CHICAGO, Jan 10 (Reuters) - An annual survey of Americans'
opinions of government spending priorities has found education
and health topping the list but money for the military losing
favor, researchers said on Wednesday.
With the Democratic-controlled Congress beginning its work
this month, the survey by the University of Chicago's National
Opinion Research Center showed Americans' supported more
expenditures on social programs that also tend to find favor
with the new majority party.
Ranking 22 areas of government spending priorities, topping
the list were education, health, assistance to the poor,
improving the environment, shoring up the Social Security
program, dealing with drug addiction and curtailing crime.
National defense ranked 18th on the list, with nearly 40
percent of respondents feeling too much is spent on national
defense, while 27 percent thought more spending was needed.
Defense spending garnered more public support in surveys in
previous years, especially following the 2001 terror attacks,
but has diminished alongside public dissatisfaction with the
Iraq war, survey leader Tom Smith said.
Again ranking at the bottom in terms of spending priorities
was U.S. aid to other nations -- though its score improved from
past years. Also low on the list was space exploration and
assistance to big cities.
Gaining support was spending on the environment and on
Social Security.
The survey, conducted since 1973, was based on interviews
last year with 2,992 Americans.
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