Most say payroll tax cut hasn't helped

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 (UPI) -- A majority of U.S. voters say they haven't seen a benefit from the payroll tax cut lawmakers are working to extend through 2012, a poll for The Hill indicated.

Fifty-four percent of voters said the tax holiday hasn't helped them financially while 25 percent said it did, results released Monday indicated.

President Obama and congressional Democrats have argued the temporary tax cut -- which lowers the Social Security tax rate from 6.2 percent to 4.2 percent, saves the average middle-class taxpayer about $1,500 this year.

Before recessing in December, Congress approved a 2-month extension that expires at the end of February, with the goal of extending the relief through the end of the year. Passage, however, is muddied because of the potential of including other issues in discussions on extending the holiday.

By party, 61 percent of Republicans and 45 percent of Democrats said they didn't benefit from the tax cut while 35 percent of Democrats and 21 percent of Republicans said they did, The Hill said.

The Hill Poll also found that voters favor Republicans over Democrats concerning tax policy, 45 percent to 41 percent for Democrats.

Results are based on a nationwide survey of 1,000 likely voters conducted Saturday. The margin of error is 3 percentage points.