BETTER, NOT SMALLER: WHAT AMERICANS WANT FROM

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

RUY TEIXEIRA CENTURY FOUNDATION, CENTER FOR AMERICAN

PROGRESS

JUNE 21, 2012

HARTRESEARCHA S S O T E SC I A

Better, Not Smaller:What Americans Want from

Federal Government

3

Lowest Rating On Record For Confidence In Federal Government

Confidence in Federal Government to Solve Problems

Millennials44% a lot/some20% none

4

Government Is Doing Too Much

Millennials49% should do more46% doing too much

5

But Government Should Also Do More

Developing new, clean energy

sources

Improving public schools

Making college affordable

Reducing poverty

Ensuring access to affordable health

care

Want More Federal Government Involvement in Various AreasAll adults Millennials

6

Improving Government Performance More Important Than Reducing Size

MillennialsAll adults

Priority for Improving Federal Government Improve efficiency and effectiveness Reduce size of federal government

81%62%41%

82%69%45%

58%76%79%

DemocratsIndependentsRepublicans

Liberal/progressiveModerateConservative/libertarian

WhitesHispanicsAfrican Americans

Improve Efficiency

7

Millennials And Non-Millennials: Improving Government More Important Than Shrinking It

DemocratsIndependentsRepublicans

White non-college graduatesWhite college graduates

Millennials

83%70%56%

71%64%

% who select improving efficiency/effectiveness of gov’t over reducing its size

Non-Millennials

80%60%36%

53%60%

Difference

+3+10+20

+18 +4

9

Government Could Be More Effective

Possibility of Improving Federal Government Effectiveness

Could be more effective if better managed

Bound to be ineffective no matter what 74% of adults, including 66% of Millennials, say it is very important for President and Congress to take steps to improve effectiveness and efficiency of federal government.

All adults

Millennials

All adults

Millennials

10

“Doing What Works” Plan Core Components Seen As Effective

Eliminate inefficient government programs and redirect support to the most cost-effective programs

Carefully evaluate the performance of government programs and agencies and make this information available to the public

Have the government use the most modern management methods and information technologies

Would be very effective in making federal govt work better Would be fairly effective

71%

70%

60%

All adults

Millennials

All adults

Millennials

All adults

Millennials

72%

70%

62%

11

Specific Elements Of“Doing What Works” Plan

Require every federal agency to set clear goals that are measured by real-world resultsReform the federal budget process, so that spending decisions are based on objective evidence about what works and what does notMeasure and compare the performance of state actions in areas such as health care, education, and energy to identify what approaches work and what do not Consolidate federal programs where there is significant overlapChange the way government contracts are awarded, so officials can quickly and accurately determine the best contractor for the job

Effective*83%

82%

80%

79%

79%

Adults’ Ratings of Each as a Way to Improve Federal Government Performance

* Ratings on zero-to-ten scale: 6-10 = effective, 8-10 = highly effective

Highlyeffective*

68%

65%

58%

62%

60%