With lawmakers haggling over government debt and consumer confidence at a two-year low, voter confidence in Republicans to handle the economy is growing.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Voters shows that 45 percent trust Republicans more when it comes to handling economic issues, while 35 percent put more trust in Democrats. 19 percent are undecided. 

The gap was the closest in years in May when the GOP held just a 46 percent to 42 percent lead on the economy, which voters have consistently regarded as the most important of 10 issues regularly tracked by Rasmussen Reports.

Voters now trust Republicans more than Democrats on nine of those 10 issues. In May, Republicans led on just six issues after being trusted more on all 10 in early January. Two years ago Democrats were trusted more than Republicans on most issues. Still, there are several issues that the parties are close on in terms of trust.

Health care, which voters rank second behind the economy in terms of importance, is an issue the GOP holds a tight 46 percent to 43 percent advantage on. Before President Obama was elected, Democrats had a huge advantage on this issue. During Election 2010, the advantage switched to the GOP. In May, the parties were essentially tied.

A majority of voters continue to support repeal of the national health care law and believe it will increase the federal deficit.

Taxes are a big part of the debt ceiling debate, and voters trust Republicans more than Democrats by a 46 percent to 40 percent margin on that issue.

Most voters are worried that the final debt ceiling deal will raise taxes too much and cut spending too little. 75 percent believe that even if the deal includes tax hikes only on the wealthy, ultimately taxes will be raised on the middle class, too. Still, the majority of voters don’t care much for the way either political party is performing in the debt ceiling debate.