Despite President Barack Obama’s promise that any health care reform legislation will be deficit-neutral, 68% of voters nationwide say that passage of the Congressional health care reform legislation is likely to create larger deficits.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that just 10% believe the legislation will reduce the deficit while 14% say it will have no impact. Eight percent (8%) are not sure.

Of the priorities outlined by the President earlier this year, 40% say that deficit reduction is the most important. Twenty-one percent (21%) say health care reform should be the top priority. While deficit reduction is number one for a plurality of voters, it is also seen as the Presidential objective least likely to be achieved.

Middle income voters are more likely than others to see a connection between the proposed legislation and higher deficits.

Republicans and unaffiliated voters overwhelmingly believe that the health care legislation will lead to higher deficits. Among those not affiliated with either major party, 79% believe the legislation will increase deficits while 3% believe it will reduce deficits.

Democrats are less sure of the outcome, but a plurality of those in the President’s party share the same view. Forty-three percent (43%) of Democrats believe that passing health care reform is likely to mean higher deficits. Twenty-two percent (22%) of Democrats say the legislation will reduce deficits while 26% expect it to have no impact.

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In addition to concerns about deficits, 80% of voters say it’s at least somewhat likely that passage of health care reform will lead to higher taxes for the middle class. That’s up slightly from a month ago when 76% thought the legislation would lead to higher taxes.

Scott Rasmussen, president of Rasmussen Reports, observed that “It is impossible to separate the politics of health care reform from concerns about deficits and the economy.” Earlier polling showed that 54% of voters favor middle class tax cuts over new health care spending.

In a Wall Street Journal column last fall, Rasmussen noted that “Mr. Obama won the White House promising tax cuts, but he will be governing with a Democratic Congress bursting with desire for a more activist government. As he faces this challenge, he might remember the fate of another man who made taxes the central part of his campaign: the first President Bush, whose most memorable campaign line -- "Read my lips, no new taxes" -- was as central to his victory as Mr. Obama's promise to cut taxes for 95% of Americans. George H.W. Bush famously reneged on that promise. Voters rejected his bid for a second term.”

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