A majority of corporate human resources managers think that the federal government should play a role in regulating health care costs and coverage, according to a new survey.

But the Workscape Inc. effort also found that the respondents don’t believe either political party offers a clear-cut resolution.

The survey, by Marlborough, Mass.-based human resources IT company Workscape, found that the 1,242 respondents were almost evenly divided on whether the viewpoints of either John McCain or Barack Obama could positively affect the current state of rising health care costs and coverage in the U.S.

Recent statistics show that 47 million Americans - including nine million children - lack health insurance entirely.

The survey’s results validate that health care costs remain front-and-center in the minds of both HR professionals and the employees they serve, according to Workscape president and CEO Tim Clifford.