MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

CNN poll shows same partisan divide on federal budget deficit cuts among US voters

Seven in ten independents favour higher taxes of the wealthy and corporations

The latest CNN poll shows that the same partisan divide that has kept the US congressional super committee from reaching a federal budget deficit reduction deal also exists among US voters who identify with a political party.

The CNN/ORC International poll released Monday shows that 59% of those surveyed who identify themselves as Republicans oppose tax increases, while 57% of Democrats polled say they oppose spending cuts.

The super committee that was charged with coming up with a long-term deficit reduction plan by Wednesday and which admitted failure, remains split along party lines over those issues, say congressional aides familiar with the discussions.

Independent voters surveyed somewhat mirror the overall public attitudes toward taxes and spending – nearly seven in 10 independents favour raising taxes on the wealthy and corporations, which Republicans oppose, and support cuts on domestic spending, which Democrats oppose.

The poll also found that cuts to defence programs have become less popular. About half of those surveyed in August, when the super committee was formed, favoured defence cuts; but the Monday poll shows that about six in 10 are now against defence cuts.