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THE Fall 2007State Issues Survey Information: Random Selection, Telephone Survey Number of Adult Interview Period: October 30th – November 8th,
2007 Margin of Error: +/- 5% at the 95% confidence level. Contact: Wendy Scattergood Assistant Professor of Political Science, St. Norbert College Survey
Center DePere, WI 54115 (920) 403-3491 wendy.scattergood@snc.edu ·
NOTE:
Percentages may not add to 100% due to rounding. What is the most important problem facing the State of (Open-ended)
Most Important Problem Facing
the State – Response Detail Budget and Taxes (35%) High taxes
comprised 28% of all responses to this question overall and 80% of all
responses within this category. Almost all mentioned generally that taxes were
too high, a few mentioned property taxes specifically, others said that it was
the tax structure that was the problem, and a couple mentioned that it makes
the state inhospitable for businesses and retirees. In terms of the
budget, mentions were evenly spread though a general issue that the budget was
the biggest problem (as distinguished from the budget negotiations – see the
government ethics and politics section below), while others mentioned that we
were spending the budget on the wrong things, that spending was generally too
high, or that the budget cuts were causing underfunding. Government Ethics & Politics (11%) Over half the
comments in this category were that Governor Doyle is the biggest problem
facing the state. These comments comprised 6% of all comments across
categories. Second most
often cited (25% of those comments within government ethics & politics
category), was the lack of unity, the need to work together and that there is
too much politics. A few mentioned
the budget negotiation process. Others were: -
Too
much government -
Need
for better representation -
The
Republican Assembly -
Too
much Bureaucracy Economy & Jobs ( 9%) The most often
cited was unemployment/lack of jobs (29% of responses pertaining to economy and
jobs), followed by general comments that the economy is the biggest problem
facing the state and that industries are leaving the state (and the state
government is not helping to stop this). Others mentioned
the need to attract more jobs to the state, lack of good paying jobs,
inflation/cost of living, and the loss of the family farm. Health Care (9%) The majority
mentioned a general comment that health care was the biggest problem facing the
state. The second most often cited was the lack of affordable care, followed by
needing coverage for the poor. Other comments included health care for seniors,
insurance coverage (and lack thereof) and the lack of quality care. Education (8%) Most of those
who said education is the biggest problem facing the
state said that it was a lack of funding that was the problem. Other comments
made were: -
cost
of education is too high -
overcrowding -
not
enough for special needs children -
teacher
pay -
funding
formula outdated -
dropout
rate -
teacher
pay -
the
Teachers’ -
No
Child Left Behind/testing Gas Prices (5%) Nearly all
mentioned gas prices generally, but two mentioned the need for alternatives and
one said the gas tax is too high. Crime & Drugs (3%) Most mentioned
crime generally, a few mentioned violence, one mentioned drugs, and one
mentioned that there are too many prisoners. Environment (2%) Comments were
spread fairly evenly between general comments about pollution and the
environment and: -
decreasing
natural resources -
that
we should not sell water from the -
coal
energy -
nuclear
energy Welfare (2%) -
Three
mentioned affordable housing (the lack of) as the most important problem -
Two
mentioned the welfare system -
And
one mentioned homelessness Immigration (2%) Reponses in this
category were spread between several issues. Some felt immigration itself was
an issue, while others specified illegal immigration as being the problem. Yet
others discussed their fear that jobs are being taken away. DNR & Hunting (1%) -
Two
said that the DNR is out of control -
One
mentioned hunting rights -
One
mentioned the Hmong and hunting Other (4%) -
-
Abortion -
Smoking
Ban -
Overconsumption -
Lack
of gay rights -
Moral
issues -
Lack
of mandatory auto insurance -
Infrastructure
development -
Obesity
rates -
Our
children -
Racism Don’t Know (2%) None (1%) Too Many (<1%) Refused (4%)
How satisfied are you with the way Governor Doyle is doing his job
overall. Would you say you are very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat
dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?
How about the way the state legislature is doing
its job. Would you say you are very satisfied, somewhat
satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?
Do you expect
that at this time NEXT year you will
be financially better off than now, or worse off than now? Better off than now...................................................... 44% Worse off than now..................................................... 28% Same (volunteered)...................................................... 21% Not Sure..................................................................... 6% Refused / NA.............................................................. <1%
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