The current Congress does not have much time to do anything before members go home. Some of them will never return. Americans, though, still want Congress  to come up with solutions to the country’s economic problems.

A new Gallup poll shows that

Americans are most likely to say it is important for Congress to pass legislation to keep the estate tax from increasing significantly next year and to extend the income tax cuts passed under George W. Bush before the end of the year. Just under half say it is important for Congress to extend unemployment benefits for the long-term unemployed.

People may be disappointed.

It appears that Congress may take no action on the tax issue. There is a great deal of rancorous debate between the parties about what should happen to Bush Tax Cuts. Much of this is focused on the fate of the rich. Other issues like capital gains and estate taxes also carry an emotional charge because the deficit is large and the wealthy seem to have the money to change that. The President and the Republicans may wrestle over this until Christmas.

In terms of aid to the long-term unemployed, Republicans have already decided to extend jobless support no further than the current 99 weeks. Their position is based on the fact that additional aid will add to the deficit. The counter argument most often used is that the two million people who need extensions will be a drag on the economy. Another two million people will fall into the same category next year.

Americans may want action on the two issues. They are not likely to get it.

Results for this USA Today/Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted Nov. 19-21, 2010, with a random sample of 1,037 adults, aged 18 and older, living in the continental U.S., selected using random-digit-dial sampling.

Douglas A. McIntyre

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