Lincoln Institute of Public Opinion Research, Inc

Q2. What would you say is the single most important problem facing your area today. That is, the one that you would like to see resolved by your federal or state elected officials. (DO NOT READ CHOICES)

1. Taxes	122	17%
2. Drugs/Crime/Violence	13	2%
3. Economy/Jobs	215	31%
4. Growth/Development	6	1%
5. Streets/Road conditions	14	2%
6. Politicians/Government	27	4%
7. Corporate corruption	3	0%
8. Prescription drugs/Healthcare	93	13%
9. Medicare/Social security	24	3%
10. Education/Schools	88	13%
11. Morality/Family values	16	2%
12. Security/Terrorism/Foreign policy	2	0%
13. Environment/Pollution	6	1%
14. Stock market concerns	2	0%
15. Undecided/None	48	7%
16. Other	23	3%

Q3. Should unions be forbidden from deducting money from union workers’ pay without their permission, then using that money for political purposes?

1. Yes	511	73%
2. No	147	21%
3. Undecided	39	5%
4. Refuse	5	2%

Q4. Do you favor or oppose enactment of what’s commonly referred to as Right to Work Law, whereby a worker cannot be compelled to join or pay fees to a labor union as a condition of employment? (Test Intensity)

Total favor:

62%

Total oppose:

29%

1. Strongly favor	297	42%
2. Somewhat favor	141	20%
3. Strongly oppose	119	17%
4. Somewhat oppose	82	12%
5. Undecided	61	9%
6. Refuse	2	0%

Q5. Do you think local school districts and municipalities should have the option of paying union or prevailing wages on taxpayer funded construction projects, or should such projects go to the lowest bidder?

1. Must pay union/prevailing wage	153	22%
2. Go to the lowest bidder	435	62%
3. Undecided	112	16%
4. Refuse	2	0%

Q6. Do you think laws compelling certain state employees to pay fees to a labor union as a condition of government employment should be repealed?

1. Yes	437	62%
2. No	156	22%
3. Undecided	104	15%
4. Refuse	5	1%

Q7. Generally speaking, do you view the quality of public education in Pennsylvania as Excellent, Good, Fair, or Poor?

1. Excellent	46	6%
2. Good	278	40%
3. Fair	219	31%
4. Poor	110	16%
5. Undecided	48	7%
6. Refuse	1	0%

Q8. Do you think Pennsylvania spends too much, about the right amount, or not enough money on public education?

1. Too much	87	12%
2. About right amount	175	25%
3. Not enough	355	51%
4. Undecided	85	12%

Q9. As a taxpayer, would you like to have the right to vote to approve any property tax increase proposed by school districts, at the local level?

1. Yes	601	86%
2. No	80	11%
3. Undecided	19	3%
4. Refuse	2	0%

Q10. If local property taxes had to be replaced with another tax, would you favor a local earned income tax, a local sales tax, or a combination of earned income and sales taxes?

1. Local earned income tax	121	17%
2. Local sales tax	165	24%
3. Combination of both	309	44%
4. Undecided	101	14%
5. Refuse	6	1%

Q11. Do you favor or oppose giving taxpayer-funded tuition vouchers to parents to allow them to send their children to the public, private or parochial school of their choice?

1. Favor	341	49%
2. Oppose	308	44%
3. Undecided	52	7%
4. Refuse	1	0%

Q12. Pennsylvania is currently one of 13 states in the country that imposes an inheritance tax, often called the death tax, which taxes people’s estates after their death. This tax generates more than $700 million per year for the state. If it were up to you, would you: (READ CHOICES BELOW –ONE ANSWER ONLY)

1. Keep the tax as it is today	106	15%
2. Reduce the tax slightly	151	22%
3. Eliminate the tax and cut state spending	303	43%
4. Eliminate the tax and increase other taxes	80	11%
5. Undecided	62	9%

Q13. Should Pennsylvania reduce the amount of taxpayer money spent enticing businesses to move into the state, and return this money to the taxpayer?

1. Yes, reduce economic development spending	294	42%
2. No, don’t reduce economic development spending	330	47%
3. Undecided	75	11%
4. Refuse	3	0%

Q14. Generally speaking, do you think sports stadiums and arenas should be paid for with taxpayer money, or should they be financed privately?

1. Paid with tax money	25	4%
2. Financed privately	626	89%
3. Undecided	50	7%
4. Refuse	1	0%

Q15. If current state tax revenues fall short of budget projections, should the General Assembly and Governor Rendell reduce spending and eliminate government programs, or increase taxes and maintain current programs?

1. Reduce spending/Eliminate programs	403	57%
2. Increase taxes/Maintain programs	152	22%
3. Undecided	137	20%
4. Refuse	10	1%

Q16. Do your favor or oppose a constitutional amendment that would require voter approval for statewide tax increases that exceed the rate of inflation? (Test Intensity)

Total favor:

76%

Total oppose:

17%

1. Strongly favor	345	49%
2. Somewhat favor	188	27%
3. Strongly oppose	56	8%
4. Somewhat oppose	67	9%
5. Undecided	42	6%
6. Refuse	4	1%

Q17. Do you support allowing slot machines at racetracks in Pennsylvania?

1. Yes	463	66%
2. No	197	28%
3. Undecided	40	6%
4. Refuse	2	0%

Q18. Do you favor or oppose allowing other gaming in Pennsylvania, such as riverboat casinos?

1. Favor	418	60%
2. Oppose	234	33%
3. Undecided	47	7%
4. Refuse	3	0%

Q19. Have you personally had any difficulty accessing health care because providers have gone out of business due to an inability to obtain medical malpractice insurance?

1. Yes	82	12%
2. No	610	87%
3. Undecided	8	1%
4. Refuse	2	0%

Q20. Thinking of Pennsylvania state government, do you see any real difference between the policies and actions of Republicans and Democrats?

1. Yes	313	45%
2. No	325	46%
3. Undecided	61	9%
4. Refuse	3	0%

Now, I just have a few more questions for demographical purposes, and then we’ll be through…

Q21. Are you registered to vote in Pennsylvania as a Republican, Democrat, Independent or something else?

1. Republican	303	43%
2. Democrat	327	47%
3. Independent/Other	58	8%
4. Refuse	14	2%

Q22. What is your age according to the following brackets: 18 – 34, 35 – 44, 45 – 54, 55 – 64, or over 65?

1. 18-34	65	9%
2. 35-44	145	21%
3. 45-54	176	25%
4. 55-64	143	21%
5. 65+	171	24%
6. Refuse	2	0%

Q23. Do you consider yourself to be a Libertarian, Conservative, Moderate, or Liberal when thinking about politics?

1. Libertarian	9	1%
2. Conservative	247	35%
3. Moderate	241	34%
4. Liberal	122	18%
5. Undecided	55	8%
6. None/Other	21	3%
7. Refuse	7	1%

Q24. What is your current household income level according to the following brackets: less than $15,000, $15 – 30,000, $31 – 50,000, $51 – 75,000, $76 – 100,000 or more than $100,000?

1. Less than $15,000	50	7%
2. $15,000 - $30,000	129	18%
3. $31,000 - $50,000	147	21%
4. $51,000 - $75,000	142	20%
5. $76,000 - $100,000	77	11%
6. More than $100,000	55	8%
7. Undecided	4	1%
8. Refuse	98	14%

Q25. Is your main racial heritage or background of White, African-American, Hispanic, or another background?

1. White/Caucasian	631	90%
2. African American	33	4%
3. Hispanic	4	1%
4. Asian or pacific islander	0	0%
5. Native American	2	0%
6. Other/None	13	2%
7. Refuse	19	3%

Q26. Is your main religious background Mainline Protestant, Catholic, Evangelical Christian, Eastern Orthodox, Jewish, Mormon, Agnostic or Atheist, or something else?

1. Mainline Protestant	242	34%
2. Catholic	260	37%
3. Evangelical Christian	69	10%
4. Eastern Orthodox	4	1%
5. Jewish	9	1%
6. Mormon	2	0%
7. Agnostic or Atheist	12	2%
8. Other/None	87	12%
9. Refuse	17	3%

Thank you for your participation in the survey. Have a good day/evening.

Q27. Gender

1. Male	301	43%
2. Female	401	57%

Q28. Area Breaks

1. Erie MM	37	5%
2. Pittsburgh MM	165	24%
3. Johnstown/Altoona MM	68	10%
4. Central PA/Hbg/York MM	86	12%
5. Northeast MM	99	14%
6. Philadelphia MM	247	35%

The margin of error for sample size of 702 is 3.70%.