Welcome back to the Data for Progress newsletter, your update on our research, blog posts, and memes.

Sen. Ron Wyden on the DFP Blog: Voters Support Replacing 100% of Workers’ Wages During the Crisis
Fresh on our blog is Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon explaining why the next stimulus should include more extensive unemployment benefits. Wyden argues for triggering automatic benefit extensions based on specific rates of unemployment, incorporating gig workers and others into the system, and increasing traditional unemployment benefits.

In the blog post, Wyden shares DFP polling showing that an overwhelming majority of voters support the CARES Act provision to add $600 per week to unemployment benefits, which would effectively replace every dollar of lost wages for many people.




We Launched A Weekly Coronavirus Polling Tracker
A week ago, we released a coronavirus polling tracker to show changes over time in public opinion on the coronavirus response. We’ve already found something interesting: over just the first two weeks, public support for increased government spending to address the coronavirus has risen.



Check out all the issues we’re tracking here.


Memo: The Put People First Agenda Has Broad Support
We’re thrilled to join the #PutPeopleFirst coalition, a group of legislators and organizations — including AOC, Ilhan Omar, Pramila Jayapal, MoveOn, and Justice Democrats — dedicated to passing a coronavirus relief package big enough to solve the emergency at hand.

In a new memo, we find that the #PutPeopleFirst is overwhelmingly popular. There is clear bipartisan support for all four of the planks of the agenda:

• Grants to businesses to keep workers on payroll (85 percent support, 10 percent oppose)

• Monthly cash assistance to all Americans (79-12)

• Health coverage for all coronavirus care and protections for frontline workers (76-18)

• Expanded absentee voting (69-21)
  
  

Memo: Americans Support Suspending All Rent Payments
Renters have been among the hardest hit by the coronavirus. In some states, renters who can’t make their monthly payments are still facing new eviction lawsuits. But even in states with eviction moratoriums, rent hasn’t been canceled — it’s simply been postponed. This could burden many tenants with an insurmountable level of debt and the possibility of being evicted once the eviction moratorium ends.

In a new memo, released in conjunction with Ilhan Omar’s rent cancellation legislation, we find majority support for suspending and forgiving all rent payments. 55 percent of voters canceling rent payments and suspending mortgage payments during the pandemic, while 33 percent oppose.



In a separate memo on housing precarity, we show more support for progressive housing policies, including a ban on foreclosures during the state of emergency (84 percent support, 10 percent oppose) and a "sliding scale" rental assistance program (80-10). Check that memo out too.


Memo: Voters Strongly Support the Essential Workers Bill of Rights
While many Americans are working from home, essential workers are continuing to show up at their workplaces to keep grocery stores, hospitals, and other important services running. In a new memo, we find that the Essential Workers Bill of Rights — a proposal by Senator Elizabeth Warren and Congressman Ro Khanna to protect these workers — is highly popular.

We find that 75 percent of Americans support the Essential Workers Bill of Rights overall, with just 13 percent opposition. Voters support increasing pay for essential workers by an even larger 83-11 margin.

One more finding: a proposal to guarantee a $15 minimum wage and paid family leave to essential workers has 68 percent support and 22 percent opposition nationwide.




Voters Support Empowering Medicare to Cover Americans’ Healthcare Costs During the Crisis
Millions of Americans are out of work, and many of them will lose their employer-sponsored insurance.

To meet the healthcare needs of families across the U.S., Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Pramila Jayapal have proposed the Health Care Emergency Guarantee Act, which would empower Medicare to cover all treatment costs for the uninsured and all out-of-pocket costs for those with insurance throughout the pandemic. Our polling finds that this plan is overwhelmingly popular, with 76-13 support among voters.



In a separate blog post, we find that 49 percent of Americans support a separate proposal to automatically enroll those who apply for unemployment into Medicaid. Just 35 percent oppose. 

The verdict is clear: voters want Washington to use Medicare and Medicaid to radically expand health coverage throughout this crisis.


Data Bytes

• Voters Support Government Manufacturing of Drugs and Other Medical Supplies: Across the U.S., providers are already facing shortages of ventilators, N95 masks, and prescription drugs for coronavirus patients. In a brand new blog, we show that a clear majority of voters support the government manufacturing of generic drugs (56 percent support, 26 percent opposed), which would help combat these shortages.
  
  
  
  Our post was released in conjunction with Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Jan Schakowsky’s COVID-19 Emergency Manufacturing Act, which was unveiled on Thursday. The act would establish a new office to manufacture diagnostic materials, personal protective equipment, and pharmaceutical drugs for coronavirus patients.
   

• Voters Support Aid to Cities and States, Oppose Ending Social Distancing: The coronavirus shutdown has led to a loss in tax revenue for many state and city governments, straining their budgets. In a new blog post, we show that a majority of voters (60 percent) support increasing aid to states and cities that are struggling with budget deficits and possible bankruptcy due to coronavirus. Just 13 percent oppose.
  
  
   

• Elizabeth Warren is Democrats’ Preferred VP Pick: In a new memo, we show that both Democratic voters and Sanders primary voters prefer Warren as Biden’s VP pick. Despite narratives that Sanders supporters would be turned off by Warren, we find the opposite: overall, Sanders voters rate Warren with the most favorability and excitement.
  
  
  
  Overall, 53 percent of Democrats said they’d be more likely to support Biden’s presidency with Warren as VP. Just 15 percent said it would reduce their support.
   

• Memo: A Stimulus for All Americans: In a new memo released last Tuesday in collaboration with United We Dream, Community Change, The Justice Collaborative, and Indivisible, we show that Americans want immigrants to be included in the coronavirus stimulus.
  
  A clear majority of Americans support automatically renewing visas and immigration benefits for essential workers and DACA recipients, which is extremely important given that visa renewal offices are closed.
  
  
  
  We also found that providing free health treatment to all Americans regardless of immigration status enjoys a 61-34 margin of support.
   

• Voters Want Guaranteed Paychecks Through the Pandemic: In April, we released findings showing that 81 percent of voters support a proposal for the government to cover businesses’ paychecks to workers, so long as these businesses keep their workers employed throughout the state of emergency. Only 11 percent oppose it.
  
  
  
  This suggests that Rep. Pramila Jayapal’s “paycheck guarantee” proposal would have strong, bipartisan support.
   

• Coronavirus and Climate Hit Communities of Color the Hardest: Detroit has a population of about 700,000, while parts of Wayne County excluding Detroit have a population of more than 1 million. In a new Data for Progress analysis, however, we show that despite having a smaller population, Detroit has been significantly more impacted by the coronavirus than surrounding parts of Wayne County. As of April 23, when we published the post, Detroit had 728 reported coronavirus deaths, compared to 550 in non-Detroit parts of Wayne County.
  
  
  
  While only 14 percent of Michigan’s population is black, black people make up 33 percent of its coronavirus cases and 40 percent of all coronavirus deaths.
   

• Nationalize the Fossil Fuel Industry: With oil prices plummeting, the Trump Administration has considered providing federal assistance to oil companies. However, climate advocates are considering an alternative: taking public ownership of fossil fuel companies, which could help phase out fossil fuels.
  
  Despite the fact that nationalization has been colored as a radical, socialist policy, Americans are actually split on this issue: 39 percent support, 39 percent oppose.
  
  
   

• Voters are Extremely Worried About Coronavirus: In a Crooked piece, we show that voters are upset with the Trump Administration’s coronavirus response. 65 percent of voters, for instance, find Trump’s refusal to order companies to build the needed equipment to be either “very concerning” or “somewhat concerning.”
  
  

From The Blog
Voters Want Guaranteed Paychecks Through The Pandemic
How Coronavirus Has Upended Work in America
Seize (and Clean) The Means of Production
Nationalize the Fossil Fuel Industry
Fox News Can't Save Trump From The Reality Of The Coronavirus
In a Crisis, People Want Pragmatic Leadership
Coronavirus and Climate Hit Communities of Color Hardest
Coronavirus Update: Voters Support More Spending and Worry About Covering Costs
Voters Support Empowering Medicare To Cover Americans Health Care Costs During The Crisis
Coronavirus Response Tracking Poll, Week 1 and 2
The Voters of OH-03 Support The Progressive Agenda
The World Needs a Post-Coronavirus Green Marshall Plan
Voters Support Aid To Cities And States, Oppose Ending Social Distancing
Voters Support Government Manufacturing of Drugs And Other Medical Supplies
Voters Support Replacing 100 Percent Of Workers’ Wages During This Crisis


Memos
Memo: Addressing Housing Precarity in the Context of Coronavirus Crisis
Memo: Governors Must Use Clemency Powers to Slow the Pandemic
Memo: California Prosecutors Must Do More to Protect Their Communities From Coronavirus: Policies & Polling
Memo: Voters Strongly Support the Essential Workers Bill of Rights
Memo: Combating Trump's Coronavirus Messaging
Memo: California’s Sheriffs Must Do More to Save Their Communities from the Ravages of Coronavirus
Memo: Americans Support Suspending All Rent Payments
Report: Emergency Action Plan
Memo: The Put People First Agenda Has Broad Support
Memo: 2020 Vice Presidential Selection-Polling Potential Tickets
Memo: Protecting Rural Jails from Coronavirus
Memo: California Housing Precarity in the Context of the Coronavirus Pandemic
Memo: A Stimulus for All Americans
Memo: A Green Marshall Plan - America’s Global Climate Compact


Media Hits
“Dems in Array.” @Pod Save America
Millennials Don’t Stand a Chance @The Atlantic
Poll Shows Majority of Americans Support Canceling Rent and Suspending Mortgage Payments During Pandemic @Common Dreams
Majority of Americans support Ilhan Omar’s nationwide rent cancellation bill, poll shows: TRD Insights @The Real Deal
Majority of Americans support canceling rent, freezing mortgages during pandemic @Salon
Poll Finds Elizabeth Warren VP Pick Most Likely To Pull In Bernie Sanders Voters @Huffington Post
The Case for a Temporary Merger Ban for America’s Largest Companies @The Appeal
Why millions of college students and young adults won’t get a stimulus check @Vox
The US needs a Green New Deal for farmland @GreenBiz
More than half of voters under 45 say they'd lost jobs or hours to coronavirus, report finds @The Week
Younger workers are hit hardest in the coronavirus job market, and it spells bad news for millennials and Gen Z @Business Insider


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