Majority in new poll wants shutdown avoided at all costs

A majority of respondents in a new poll think a government shutdown should be avoided at all costs.

A Politico/Morning Consult poll finds 63 percent of voters want Congress to take any necessary measures to avoid a shutdown.

Just 18 percent think that a government shutdown should be allowed if it assists lawmakers in accomplishing their policy goals. Another 19 percent don’t know or don’t have an opinion.

Forty-two percent of voters though, think that it would definitely be worth shutting down the government over the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

About one-third of voters, 34 percent, said it would definitely be worth shutting down the government over hurricane-recovery aid.

Just 20 percent of voters think funding for President Trump’s proposed wall along the country’s southern border would definitely be worth a shutdown.

And only 25 of respondents think protections for recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program would definitely be worth a government shutdown.

The poll was conducted from Dec. 1 to 3 among 1,997 voters. The margin of error is 2 percentage point.

The current funding deal expires on Dec. 8. Last month, Trump cast doubt on Washington’s ability to avoid a government shutdown, writing on Twitter he didn’t believe a deal could be reached with Democrats.

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) are planning to head to the White House on Thursday for end-of-the-year negotiations with Trump.

They said in a statement they “are hopeful the President will be open to an agreement to address the urgent needs of the American people and keep government open.”