Democrats Win The Tax Issue HART RESEARCH A S O T E C I Democrats Win The Tax Issue Key findings from a telephone survey among 1,009 voters nationwide (including 201 cell-phone only voters), conducted Nov. 7 – 9, 2012 for J:\10549

Tax Fairness An Important Consideration For Two-Thirds Of Voters In making your voting decisions this year, how important an issue was making the tax system more fair? Not sure Very (44%)/ fairly (23%) important consideration Just somewhat (20%)/ not (10%) important consideration How They Voted President Obama Romney Senate Democrat Republican 58% 40% 62% 36% Q10/ATFQ1

Democrats Eliminate GOP Advantage On Taxes When it comes to dealing with taxes, which party do you think would do a better job—the Democratic Party, the Republican Party, or both about the same?* Democrats Republicans *All data except Nov. 2012 taken from surveys conducted by Peter Hart and Bill McInturff on behalf of NBC News and the Wall St. Journal. Q11/ATFQ2

Voters Want To End Bush Tax Cuts For Income Over $250,000 The Bush tax cuts are due to expire at the end of this year, which means that federal income tax rates will increase unless Congress takes action. Which of these do you think is the best way for Congress to deal with the Bush tax cuts? End tax cuts for those making over $250,000 Obama voters Romney voters $50k or less $50k to $100k $100k or more Whites Moderates Swing voters End 75% 34% 56% 59% 55% 64% 62% Continue 17% 37% 40% 39% 41% 30% 5% 56% Q12/ATFQ3 Continue the tax cuts for everyone End tax cuts for all incomes. 4

Exit Poll Shows Even Stronger Support For Higher Taxes On Wealthy Income tax rates should increase on income over $250,000 13% 60% Income tax rates should not increase for anyone National Exit Poll at nbcnews.com Tax rates should increase for all income *Data taken from exit polls conducted by Edison Research on behalf of the National Election Pool.

Voters Agree With President Obama’s Tax Position, Not Republicans in Congress President Obama: Continue tax cuts for income under $250,000 and veto extending tax cuts for income over $250,000. Republicans in Congress: Continue tax cuts for all income levels and block any bill that ends tax cuts for income over $250,000. 61% 53% Q13a/b ATFQ4a/b 42% 35% Strongly Agree 40% Strongly Disagree 39% Strongly Disagree 24% Strongly Agree 22% Agree Disagree Agree Disagree 6

Republicans in Congress Who Will Voters Blame If All Tax Cuts Expire? President Obama Republicans in Congress Blame Obama 4% 22% 56% 19% 28% 32% 25% 26% Blame Republicans 74% 43% 10% 49% 40% 38% 39% Democrats Independents Republicans Moderates $50k or less $50k to $100k $100k or more Northeast South Midwest West Both Equally Not Sure Q13c/ATFQ4c

Voters Prefer Ending Bush Tax Cuts Over Sequestration Cuts On January 1, large cuts in domestic and national defense spending will reduce the budget deficit by about $1 trillion but will also eliminate between one and two million jobs. Should Congress go ahead with these across-the-board budget cuts, or should Congress instead reduce the deficit by ending the Bush tax cuts for those making over $250,000? End tax cuts for those making over $250,000 Go ahead with budget cuts Q15/ATFQ6 Neither/not sure: 32%

Voters Say To Reduce The Deficit Through Progressive Tax Policies, Not Entitlement Cuts Total Approve 84% 61% 58% 30% 16% Total Disapprove 11% 33% 31% 28% 32% 64% 78% Increase taxes on the profits that American corporations make overseas, to ensure they pay as much on foreign profits as they do on profits made in the United States. Pass legislation to prevent corporations and wealthy individuals from avoiding U.S. taxes by shifting income earned here in the United States to overseas tax havens. Place a surtax of 5% on income over $1 million per year. End the lower tax rate on income from selling stocks and other assets, so that investors pay the same tax rates as workers do on their earnings. Increase the estate tax, also called the inheritance tax, on estates of more than $7 million for a couple. Raise the age for Medicare eligibility from 65 to 67. Cut Medicaid benefits. Q16/ATFQ7

Democrats Win The Tax Issue HART RESEARCH A S O T E C I Democrats Win The Tax Issue Key findings from a telephone survey among 1,009 voters nationwide (including 201 cell-phone only voters), conducted Nov. 7 – 9, 2012 for J:\10549