Poll: Tennessee voters oppose cuts to Social Security, Medicare
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Tennesseans across the political spectrum strongly oppose federal spending cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, according to a new poll released Thursday by Vanderbilt University.
- The poll also found more than two-thirds of Tennessee voters oppose cutting research funding, especially at teaching hospitals.
Why it matters: The results show bipartisan support for major areas of federal spending, including sectors where the Trump administration is pursuing cuts.
By the numbers: Tennessee voters were most strongly against cuts to Social Security benefits (94% opposed), Medicare (97% opposed), Medicaid (89% opposed) and veterans' health care programs (94% opposed).
- 68% of registered voters opposed cutting national parks funding.
- 73% opposed cutting research funding at teaching hospitals.
- 65% said they're against funding cuts for university research, although opposition on that front was only at 35% among MAGA Republicans.
What they're saying: "In today's polarized environment, the focus often falls solely on disagreements," Vanderbilt poll director John Geer said in a statement. (Indeed, the poll found strong disagreements along party lines on immigration.)
- "However, I believe it's equally important, as this poll highlights, to recognize areas of agreement across partisan lines, whether someone identifies as a MAGA Republican, Democrat or Independent."
Of note: About nine in 10 Tennessee voters support reducing the state's sales tax on groceries.
The intrigue: Gov. Bill Lee's approval rating is just above water at 51%. That's the lowest share of support for any Tennessee governor since the Vanderbilt poll began in 2011, according to a news release.
- Among MAGA Republicans, support for Lee is at 78%.
State of play: Federal cuts to research funding have hit Vanderbilt University Medical Center and many of the state's research institutions, which depend on grants to fund the study of diseases, agriculture and rural health disparities.
- Metro is suing to stop cuts to grants funding that had already been allocated. One grant that got chopped would fund care for new mothers and their babies.
Zoom in: President Trump has promised not to cut Social Security benefits, but there have been significant cuts to administrative services and Social Security staff.
- Trump has voiced support for Medicaid. But some Republicans in Congress are eying big Medicaid cuts.
How it works: The latest Vanderbilt poll was conducted April 17-27 and included 1,223 registered Tennessee voters. The margin of error is +/- 3.5 percentage points.