WASHINGTON, April 26 (UPI) -- About two-thirds of Americans support tighter regulations on the way financial institutions do business, a Washington Post-ABC News poll indicated.
Majorities also support the two key components of the Democratic plan -- more federal oversight of consumer loans and a company-paid fund to cover the costs of dismantling failed firms that put the economy at risk, results released Monday indicated.
Overall, 65 percent of respondents supported stronger regulation while 31 percent said they opposed, the poll indicated. Fifty-three percent said they favored the company-paid fund while 42 percent said they opposed the component; 59 percent said they favored more oversight over consumer loans while 31 percent said they opposed it.
Respondents were closely divided on another element of the reform legislation -- 43 percent said they support federal regulation of the derivatives market while 41 percent are opposed.
President Barack Obama, who outlined his changes to the financial system in New York last week, captured a split for his handling of financial regulation, with 48 percent of respondents saying they approved and 48 percent saying they disapproved.
The Washington Post-ABC News poll was conducted by telephone Thursday through Sunday with 1,001 adults. The margin of error is 3 percentage points.
