Will there be Another Shutdown in January? Most Americans Think So

The government shutdown may be over, but more than half of likely U.S. voters expect another one because they believe Congress won't be able to reach a long-term budget deal that cuts federal spending.

Just 15 percent of likely U.S. voters favor a federal budget that increases spending, according to a new Rasmussen Reports poll. Fifty-four percent prefer a budget that cuts spending instead, while 25 percent say they want a budget deal that keeps spending levels the same.

But voters aren't too confident that Congress will reach a deal.

Only 30 percent believe Congress is even somewhat likely to reach a long-term budget deal and avoid another government shutdown in mid-January while 64 percent say Congress is unlikely to cut a deal that avoids a shutdown.

Congress and President Obama reached a short-term deal to end the government shutdown that would fund the federal government through mid-January, and leaders of both parties have said another shutdown will not happen. Democrats are slightly more confident than Republicans and voters not affiliated with either major party that another shutdown can be avoided, but six out of 10 or more voters in all three groups consider that possibility unlikely.

The survey of 1,000 likely voters was conducted Oct. 18-19. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95 percent level of confidence.