Home Page Commentary Somedays Polls Archives Links About LI Donate

Fall 2008 Keystone Business Climate Survey

Total Started Survey: 245
Total Completed Survey: 232 (94.7%)

Section I: Business Climate

1. In general, do you think business conditions in Pennsylvania are better, the same, or worse than they were SIX MONTHS AGO?

	Response Percent	Response Count
Better	1.2%	3
Same	33.1%	81
Worse	64.9%	159
No Opinion	0.8%	2
	Answered Question	245
	Skipped Question	0

2. LOOKING AHEAD SIX MONTHS, do you think business conditions will be better, the same, or worse than they are now?

	Response Percent	Response Count
Better	13.1%	32
Same	32.4%	79
Worse	50.4%	123
No Opinion	4.1%	10
	Answered Question	244
	Skipped Question	1

3. Are employment levels at your company higher, the same, or lower, than they were SIX MONTHS AGO?

	Response Percent	Response Count
Higher	11.1%	27
Same	60.7%	148
Lower	25.0%	61
No Opinion	3.3%	8
	Answered Question	244
	Skipped Question	1

4. LOOKING AHEAD SIX MONTHS, do you anticipate that employment levels at your company will be higher, stay the same, or be lower?

	Response Percent	Response Count
Higher	14.8%	36
Same	63.0%	153
Lower	18.1%	44
No Opinion	4.1%	10
	Answered Question	243
	Skipped Question	2

5. Have your company's sales increased, stayed relatively the same, or decreased during the PAST SIX MONTHS?

	Response Percent	Response Count
Increased	18.1%	44
Same	35.0%	85
Decreased	44.9%	109
No Opinion	2.1%	5
	Answered Question	243
	Skipped Question	2

6. Do you expect your company's sales to increase, stay relatively the same, or decrease during the COMING SIX MONTHS?

	Response Percent	Response Count
Increase	22.6%	55
Same	39.1%	95
Decrease	32.9%	80
No Opinion	5.3%	13
	Answered Question	243
	Skipped Question	2

7. At any point in the PAST SIX MONTHS has your company considered moving all or part of its Pennsylvania operations to another state?

	Response Percent	Response Count
Did move some operations	2.1%	5
Considered moving some operations	2.9%	7
Considered moving all operations	5.0%	12
Moved operations into Pennsylvania	0.0%	0
Didn't consider any moves	90.0%	217
	Answered Question	241
	Skipped Question	4

8. Do you foresee at any point in the COMING SIX MONTHS your company considering moving all or part of its Pennsylvania operations to another state?

	Response Percent	Response Count
May move all operations	2.9%	7
May move some operations	2.5%	6
Not considering any moves	93.3%	224
May move operations INTO Pennsylvania	1.3%	3
	Answered Question	240
	Skipped Question	5

9. In general, do you have a POSITIVE, NEGATIVE or NO OPINION of the job performance of the following individuals?

	Positive	Negative	No Opinion	Response Count
President George W. Bush	33.3% (81)	56.4% (137)	10.3% (25)	243
Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke	24.9% (60)	47.7% (115)	27.4% (66)	241
U.S. Senator Arlen Specter	30.6% (74)	46.3% (112)	23.1% (56)	242
U.S. Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr.	19.3% (47)	52.3% (127)	28.4% (69)	243
U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson	19.9% (48)	53.9% (130)	26.1% (63)	241
Governor Ed Rendell	19.2% (46)	72.5% (174)	8.3% (20)	240
Attorney General Tom Corbett	30.6% (74)	15.3% (37)	54.1% (131)	242
Auditor General Jack Wagner	10.0% (24)	15.5% (37)	74.5% (178)	239
	Answered Question			243
	Skipped Question			2

10. In general, do you have a POSITIVE, NEGATIVE, or NO OPINION of the job performance of the following institutions?

	Positive	Negative	No Opinion	Response Count
United States Senate	8.3% (20)	83.0% (200)	8.7% (21)	241
United States House of Representatives	4.1% (10)	87.2% (212)	8.6% (21)	243
Pennsylvania Senate	13.2% (32)	62.6% (152)	24.3% (59)	243
Pennsylvania House of Representatives	13.2% (32)	62.4% (151)	24.4% (59)	242
	Answered Question			243
	Skipped Question			2

Section II: Issues

11. The state legislature is considering legislation to require employers to offer seven days of paid sick leave. How would this mandate affect your business operation? (Check all that apply.)

	Response Percent	Response Count
NO IMPACT	27.6%	62
GO OUT OF BUSINESS	4.0%	9
REDUCE THE NUMBER OF HOURS EMPLOYEES WORK	17.3%	39
LAYOFF EMPLOYEES	16.0%	36
DROP OR REDUCE HEALTH CARE BENEFITS	20.9%	47
CUT NUMBER OF PAID VACATION DAYS	40.4%	91
DELAY OR CANCEL PAY RAISES	46.2%	104
ALREADY OFFER MORE THAN SEVEN DAYS, BUT WOULD REDUCE THEM TO THE STATE MANDATE	4.9%	11
Other (Toggle View)		13
	Answered Question	225
	Skipped Question	20

12. How would an automatic minimum wage COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment), tied to the Consumer Price Index, impact your business?

	Response Percent	Response Count
LAY-OFF EMPLOYEES	10.3%	24
FREEZE HIRING	19.8%	46
REDUCE HOURS	16.4%	38
RAISE PRICES	24.6%	57
COMBINATION OF THE ABOVE	31.5%	73
NO IMPACT	34.1%	79
REFUSED/NO OPINION	3.9%	9
Other (Toggle View)	3.9%	9
	Answered Question	232
	Skipped Question	13

13. What is the best role that state government can play to stimulate the economy and create jobs?

	Response Percent	Response Count
LOWER TAXES AND REDUCE REGULATION ON ALL BUSINESSES	78.9%	172
PROVIDE TAX BREAKS AND INCENTIVES TO SELECTED COMPANIES	11.9%	26
REFUSED/NO OPINION	9.2%	20
Other (Toggle View)		23
	Answered Question	218
	Skipped Question	27

14. Do you FAVOR or OPPOSE leasing the Pennsylvania Turnpike to a private company?

	Response Percent	Response Count
STRONGLY FAVOR	5.2%	12
SOMEWHAT FAVOR	14.8%	34
SOMEWHAT OPPOSE	14.8%	34
STRONGLY OPPOSE	49.1%	113
DON'T KNOW	13.5%	31
REFUSED/NO OPINION	2.6%	6
	Answered Question	230
	Skipped Question	15

15. Governor Ed Rendell says Pennsylvania's highway infrastructure is in "crisis"and hundreds of millions more must be spent to upgrade roads and bridges. Which of the following options would you support for securing that funding? (You may check more than one option.)

	Response Percent	Response Count
LEASE THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE	15.6%	35
RAISE GASOLINE TAXES	14.7%	33
RAISE VEHICLE REGISTRATION/LICENSE RENEWAL FEES	29.3%	66
RAISE STATE INCOME TAXES	4.4%	10
REMOVE STATE POLICE FUNDING FROM THE MOTOR LICENSE FUND/MOVE FUNDS TO HIGHWAYS	20.4%	46
ENTER INTO LONG-TERM DEBT (BOND ISSUE)	17.3%	39
CUT SPENDING IN OTHER AREAS/MOVE FUNDS TO HIGHWAYS	65.3%	147
CUT MASS TRANSIT FUNDING/MOVE FUNDS TO HIGHWAYS	32.0%	72
Other (Toggle View)		30
	Answered Question	225
	Skipped Question	20

Toggle View

The Governor has not defined what "crisis" means. Futhermore, Pennsylvania should have the authority to establish tolls.
Impose a weight/ Distance fee system for all vehicles
Turnpike workers' wages seem too high - reduce them to ordinary standards - pay for skilled workers - toll takers are not skilled workers.
stop redirecting highway funds to bloated SEPTA
increase efficiency of PennDot crews- privatize!!
Stop funding highway projects where there is virtually NO flow of traffic ... particularly in rural areas
use a portion of the PA lottery monies
Raising gas tax would cut gas usage
raise tolls
Stop building Stadiums and non sense stuff
Eliminate the prevailing wage rates would cut costs by 25% or more
cut exhorbitant spending of elected officials who get MONTHS off, and expect them to pay AT LEAST half their own health insurance costs!
Use a combination of the above 5
ASK THE PEOPLE THAT WANTED TO LEASE IT. THEY MUST KNOW SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T
Keep the tunrpike, increase profits for road repairs
have work done by contractor who will stand behind their work for more than one year.
Fire the people that run PennDOT
rather than lease the turnpike how about raising the rates on the turnpike and use that money for the highways. You could also use this additional revenue to pay back a long term bond
Raise toll fees to cover needed repairs - offer no tax bonds
quit sending highway funds to phila'
Cut the size of Goverment thus cutting cost.
take portion of pa lottery money!
Eliminate "prevailing wage" mandates; stick to roads and bridges - no more elaborate sound barriers where the only ears are ears of corn.
Eliminate Penndot and hire private companies with cost measures
Out source the administration overseeing these projects
TOO MUCH WASTED MONEY
Eliminate the prevailing wage/would save everyone $
a minimum increase in the above 3 + funding the state policice as a seperate line item would be the most equitable way - Leasing the Tpk would be an option BUT I'd have to see the details.
Make everyone get an easy pass and put the millions of dollars into an escrow fund. Put the jobs of the toll personal into jobs to repair the roads.
combine PA DOT with PA Turnpike Commission reducing redundancy

Toggle View

16. Do you think the U.S. economy is either currently in a recession or headed toward a recession?

	Response Percent	Response Count
ALREADY IN RECESSION	50.2%	116
HEADED TOWARD RECESSION	33.3%	77
IS NOT/WILL NOT BE IN RECESSION	11.3%	26
DON'T KNOW	5.2%	12
REFUSED/NO OPINION	0.0%	0
	Answered Question	231
	Skipped Question	14

17. Do you think the federal take-over of mortgate companies Freddie MAC and Fannie MAE were a necessary move, or unwarranted government intrusion into the private sector?

	Response Percent	Response Count
NECESSARY MOVE	57.6%	133
UNWARRANTED FEDERAL INTRUSION	35.9%	83
REFUSED/NO OPINION	6.5%	15
	Answered Question	231
	Skipped Question	14

18. Do you think the efforts to bail-out the financial services sector are a necessary step, or unwarranted government intervention in private markets?

	Response Percent	Response Count
NECESSARY STEP	43.5%	100
UNWARRANTED GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION	51.3%	118
REFUSED/NO OPINION	5.2%	12
	Answered Question	230
	Skipped Question	15

19. Have you experienced any difficulty in obtaining needed credit as a result of the turmoil in the financial services sector?

	Response Percent	Response Count
YES	16.5%	38
NO	74.5%	172
REFUSED/NO OPINION	9.1%	21
	Answered Question	231
	Skipped Question	14

20. Do you think more drilling for oil should be permitted of the shores of the United States?

	Response Percent	Response Count
YES	87.7%	200
NO	10.5%	24
REFUSED/NO OPINION	1.8%	4
	Answered Question	228
	Skipped Question	17

21. Do you think oil drilling should be permitted in the Alaskan National Wildlife Reserve (ANWR)?

	Response Percent	Response Count
YES	79.3%	184
NO	17.2%	40
REFUSED/NO OPINION	3.4%	8
	Answered Question	232
	Skipped Question	13

22. Westinghouse is building state-of-the-art nuclear reactors in China. Should Pennsylvania allow those reactors to be built here?

	Response Percent	Response Count
YES	78.9%	183
NO	10.3%	24
REFUSED/NO OPINION	10.8%	25
	Answered Question	232
	Skipped Question	13

23. On a scale of one to five with one being the highest priority and five being the lowest priority, please rate the following methods of reducing America's dependence on foreign oil:

	ONE	TWO	THREE	FOUR	FIVE	Response Count
MORE OFFSHORE DRILLING	53.4% (118)	13.1% (29)	8.1% (18)	6.8% (15)	18.6% (41)	221
DRILLING IN ANWR	43.2% (92)	14.6% (31)	13.1% (28)	7.5% (16)	21.6% (46)	213
CONSERVATION	41.8% (94)	15.6% (35)	20.9% (47)	8.9% (20)	14.2% (32)	225
MORE NUCLEAR POWER GENERATION	48.0% (106)	17.6% (39)	15.4% (34)	7.7% (17)	11.3% (25)	221
DEVELOPMENT OF SOLAR POWER	46.2% (104)	19.1% (43)	15.1% (34)	11.6% (26)	8.9% (20)	225
DEVELOPMENT OF WIND POWER	42.5% (96)	18.6% (42)	18.1% (41)	9.3% (21)	11.9% (27)	226
DEVELOPMENT OF TIDAL POWER	27.4% (58)	21.7% (46)	24.5% (52)	16.0% (34)	10.8% (23)	212
DEVELOPMENT OF HYDROGEN POWERED VEHICLES	34.2% (76)	20.3% (45)	24.3% (54)	9.9% (22)	11.7% (26)	222
DEVELOPMENT OF NATURAL GAS POWERED VEHICLES	36.2% (80)	23.1% (51)	23.5% (52)	11.3% (25)	6.3% (14)	221
IMPROVED FUEL EFFICIENCY ON GASOLINE POWERED VEHICLES	50.7% (116)	17.5% (40)	13.5% (31)	7.4% (17)	10.9% (25)	229
INCREASED MINING OF SHALE OIL RESERVES	42.1% (93)	23.1% (51)	13.1% (29)	7.7% (17)	14.0% (31)	221
	Answered Question					232
	Skipped Question					13

24. IF the election for President of the United States were held today, would you vote for the Democratic ticket of Barack Obama and Joseph Biden, or would you vote for the Republican ticket of John McCain and Sarah Palin?

	Response Percent	Response Count
OBAMA/BIDEN	16.5%	38
MCCAIN/PALIN	70.6%	163
UNDECIDED	13.0%	30
	Answered Question	231
	Skipped Question	14

25. In what part of Pennsylvania is your business located?

	Response Percent	Response Count
Northwest PA	10.4%	24
Southwest PA	11.7%	27
Northcentral PA	9.6%	22
Altoona/Johnstown	3.9%	9
Southcentral/Harrisburg	13.5%	31
Southeastern PA	36.5%	84
Lehigh Valley	3.9%	9
Northeastern PA	10.4%	24
	Answered Question	230
	Skipped Question	15

26. Which category best describes your position at the business in which your work:

	Response Percent	Response Count
OWNER	75.9%	176
CEO/COO/CFO	11.2%	26
STATE MANAGER	0.9%	2
LOCAL MANAGER	4.7%	11
NO ANSWER/REFUSED	3.4%	8
Other (Toggle View)	3.9%	9
	Answered Question	232
	Skipped Question	13

Taking the Pulse of Pennsylvania