Public Opinion and American Federalism: Perspectives on Taxes, Spending, and Trust--An ACIR Update

Abstract

The research reported here updates for 1999 some public opinion data previously provided by the U.S. Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations. The 1999 survey results indicate a general continuation of opinion trends established by the late 1970s to the mid-1980s. Local government is viewed as giving citizens the mostfor their money, followed by state government and thefederal government. Americans still regard thefederal income tax as the worst tax, followed by the local property tax. Likewise, Americans express the most trust and confidence in local government and the least trust and confidence in the federal government, although confidence in all governments increased over comparable data for 1992. Race and party identification and, in one case, region are significant factors differentiating opinions about the federal, state, and local governments and their taxes.