WSJ's Health Blog post
- read the Reuter's article