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Rutgers-Eagleton finds residents want Congress to start over with new legislation

Support for health care reform remains strong in New Jersey, according to a Rutgers-Eagleton Poll released Thursday that finds 81 percent of residents say the health care system needs to be changed.

Only 17 percent believe the current system works well enough.

At the same time, given a choice between passing the current health care bill and starting over, more than two-thirds of New Jerseyans polled believe Congress should start crafting new legislation.

"Despite the limited progress that health care reform has made in Washington, the desire for change remains very strong in New Jersey," said David Redlawsk, the poll director and a Rutgers professor of political science. "The vast majority sees the need for change, but has soured on the bill under debate in Congress."

Most New Jerseyans, 70 percent, believe changing the health care system is worth whatever risk it may carry, while only 25 percent say that change is too risky. Five percent are not sure. Of those favoring change, 82 percent believe the risk is worthwhile; only 13 percent think it would be too risky to do so. Among the small group of adults who think the system works well, 75 percent say making a change would be too risky.

"There is real pressure for health care reform," Redlawsk said. "A solid majority believes the current system needs to be fixed and it is worth the risk to pass a bill. There has been remarkably little change in opinion on the need for reform since early November, despite the debate inside and outside of Washington."

That Rutgers-Eagleton Poll reported that 63 percent of New Jerseyans thought the health care system "could work better" and 88 percent said "change is needed."

While New Jerseyans are willing to risk health care reform, they feel strongly that Congress should and come up with a new bill. Only 22 percent say Congress should pass the current reform proposals, while 68 percent want the lawmakers to start over.

More than half of Democrats want to begin anew, along with 60 percent of independents and 91 percent of Republicans. Only 37 percent of Democrats want passage of the current proposal. Of those favoring a fresh look at reform by Congress, 62 percent think the risk is worthwhile. Almost a third (31 percent) calls it too risky.

"The interesting finding is despite the strong interest in change and the willingness to say change is worth the risk it brings, New Jerseyans still want Congress to start over," Redlawsk said. "To most New Jerseyans, the current health care process has resulted in a bill they just do not believe is worth passing."

The poll of 953 New Jersey adults was conducted from Feb. 19 through 22 It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.2 percentage points.

— TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM