Roundup Of Recent Polls Shows Health Law Continues To Be Polarizing

Polls around the nation have examined opinions on the health care law in advance of the Supreme Court's ruling. One poll finds the same percentage of people are dissatisfied with the health law as are dissatisfied with the health care system.

The New York Times' The Caucus: Poll Roundup: Swing States And Health Care 
Other polls have been released in the last few days. A new ABC News/Washington Post national survey found that while most Americans express dissatisfaction with the health care law, about the same number are dissatisfied with the nation’s health care system. As the country waits for the Supreme Court to issue its decision on the legislation, 56 percent rate the nation’s health care system unfavorably, and 52 percent of Americans have an unfavorable opinion of the health care law. Yet 75 percent of Americans express a favorable view of the health care they personally receive (Kopicki, 6/27).

CNN:  Supreme Court Decision On Polarizing Health Care Law Looms
The U.S. Supreme Court will rule Thursday on the constitutionality of the sweeping health care law championed by President Barack Obama, in a hotly awaited decision that is bound to divide the country. The stakes cannot be overstated: what the justices decide will have an immediate and long-term impact on all Americans, both in how they get medicine and health care, and also in vast, yet unknown areas of "commerce." According to a poll released Tuesday, 37 percent of Americans say they would be pleased if the health care law is deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court (CNN Wire Staff, 6/27).

Fox News: Fox News Poll: Nation Divided On Health Care Law Ahead Of Supreme Court Ruling
As the country awaits the U.S. Supreme Court decision on health care, more American voters continue to oppose the law than favor it.  In addition, voters are divided over what Congress should do if the high court rules parts or all of the 2010 law as unconstitutional. A Fox News poll released Wednesday finds nearly half of voters oppose the law passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama in 2010.  Thirty-nine percent favor the law.  Thirty-nine percent -- the exact same number -- also favored it at the time it was passed two years ago (April 2010) (Blanton, 6/27).

KING5.com:  Poll: Most Washington Residents Oppose Health Insurance Mandate
In a KING 5 poll of 500 residents across Washington state, 46 percent say they disapprove of the entire health care reform bill as passed by Congress and signed by President Obama in 2010, with 41 percent saying they approve.  Thirteen percent told SurveyUSA they were not sure. The individual mandate is even less popular, with 64 percent saying they oppose the requirement that all Americans must provide proof of health insurance or pay a penalty; Only 33 percent support the mandate (Mak, 6/27).

In related news -

CNN:  To Sway Voters, Tens Of Millions Spent On Health Care Ads
Political groups and campaigns hoping to sway voters on the health care issue have spent about $70 million on health-themed TV ads since January 2011, according to a CNN analysis of ad spending data. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule Thursday on the constitutionality of President Barack Obama's signature legislation, the Affordable Care Act. According to the data, which is tracked by Kantar Media/Campaign Media Analysis Group, one of the groups that spent the most is AARP, which funneled about $10.3 million into ads in favor of the law (Christensen, 6/28).