Please suggest to us questions you would like to see appear on our Spring 2006 survey.
1. Do you favor reducing Taxes? Do you favor reducing the size of our General Assembly & Senate?
2. unsure
3.
I do not support gambling, so I do not think taxes on gambling should be used for anything. I think that the legalized slot machine issue should be addressed in a referendum. I think that the pay raise is needed, and if the constitution does not provide an appropriate means to do so when it is needed, then either the constitution should be changed or any other "legal" means should be used.
My company supplies sophisticated equipment to the electric generating industry across the US, so we do not see the normal business cycle that you are addressing above. I believe that the increased cost of energy in all forms will have a significant impact on spending patterns of all individuals and companies, and this will lead to a readjustment of the economy, generally slower for most businesses and individuals. Home heating prices are likely to be very high this winter, taking much money away from historic spending patterns and creating new patterns. For instance, insulation for homes and smaller cars will be favored. Take a drive today and you will find that the roads are generally not so crowded as they have been in the past. It has already had an impact, just that it takes some weeks for such an adjustment to be reflected in economic statistics. People have savings, or act as if they have savings (credit cards), and will adjust their spending only when the tether gets really tight.
4.
Utility / energy rate structure reform.
Gas & Electric ( unfair cost structures )
Health Insurance Carrier free market plan availability to all.
Unbundled coverage costs
5. Governmental red tape effects on small businesses.
6. Do you think the state should pass laws that are based on: moral improvement or financial improvement? i.e. passing laws that increase revenue, or that right what is wrong.
7.
Should the legislature give citizens the right to approve all tax increases?
Should the legislature give citizens the ability to vote on binding referenda?
8. Would you support an increase of tax on gas guzzling vehicles to offset a tax reduction on gasoline itself?
Would you support tax breaks on hibrid vehicles that get great MPH (40mpg+)?
Would you support easing restrictions on ballot access for third parties?
9. Do you find that paying business taxes has become extremely time-consuming and overcomplicated?
10. How much has the new "INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE" affected your business?
11.
Opinion on repeal of estate tax and making perm. the tax cuts and the federal level?
Now that PA doesn't have the budgets issues that existed after 9/11, should the state income tax be reduced to the pre-hike level of 2.8% or lower?
% of increase in health care costs (dec. 0-10%, 11-20%, 21-30%, or greater than 30%)?
12. Please recognize the fact that there are more than two political parties.
13. Questions about the new gambling in PA. If there has been any progress at that time is it moving fast enough? If not what can we do?
14. Perhaps questions on health care, tort legislation, putting more kinds of inportant decisions to the electorate in the form of referenda. P.S. I seem to remember a questionnaire similar to this, which I just filled out recently. Hopefully, I have not submitted my responses twice.
15. Other than gambling interests, who has Gov. Ed Rendell worked for during his first 3½ years in office?
16. Can the state extend low interest funding to clean-up/refurbish existing industrial parks areas rather than keep creating new and letting the 'old' deteriorate?
17. Would you support Right to Work Legislation?
18. Questions relating to the slots legislation. Is it time to completely do away with "unvouchered expenses" for our legislators and should they be held accountable for every penny of ours that they spend?
19. Exactly what primary service or product does your area provide to increase the State's economy?
20.
Legal reform (loser pays-$250K small claims-disbarrment for frivolous cases)
Tax reform (consumption taxes, excluding food to replace business & wealth taxes that discourage job creation)
Eliminate business incentives (PA grants trinkets to the biggest of companies, those who do not create jobs - small business bears the burden & cannot fully perform as a result) Let's get our business climate into a competitive posture so that we do not need to have these tax abatements & grants for the select few companies that enjoy them.
21.
Do you approve of President Bush's handling of the our border protection?
Is cutting spending or raising taxes the way to pay for the added cost of the war and natural catastrophies such as hurricanes? Or should we lower taxes to increase the revenue to the treasury?
22.
Add neutral/no opinion to the agree-disagree questions.
Add some background for state issues, such as the national NFIB does.
23. Should prevailing ware rates be recinded?
24. Questions on Health care.
25.
WHO WILL STEP UP TO THE PLATE ON HEALTH CARE???? HOW CAN SMALL,,,1 PERSON BUSINESS,,,,STAY IN BUSINESS?
MY FAMILY BLUE CROSS IS NOW 1,500 PER MONTH MORE THAN MY HOUSE AND 2 VEHICHLE PAYMENTS!
26. Question involving health insurance issues.
27. Death Tax
28. Did high fuel costs have a major impact on your business?
29.
1. Why can't employers do worker comp backround checks on potential new hires?
2. Why does this state impose stringent pollution control requirements on businesses within the state while pollution continues to come into the state from the west?
3. Why does not PA have programs to help distressed employers stay in the state?
4. Why can't officers of distressed companies collect unemployment especially if the have paid into the Unemployment fund for many years?
5. Why are our state institutions of higher learning so expensive to attend? Why is Penn State the most expensive university in the Big Ten?
6. Why do we rank so low on the rank of states with good business climate?
7. Where is the accountability in government? Or how to you keep government accountable?
30. Do you favor initiative and referendum?
31. Affordable Employee Health Insurance solutions
32. Do you think the building code should be revised
33.
Tort Reform-Loser pays; eliminate contigent fees, etc.
Repeal of the pay raise the legislature voted themselves.
Defeat of the republican dictatorial leaders in the PA house and senate.
34. see section 23 - more in-depth school funding issues
35. Ways to Reduce Health Insurance Costs
