Voters strongly support government reimbursing businesses with losses due to forced COVID shutdown

Americans overwhelmingly support government reimbursing businesses suffering losses during a forced COVID-19 shutdown, according to a new Just the News Daily Poll with Scott Rasmussen.

"Even in a crisis, voters have a firm sense of fairness," Rasmussen said. "Since businesses were shut down by government orders, there is a strong sense that they should be reimbursed for losses caused by the shutdown. They broke it, they bought it appears to be the mindset."

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Just the News Daily Poll

With Scott Rasmussen

Rasmussen noted that he has asked similar questions in private research for various organizations. He said these results have shifted little over time but consistently reflect a sense of fairness rather than an economic or legal theory.

Just the News Daily Poll respondents were asked "Government orders forced many businesses to shut down. A proposal has been made for the government to reimburse companies for losses resulting from the shutdown. The funds would be used to retain or rehire employees impacted by the shutdown. Would you favor or oppose this proposal?" They responded as below:

• 35% Strongly Favor
• 45% Somewhat Favor
• 7%   Somewhat Oppose
• 4%   Strongly Oppose
• 9%   Not Sure

The national survey of 1,200 registered voters was conducted July 16-18, 2020 by Rasmussen, a polling veteran. Margin of sampling error: +/- 2.8% for full sample. 

To see the full demographic cross-tabulations for this polling question, click below:

To see the methodology and sample demographics for this polling question, click below: