Send the Money Back!

Forty-four percent of respondents in a recent Fox News poll say "the worst is over" with regards to the economy. Still less than a clear sign of confidence, but way up from the 27% who thought so four months ago.

While this is likely good news for the administration, the increased confidence have also resulted in more stimulus skeptics who would like to see the remaining funds returned to the taxpayer:

With improvements in the economy and only a fraction of the stimulus money having been spent so far, most Americans -- 72 percent -- say returning the unused portion of the $787 billion dollar stimulus to taxpayers would do more to boost the economy than having the government spend it. Majorities of Democrats (59 percent), Republicans (87 percent) and independents (70 percent) think the money should be returned to taxpayers.

Despite Obama's campaign pledge that 95 percent of Americans would "not see their taxes increase by a single dime," some administration officials have recently refused to rule out tax increases. More Americans -- by a 43-point margin -- think Obama is not going to be able to keep this campaign promise on taxes (69 percent to 26 percent).

In fact, the consensus is taxes will go up. Most Americans -- 75 percent -- think their taxes will increase under the Obama administration. That's up from 60 percent who thought so at the beginning of the year (13-14 January 2009).