DFP’s newsletter of our latest polls, memos, and memes.
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Death To Pennies
If you too were a #nerdfighter in 2010, you, dear reader, should know the wrath ([link removed]) that only pennies can incite in John and Hank Green brothers.
It’s why today Data for Progress is proud to present Death to Pennies: a poll.
Every year, the U.S. government produces billions of new pennies. Even though a penny is worth only 1 cent, each penny costs about 2 cents to produce ([link removed]) . In 2010, 70 million dollars of federal tax money went ([link removed]) to subsidizing the existence of the penny, meaning that the U.S. has lost roughly $840 million over the past 12 years to the production of the penny (enough to pay for the Inflation Reduction Act’s alternative fuel and low-emission aviation technology program 2.5 times!!)
New Data for Progress polling ([link removed]) reveals that 58 percent of voters agree that the U.S. government should stop producing new pennies. When voters hear information about this cost, a majority of them agree that the penny is no longer useful in our economy and producing the coins wastes millions of dollars. Though little in politics is bipartisan these days, the death of the penny is a bipartisan winner: 59 percent of Democrats, 60 percent of Independents, and 57 percent of Republicans support ending the production of pennies. (Just over a third of voters believe the U.S. government should continue producing new pennies.)
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There is hope yet. Democrats, might we suggest you run on this bipartisan winner in 2022? Read the blog here ([link removed]) .
Here are some other highlights from DFP this week:
Secure Social Security
It might not be the sexiest progressive issue out there, but protecting Social Security is one of the most important progressive issues Democrats can talk about in a midterm environment where historically older voters will be turning out at higher rates than younger voters.
Recent polling from Data for Progress throughout June ([link removed]) and July ([link removed]) finds that voters overwhelmingly support Social Security and want Congress to expand Social Security benefits to help beneficiaries meet rising costs. Republican attacks on Social Security (Rick Scott’s plan ([link removed]) to sunset Social Security and Lindsey Graham’s corroboration ([link removed]) ) are in sharp contrast with public opinion, and Democrats should capitalize on this opportunity to communicate about their efforts to protect and expand Social Security.
Data for Progress polling finds that 86 percent of voters are “very” or “somewhat” concerned that the U.S. government will reduce Social Security benefits for those who currently receive them. We also find that 79 percent of voters are concerned the government will privatize Social Security, and 67 percent of voters are concerned the government will raise the Social Security eligibility age over 62.
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Read the full blog here ([link removed]) .
When the CHIPS are Down, Corporations Will Still Profit
Today, most of the world’s semiconductor chips are manufactured outside of the United States, primarily in China and Taiwan. However, the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act aims to make the U.S. a world leader in the semiconductor market. The bill will lower costs, create jobs ([link removed]) , and reduce our reliance on foreign nations for essential goods.
To achieve these goals, semiconductor companies will receive billions of dollars in government funding for American chip manufacturing. However, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has criticized the bill ([link removed]) , arguing that it does not stop these corporations from using the funds to outsource jobs or enrich their own shareholders and executives.
The five major companies that will receive the bulk of funding from the CHIPS and Science Act collectively earned over $70 billion in profit last year. Nearly three-quarters of voters think it is important to explicitly prevent semiconductor companies from using taxpayer dollars to benefit their corporate shareholders, including 73 percent of Democrats, 68 percent of Independents, and 76 percent of Republicans.
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Read the full blog here ([link removed]) .
Donate to DFP ([link removed])
** DFP In The News
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The Atlantic:Generation Z Doesn’t Remember When America Worked ([link removed])
Nation:Why Are Fossil Fuel Companies Funding Climate Change Research? ([link removed])
Vanity Fair:The Democrats’ Gerontocracy Is In Full Force ([link removed])
The Hill:Top Latino group jumps into contested NY House primary ([link removed])
The Hill:Let’s honor Social Security’s 87th anniversary by strengthening and expanding it ([link removed])
Spectrum News NY1:State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi on the Democratic primary race for NY-17 ([link removed])
Al Jazeera:Biden signs $740bn health, climate, tax ‘Inflation Reduction Act’ ([link removed])
In These Times:Monkeypox Is a Workers' Rights Issue ([link removed])
The New York Sun:Youthquake: Has Abortion Activated the Youth Vote? ([link removed])
Iowa Starting Line:Boom: Poll Says Most Iowans Support Legal Fireworks ([link removed])
The Gander:Voters Want Student Debt Erased—But Many Michiganders Don’t Have to Wait ([link removed])
Truthout:Poll Finds 3 in 4 Voters Want to Expand Social Security by Taxing the Rich ([link removed])
Erie News Now:PA Lawmakers Celebrate New Program to Tackle Affordable Housing Crisis ([link removed])
Iowa Starting Line:Poll: Vast Majority Of Iowans Across Parties Trust Iowa Public Schools ([link removed])
Iowa Starting Line:Poll: Large Majority Of Iowans Oppose Reynolds’ Private School Voucher Plan ([link removed])
Iowa Starting Line:Poll: Candidates Backing Abortion Bans A Deal-Breaker For Many Iowa Voters ([link removed])
On Social
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Dems Deliver
When it comes to elections, Wisconsin absolutely loves keeping us on our toes. From voting for Trump in 2016 and Biden in 2020 to electing both Democrat Tammy Baldwin and Republican Ron Johnson to the Senate, they’re basically one of those girls who make loving the color purple their entire personality. We get it Lucy, your bedroom walls are purple and so is your pencil case. Now shut up, so we can watch Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam in peace.
As you may be able to tell, we’re personally over it and would love to introduce Wisconsin to the color blue. More specifically, we would like every Wisconsinite to become personally acquainted with Mandela Barnes, their current Lieutenant Governor who’s running against Ron Johnson for Senate. According to his Twitter bio ([link removed]) , he’s a struggling plant dad and all we’re saying is if he needs someone to help co-parent his plants, he should hit us up.
The Dems have already helped Wisconsin out with a few things through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, so why not keep it going with the Democrats by electing Mandela? The Wisconsin Port of Duluth-Superior received $19 million from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, split between two projects: $13 million going towards dock wall reconstruction in the Corps of Engineers Vessel Yard and $6 million to be used for dredging from Erie Pier. Noice. You can learn more about the projects here ([link removed]) .
If elected, Mandela and his dying plant children will help Wisconsin continue on this infrastructure improvement journey. So mark your election day calendars, because November is right around the corner and we’re sure Tammy is kind of over spending copious amounts of time with Ron Johnson.
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