Just 28 percent believe rebate checks will help

Published 6:06 am Wednesday, April 2, 2008

By Staff
UTICA, N.Y. – As many Americans await the arrival of rebate checks from the federal government aimed at boosting the U.S. economy, a new Zogby Interactive poll finds just 28 percent believe the government's economic stimulus rebate plan will help.
Two in three likely voters (67 percent) do not think the rebate checks will give the U.S. economy a boost, with 36 percent who strongly disagree the checks are likely to help boost the sagging economy.
Democrats (83 percent) and independents (70 percent) are more likely than Republicans (49 percent) to be skeptical of how much the rebate checks will improve the economy.
Those doubts are also strongest among younger likely voters – 72 percent of those ages 18 to 29 disagree the rebate checks will help, compared to 60 percent of those age 65 and older. The interactive survey of 5,036 likely voters was conducted March 26-28 and carries a margin of error of +/- 1.4 percentage points.
Most Americans also have misgivings about the possibility of the federal government stepping in to help struggling investment companies and those facing foreclosure on their homes.
Two in three Americans (68 percent) disagree with the idea of the federal government stepping in to help investment companies that are suffering because of their heavy investments in worthless mortgages – just 25 percent believe the government should take steps to help these companies.