Much of the Congressional Progressive Caucus’ New Legislative Agenda Is Popular With Swing State Voters
By Rob Todaro and Anika Dandekar
Earlier this month, the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) released its “Progressive Proposition Agenda,” an extensive list of domestic policy proposals that would ideally serve as a blueprint for the next Congress if President Biden and the Democrats win this November. The agenda, endorsed by the nearly 100-member caucus and numerous progressive groups, can be found in full here.
Data for Progress tested public support for several of the top policies included in the Progressive Proposition Agenda, particularly those related to lowering costs and empowering workers, as well as raising wages. The new survey finds broad support for this agenda — among the Democratic base, as well as among Independents and voters in swing states.
The most popular policy tested — requiring stronger safety protections for workers, including those dealing with extreme heat — is supported by 88% of voters, including at least 85% of Democrats, Independents, and Republicans. More than 70% of voters, including majorities across party lines, also support the following policies: increasing government spending on affordable home- and community-based care for seniors and people with disabilities (83%), implementing a tax on corporations whose CEOs make at least 50 times more than their median employee (80%), requiring corporations to pay the same tax rate on profits earned abroad as they do on profits earned in the U.S. to address outsourcing (79%), providing free pre-K to all 3-and 4-year-olds (76%), increasing government spending on child care (73%), and establishing national clean energy standards (71%).
The most divisive policy tested — repealing Donald Trump's tax cuts on corporations and individuals making more than $400,000 per year — is still supported by a majority of likely voters (58%), including 81% of Democrats and 59% of Independents.
Levels of support for these policies are similar among swing state voters, with 89% supportive of requiring stronger safety protections for workers and at least 70% supporting the other policies tested, except for the Trump tax cut repeal, which is still supported by 57% of swing state voters.
Additionally, the survey asked about expanding the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022’s provisions related to accessing prescription drugs under Medicare to benefit more Americans. More than 80% of voters support extending the annual $2,000 cap on out-of-pocket spending on prescription drugs to all Americans (82%) and allowing Medicare to negotiate directly with drug companies to lower the prices of 50 drugs per year (89%).
These findings emphasize that many policies championed by progressive groups and elected officials are not only very popular with the Democratic base, but also among Independents and swing state voters. In many cases, especially involving policies that would take on corporations and expand access to child care and elder care, a majority of Republican likely voters support these policies as well.
Rob Todaro (@robtodaro) is the Communications Director at Data for Progress
Anika Dandekar (@AnikaDandekar) is a senior analyst at Data for Progress.