Poll: Health care remains top priority for Americans

Although Congress has recently been focused on taxes, spending, and debt, the American public’s top priority is still health care, according to a new poll from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and POLITICO. But Democrats and Republicans differ in their focus.

Out of a list of 15 possible priorities for Congress and President Trump, Republicans said their number-one priority is trying again to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. The top priority for Democrats is renewing the Children’s Health Insurance Program, which provides health coverage for 9 million low-income kids.

Republicans and Democrats also differed on their other top priorities, according to the poll. Republicans care most about limiting unauthorized immigration into the U.S. and reducing federal taxes. Democrats would like to see stronger gun laws enacted and increased hurricane relief for Puerto Rico.

The poll was co-designed by POLITICO and Harvard Chan School’s Robert Blendon, Richard L. Menschel Professor of Public Health and Professor of Health Policy and Political Analysis, and Senior Associate Dean for Policy Translation and Leadership Development.

Read a POLITICO article: POLITICO-Harvard poll: Democrats and Republicans still fixated on health care