Given the option to increase, keep the same, or decrease federal spending on Medicaid along a seven-point scale, a very large bipartisan majority of 81% did not support decreasing spending, including 75% of Republicans and 86% of Democrats.

A majority (55%) favored increasing spending on Medicaid, which respondents were informed would allow Medicaid to enroll more people and cover more services. This included a majority of Democrats (65%) and about half of Republicans (49%). 

Just 19% favored reducing spending on Medicaid, including 24% of Republicans and 14% of Democrats.

Respondents were informed that the federal government has a program to help states pay for expanding Medicaid to more people – those earning a little above the federal poverty line – but only if states opt in and cover ten percent of the costs. They were informed that 40 states have opted into the expansion program, costing them an additional few hundred thousand to a few million dollars a year, and resulting in an additional 20 million people getting Medicaid coverage.

Among respondents in the ten states that have not opted into the Medicaid expansion program, a bipartisan majority of 75% favor their state opting in and paying the required ten percent of costs (Republicans 69%, Democrats 82%).

Among respondents in the 40 states and Washington, DC that have expanded Medicaid, a bipartisan majority of 87% favored their state continuing to be part of the program (Republicans 83%, Democrats 94%).

Told that single mothers receive about $530 in SNAP benefits a month, on average, and given the option to choose how much monthly food stamps should be, a bipartisan majority (70%) increased the benefits (Republicans 68%, Democrats 76%).

The median respondent increased the monthly food stamp benefits for single mothers from $530 to $600 (Republicans $600, Democrats $650).

Told that individuals living alone receive about $170 a month in SNAP benefits a month, on average, and given the option to choose how much monthly food stamps should be, a bipartisan majority (86%) chose to increase benefits. (Republicans 82%, Democrats 92%).

The median respondent increased the monthly food stamp benefits for individuals without children from $170 to $250 (Republicans $250, Democrats $270).

Respondents were informed that SNAP recipients can not have more than $3,000 in savings, or $4,500 if their household has a member over 60 years old or with a disability. About half chose to raise the level of allowed savings (49%, Republicans 44%, Democrats 55%), and four in ten kept it the same (39%, Republicans 45%, Democrats 32%). Just 12% favored lowering it.

For each food type, respondents were asked whether it should or should not be allowed to be bought using SNAP benefits. Majorities recommended continuing to allow each (53-72%), including majorities of Democrats in all cases (59-79%), and majorities of Republicans in most cases (54-66%) with the exception of candy (48% allowed vs 52% not allowed).

A bipartisan majority of 90% favored giving food stamp recipients a discount on fruits and vegetables, which respondents were informed would increase the cost of the program, but produce long-term government savings as result of the increased health of recipients. This included 86% of Republicans and 93% of Democrats.

Respondents were informed that the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a refundable tax credit that supplements the income of low-wage workers. They were told that most of these credits go to workers with children, who can have incomes up to $63,000 for those with two children, for example, and can receive a maximum credit of $7,000 a year. In comparison, they were told, workers without children can not have incomes above $18,500 (or $25,500 for married couples), receive a maximum credit of $630, and must be 25 years or older.

A bipartisan majority of 69% favored increasing the maximum EITC for workers without children from $630 to $1,300 a year (Republicans 63%, Democrats 75%).

Given the option to lower the age of eligibility for EITC for workers without children from 25 to 21 or 18, a bipartisan majority of 66% favored lowering the age of eligibility from 25 to at least 21 (Republicans 59%, Democrats 73%). Three in ten (31%) favored going further and lowering it to 18.

A bipartisan majority of 66% favor increasing the income cutoff for EITC for workers without children from about $18,500 for individuals and $25,500 for married couples, to about $24,000 and $33,000, respectively (Republicans 61%, Democrats 72%)