As Nancy Pelosi is sworn in and a new Congress takes the reigns it’s worth noting that on three major issues Dems are set to tackle early on — minimum wage, stem cell research and prescription drugs — the majority of Americans, including lots of Republicans, are behind them, for now.
An Associated Press-AOL poll released yesterday finds that Congress’ early goals have widespread appeal:
Nearly six in 10 U.S. adults support easing restrictions on federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research. Democratic congressional leaders this month plan to approve a bill similar to the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. Dems are also poised to boost the federal minimum wage, which has wallowed at $5.15/hr for a full decade, and 80% of survey respondents, including 65% of Republicans, support the increase.
On the prescription drug front, where Congress will look to facilitate the purchase of more affordable drugs from other countries, seven in 10 Americans favor the government taking such steps.
Poll takers took the most pause when asked about their view of Pelosi as a leader. While equal parts, 22% each, view her favorably and non-favorably, more than half of Americans, 55%, say they just don’t know enough about her yet. Surely, as her leadership begins this hour, her actions to come will vault this majority into one camp or the other.
Nancy, show us what you’ve got.
