Most U.S. Adults Want Obama To Make Major Health Care Reforms

A majority of U.S. adults believe that President-elect Barack Obama should make major reforms to the health care system, according to a recent Washington Post-ABC News Poll, the Post reports (Cohen/Agiesta, Washington Post, 12/21).

The poll, conducted by telephone between Dec. 11 and Dec. 14, included responses from a random sample of 1,003 adults. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.

Seventy-seven percent of adults believe that Obama should make major reforms to the health care system, the poll found. According to the poll, 51% of adults believe that Obama should seek to make major reforms to the health care system immediately after he takes office, and 26% believe that he should wait until later in his first term.

Sixty-eight percent of adults believe that Obama will have the ability to make major reforms to the health care system, compared with 28% who believe that he will not have the ability, the poll found.

Almost three-fourths of adults believe that Obama should increase federal funds for health insurance for children, compared with 23% who believe that he should not. Half believe that he should address the issue immediately, compared with 24% who believe that he should wait, according to the poll.

In addition, 52% percent of adults believe that Obama should increase federal funds for embryonic stem cell research, compared with 42% who believe that he should not, the poll found (Washington Post graphic, 12/21).