People made fun of Biden for putting so-called Junk Fees on his agenda but it turns out to be a very smart move. People hate them:
Democrats and Republicans don’t agree on many things but paying less for concert tickets or to switch cable TV providers is one of them.
During his Feb. 7 State of the Union speech, President Joe Biden called on Congress to pass the Junk Fees Prevention Act, which would limit extra fees or surcharges across the travel and entertainment industries, including early termination fees from cable TV or internet providers and service fees often attached to tickets for concerts and sporting events.
Biden previously called out companies like Live Nation Entertainment Inc.’s Ticketmaster to lower the “huge” service fees it places on many events and to be more transparent with consumers about a ticket’s full costs. The ticketing platform has been under Congressional scrutiny since November for its disastrous handling of presales for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, which renewed accusations that the company is monopolizing the live event industry.
A new Morning Consult survey shows Biden’s proposals have bipartisan support, with clear majorities of Democrats, Republicans and independents saying Congress should pass laws limiting these so-called “junk fees.” Overall, about 3 in 4 Americans support the measures.
The shares of U.S. adults who support or oppose Congress’ doing the following:
The fact that they really irk older people is a feature not a bug. They vote.
OLDER VOTERS, and particularly OLDER WOMEN, remain the critical group to watch.
As a reminder . . . voters age 50 and over made up the majority of the electorate in 2022, and an AARP survey of battleground Congressional Districts found that 65+ voters, especially women, made the difference limiting Republican gains in the House.
The latest AARP research in our She’s the Difference series paints a very nuanced picture of how these voters are feeling and what they care about coming out of the 2022 elections.
In short . . . it’s complicated.
The same party divide that we see in the electorate writ large, exists with the 50+ as well, coloring their views on the economy, democracy and the top issues facing the country.
For example, Republican 50+ voters overwhelmingly see the country as on the wrong track (94%), say America’s best days are behind us (72%), and believe the U.S. economy is not working well for them personally (72%). Meanwhile, 50+ Democrats are far more positive, with 62% saying the country is going in the right direction, 59% seeing America’s best days still to come, and 68% feeling the economy is working well for them personally.
Despite this, voters 50+ across party lines feel more positive about their own situations, assessing their own lives differently than they assess the country.
While only a handful (5%) of voters say America’s best days are “happening now,” over a quarter (28%) say their own best days are happening right now. There is not much difference by party; about as many Republicans and Democrats agree (26% and 31%, respectively).
Many older voters are still anxious about their economic situation.
While a majority report they can afford their expenses, or even call their own financial situation “secure” (65% secure, 35% not secure), costs and inflation continue to be a pressing worry and a top-tier concern about the country. “The cost of food, gas, and everyday goods,” is voters’ top concern about the country (45% “one of the biggest problems,” 89% “one of the biggest” or “major” problem). And in a series of personal worries—as opposed to national problems—“my income keeping up with rising costs” also tops the list (30% “very worried,” 73% total worried).
Women consistently feel more economically vulnerable than men.
More men than women say they’re living “comfortably” (39% men, 29% women). More women than men say they are less financially secure than they expected to be at this time of their lives (48% women, 39% men). More women than men say they’re “very worried” about their income keeping up with costs (34% women, 25% men). And fewer women than men say their personal financial situation feels secure (62% women, 69% men).
These gender differences largely transcend party and are magnified by age.Across party lines, women are more likely than their male counterparts to say they are less financially secure than they expected to be. Republican women feel particularly less secure (53%) compared to Republican men (44%), but there is a similar gap among Democrats (42% women, 32% men) and independents (49% women, 35% men). On this same question, women 65+ feel less secure than men 65+ (42% women, 29% men), much like women 50-64 feel less secure than men of a similar age (53% women, 47% men).
Financial strain is also more likely to be felt by caregivers, both current and former.
Current and past caregivers are less likely to say their financial situation is “secure” (58% and 62%, respectively) than non- caregivers (68%). Nearly two-thirds (64%) of current caregivers are “very” or “somewhat” worried about their family’s financial situation, while only 54% of non-caregivers and 57% of former caregivers say the same. And more caregivers say they feel less financially secure than they expected to be at this stage in life (46% current, 48% former) in comparison to non-caregivers (41%).
Retirement evokes a mix of worry and optimism, with the stability of Social Security and Medicare and access to long-term care all top-of-mind concerns.
A majority of 50+ voters say they worry about “the ability to live independently as I age” (61%). About as many (60%) are worried about affording their retirement and about Social Security being there during their retirement (58%). And, large majorities see long-term care for seniors and Medicare and Social Security being there for future generations as major problems facing the country. An overwhelming 83% say Social Security/Medicare is one of the biggest or a major problem, putting it in the top-tier of national issues.
Raise the cap on Social Security contributions, Democrats. There’s gold in them thar hills…
