Democrats and Republicans are divided on the issue of federal spending. In a Pew poll, 74% of Republicans reported that they would prefer decreased federal spending, and in turn, decreased federal services, while 67% of Democrats reported the opposite. Voters were especially split on the topics of healthcare, education, and welfare, with Democrats reporting support for increased spending in those arenas.
Government spending is a complex topic, and there is much debate as to how the funds should be distributed. Republicans and Democrats often feud over whether the Government should be spending as much money as it does to fund certain organizations or projects. A Pew Research Center survey from 2019 on how Republicans and Democrats view government spending found that on:
Social Security: 38% of Republicans are for increasing social security spending, 11% for lowering, and 49% for keeping spending the same compared with 57% of Democrats for increasing social security, 6% for lowering, and 33% for keeping spending the same.
Infrastructure: 57% of Republicans are for increasing infrastructure spending, 9% for lowering, and 31% for keeping spending the same compared with 64% of Democrats for increasing infrastructure spending, 7% for lowering, and 27% for keeping spending the same.
Economic Aid: 27% of Republicans are for increasing economic aid spending, 29% for lowering, and 40% for keeping spending the same compared with 62% of Democrats for increasing economic aid spending, 9% for lowering, and 27% for keeping spending the same.
As for how Republican and Democratic politicians feel about the increase in government spending, the Senate voted 68-31 in March 2022 to pass a $1.5 trillion omnibus bill that will fund federal government agencies for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2022. The majority of support came from the Democratic side of the aisle due to increased funding for Democratic priorities. So, the feelings of increased and or decreased political spending by the electorate are mirrored by the party in government.
From 2020-2022, Democrats have enacted major spending programs that include the largest public infrastructure bill in history, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act that pertains to climate change, health care, and tax reform. Authorized new spending for these programs is set to exceed $3 trillion.
In December 2022, Congress passed a humongous $1.7 trillion omnibus package to fund the government through September 2023. It passed in the Senate by a 68-29 vote and in the House, with a 225-201-1 vote. The voting in the House was along party lines (Democrats in favor, and Republicans opposed) with 9 Republicans crossing over to vote for the measure alongside Democrats, and 1 Democratic member voting present.
