Poll: Fix, don't repeal, healthcare law

WASHINGTON, Jan. 19 (UPI) -- Most Americans say they oppose the new healthcare law, but few said they want the law completely scrapped, a Washington Post-ABC News poll indicates.

Results released Wednesday indicate Americans' views of the healthcare overhaul signed into law in 2010 and under debate this year in Congress, have changed little, with 45 percent saying the support the law and 50 percent saying they oppose it -- the same averages in polls going back to August 2009, the Post said.

The Republican-controlled House of Representatives takes up legislation that would repeal the healthcare law this week.

The latest poll noted little consensus among the healthcare law's opponents about how to amend the legislation.

Those who do not support the law are split nearly evenly among complete repeal, 33 percent; partial repeal, 35 percent; and a wait-and-see approach, 30 percent.

Another factor complicating the debate is that about a quarter of those who say they oppose the healthcare law indicated they believe the legislation didn't go far enough.

Results are base on a nationwide telephone survey of 1,053 adults Thursday through Sunday. The margin of error is 3.5 percentage points.