Spring 2004 Keystone Business Climate Survey Survey Summary
Total Respondents: 283
1. 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 Total
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Better |
23.3%
|
65
|
| Same |
43%
|
120
|
| Worse |
33.7%
|
94
|
| No Opinion |
0%
|
0
|
| Total Respondents (skipped this question) |
279
4 |
2. LOOKING AHEAD SIX MONTHS, do you think business conditions will be better, the same, or worse than they are now?
|
Response Percent
|
Response Total
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Better |
32.1%
|
90
|
| Same |
40%
|
112
|
| Worse |
25.4%
|
71
|
| No Opinion |
2.5%
|
7
|
| Total Respondents (skipped this question) |
280
3 |
3. Are employment levels at your company higher, the same, or lower, than they were SIX MONTHS AGO?
|
Response Percent
|
Response Total
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Higher |
17.7%
|
50
|
| Same |
63.5%
|
179
|
| Lower |
16.7%
|
47
|
| No Opinion |
2.1%
|
6
|
| Total Respondents (skipped this question) |
282
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 Total
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Higher |
26.5%
|
74
|
| Same |
64.9%
|
181
|
| Lower |
5.7%
|
16
|
| No Opinion |
2.9%
|
8
|
| Total Respondents (skipped this question) |
279
4 |
5. Have your company’s sales increased, stayed relatively the same, or decreased during the PAST SIX MONTHS?
|
Response Percent
|
Response Total
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Increased |
31.9%
|
90
|
| Same |
38.7%
|
109
|
| Decreased |
27.7%
|
78
|
| No Opinion |
1.8%
|
5
|
| Total Respondents (skipped this question) |
282
1 |
6. Do you expect your company’s sales to increase, stay relatively the same, or decrease during the COMING SIX MONTHS?
|
Response Percent
|
Response Total
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Increase |
52.8%
|
149
|
| Same |
37.2%
|
105
|
| Decrease |
7.4%
|
21
|
| No Opinion |
2.5%
|
7
|
| Total Respondents (skipped this question) |
282
1 |
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 Total
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Did move some operations |
1.1%
|
3
|
| Considered moving some operations |
7.5%
|
21
|
| Considered moving all operations |
5.7%
|
16
|
| Moved operations into Pennsylvania |
0%
|
0
|
| Didn’t consider any moves |
85.7%
|
239
|
| Total Respondents (skipped this question) |
279
3 |
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 Total
|
|
|---|---|---|
| May move all operations |
6.4%
|
18
|
| May move some operations |
7.1%
|
20
|
| Not considering any moves |
85.7%
|
240
|
| May move operations INTO Pennsylvania |
0.7%
|
2
|
| Total Respondents (skipped this question) |
280
3 |
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 Total
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| President George W. Bush |
80% (224)
|
16% (45)
|
4% (12) |
281
|
| Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan |
73% (205)
|
9% (25)
|
18% (51)
|
281
|
| U.S. Senator Arlen Specter |
25% (70)
|
51% (144)
|
24% (67) |
281
|
| U.S. Senator Rick Santorum |
65% (183)
|
15% (41)
|
20% (56)
|
280
|
| Governor Ed Rendell |
10% (29)
|
78% (217)
|
12% (34)
|
280
|
| Total Respondents (skipped this question) |
281
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 Total
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Senate |
25% (69)
|
54% (149)
|
22% (60)
|
278
|
| US House of Representatives |
40% (111)
|
40% (110)
|
21% (57)
|
278
|
| Pa Senate |
26% (73)
|
46% (127)
|
28% (78)
|
278
|
| Pa House of Representatives |
27% (74)
|
46% (127)
|
28% (77)
|
278
|
| Total Respondents (skipped this question) |
278
5 |
11. Do you AGREE or DISAGREE with Governor Ed Rendell’s proposal to borrow $2 billion and spend the money on an economic development program for Pennsylvania?
|
Response Percent
|
Response Total
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Strongly Agree |
3.2%
|
9
|
| Somewhat Agree |
25%
|
70
|
| Somewhat Disagree |
33.2%
|
93
|
| Strongly Disagree |
38.6%
|
108
|
| Total Respondents (skipped this question) |
280
3 |
12. Which do you think would be a better approach: Borrowing $2 billion through a bond issue and spending it on economic development projects OR lowering business taxes and cutting government regulation?
|
Response Percent
|
Response Total
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Borrowing/Spending on development projects |
4.6%
|
13
|
| Lower taxes/Fewer regulation |
92.2%
|
259
|
| No opinion/refused |
3.2%
|
9
|
| Total Respondents (skipped this question) |
281
2 |
13. Do you AGREE or DISAGREE with Governor Ed Rendell’s proposal to shift funding for local school districts by cutting property taxes and replacing the revenue with tax proceeds from legalized gambling?
|
Response Percent
|
Response Total
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Strongly Agree |
20.2%
|
57
|
| Somewhat Agree |
30.5%
|
86
|
| Somewhat Disagree |
11.7%
|
33
|
| Strongly Disagree |
32.6%
|
92
|
| No Opinion/Refused |
5%
|
14
|
| Total Respondents (skipped this question) |
282
1 |
14. Do you AGREE or DISAGREE with a proposal currently before the General Assembly to cut property taxes, and cut the state sales tax to 4%, then make up the revenue by extending sales taxes to food and clothing?
|
Response Percent
|
Response Total
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Strongly Agree |
18.8%
|
53
|
| Somewhat Agree |
36.5%
|
103
|
| Somewhat Disagree |
17.4%
|
49
|
| Strongly Disagree |
24.5%
|
69
|
| No opinion/refused |
2.8%
|
8
|
| Total Respondents (skipped this question) |
282
1 |
15. Do you expect property tax reform/relief to be enacted in Pennsylvania this year?
|
Response Percent
|
Response Total
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Yes |
16%
|
45
|
| No |
78.7%
|
222
|
| No opinion/refused |
5.3%
|
15
|
| Total Respondents (skipped this question) |
282
1 |
16. Do you think a proposed amendment to the Pennsylvania constitution to limit or cap medical malpractice awards goes TOO FAR, is a FAIR COMPROMISE, or should the cap on liability be EXTENDED TO OTHER PRODUCTS?
|
Response Percent
|
Response Total
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Medical malpractice cap goes too far |
5.7%
|
16
|
| Proposed medical malpractice cap is sufficient |
13.8%
|
39
|
| Cap should be extended to other products |
69.1%
|
195
|
| Don’t know/Refused |
11.3%
|
32
|
| Total Respondents (skipped this question) |
282
1 |
17. In the last six months have any employees of your company had difficulty obtaining medical care as a result of doctors closing their practice or cutting back on services as a result of medical malpractice insurance costs?
|
Response Percent
|
Response Total
|
|
|---|---|---|
| YES |
25.7%
|
72
|
| NO |
53.9%
|
151
|
| Don’t know/Refused |
20.4%
|
57
|
| Total Respondents (skipped this question) |
280
3 |
18. Do you think the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has been an economic benefit to the United States and should be kept in place, or has it harmed the U.S. economy and should it be repealed?
|
Response Percent
|
Response Total
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Benefit to U.S. Economy/Keep in Place |
29.5%
|
83
|
| Harmed U.S. Economy/ Repeal |
34.9%
|
98
|
| No opinion/Refused |
35.6%
|
100
|
| Total Respondents (skipped this question) |
281
2 |
19. Generally speaking, do you agree with the philosophy of “free trade,” or do you think tariffs are sometimes necessary?
|
Response Percent
|
Response Total
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Always for “free trade” |
15.2%
|
43
|
| Mostly “free trade”/Occasional tariffs |
67.4%
|
190
|
| Always for tariffs |
11%
|
31
|
| Don’t know/Refused |
6.4%
|
18
|
| Total Respondents (skipped this question) |
282
1 |
20. Do you AGREE or DISAGREE that higher tariffs should be put into effect to protect the U.S. Steel industry from unfair foreign competition.
|
Response Percent
|
Response Total
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Strongly agree |
15.6%
|
44
|
| Somewhat agree |
33%
|
93
|
| Somewhat disagree |
22.7%
|
64
|
| Strongly disagree |
18.1%
|
51
|
| No Opinion/Refused |
10.6%
|
30
|
| Total Respondents (skipped this question) |
282
1 |
21. How big of an impact do you see labor unions as having on the legislative process in Pennsylvania?
|
Response Percent
|
Response Total
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Major Impact |
45.7%
|
129
|
| Moderate Impact |
39.4%
|
111
|
| Little Impact |
9.6%
|
27
|
| Don’t know/refused |
5.3%
|
15
|
| Total Respondents (skipped this question) |
282
1 |
22. Thinking of organized labor’s involvement in the public policy process in Pennsylvania: Would you say unions have a POSITIVE or NEGATIVE impact on the state’s business climate?
|
Response Percent
|
Response Total
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Very Positive |
0.7%
|
2
|
| Somewhat Positive |
4.6%
|
13
|
| Somewhat Negative |
32.3%
|
91
|
| Very Negative |
57.1%
|
161
|
| Don’t Know/Refused |
5.3%
|
15
|
| Total Respondents (skipped this question) |
282
1 |
23. If you are a registered REPUBLICAN, and the Primary election for United States Senator were held today, would you vote for Arlen Spector or Pat Toomey?
|
Response Percent
|
Response Total
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Arlen Specter |
26.1%
|
70
|
| Pat Toomey |
42.9%
|
115
|
| Undecided |
31%
|
83
|
| Total Respondents (skipped this question) |
268
15 |
24. If the election for PRESIDENT of the United States were held today, would you vote for GEORGE W. BUSH or JOHN F. KERRY?
|
Response Percent
|
Response Total
|
|
|---|---|---|
| George W. Bush |
80.4%
|
225
|
| John F. Kerry |
11.1%
|
31
|
| Don’t know/Refused |
8.6%
|
24
|
| Total Respondents (skipped this question) |
280
3 |
25. Who do you think John Kerry will select as his Vice Presidential running mate?
|
Number
|
|
|---|---|
| John Edwards |
44.5
|
| Don’t Know |
34
|
| Hillary Clinton |
25.5
|
| Don’t Care |
16
|
| Howard Dean |
8
|
| Ed Rendell |
4
|
| Dick Gephardt |
4
|
| General Wesley Clark |
3
|
| Bob Graham – Fla |
2
|
| John Dean |
2
|
| A big liberal |
1
|
| Tom Brokaw |
1
|
| Al Franken |
1
|
| John Mc Cain |
1
|
| Bob Graham |
1
|
| NA |
1
|
| Ralph Nader |
1
|
| Bozo the Clown |
1
|
| Satan |
1
|
| Hanoi Jane Fonda |
1
|
| Another Asshole |
1
|
| Lieberman |
1
|
| Al Gore |
1
|
| Mickey Mouse |
1
|
| Vilsek |
1
|
| Governor Richardson |
1
|
| Jim Panyard |
1
|
| Total Respondents (skipped this question) |
160/123
|
26. General speaking, what do you think is the single most important problem/issue facing Pennsylvania today?
Total Respondents 236 (skipped this question) 47
27. In what part of Pennsylvania is your business located?
|
Response Percent
|
Response Total
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Northwest PA |
9.5%
|
27
|
| Southwest PA |
13.8%
|
39
|
| Northcentral PA |
11%
|
31
|
| Altoona/Johnstown |
2.8%
|
8
|
| Southcentral/Harrisburg |
18.4%
|
52
|
| Southeastern PA |
25.4%
|
72
|
| Lehigh Valley |
6%
|
17
|
| Northeastern PA |
13.1%
|
37
|
| Total Respondents (skipped this question) |
283
0 |
