Poll: Yes to stimulus - cost is a worry

Shelby: Shelve the stimulus

More Videos

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- A majority of Americans support the economic stimulus bill that Congress is debating, but most think the recovery plan will spend too much taxpayer money, according to a poll released Monday.

In a CNN/Opinion Research poll, 54% of respondents said they favor the stimulus plan that the Senate is expected to pass on Tuesday. And 64% said they felt the bill would help the economy recover.

Over the weekend, senators reached a compromise agreement on a plan that would provide tax cuts, spending on infrastructure, housing and other programs aimed at creating or saving jobs. Two weeks ago, the House passed a similar $819 billion measure.

Of the 800 Americans surveyed from Feb. 7-8, 48% said the plan would help "some," and 16% said they felt the stimulus bill would help the economy "a lot." Only 16% said the bill would not help at all, and another 20% said it would not help much.

But 55% of respondents said that even the less expensive Senate plan would cost too much in spending and tax cuts, according to the survey. In addition, 30% think it's just the right amount of money and 13% said the government needs to spend even more.

The amount of spending has been one of the key hang-ups for many members of Congress who argue that the plan will result in an out-of-control budget deficit. The House bill did not get one Republican vote in support, and few Republicans are expected to vote for the Senate version of the bill. Some Democrats have also voiced their displeasure with the amount of spending.