Spring 2009 Keystone Business Climate Survey: Numeric Results

Member Group : Lincoln Institute

Total Started Survey: 229
Total Completed Survey: 219 (95.6%)

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 4.0% 9
Same 19.9% 45
Worse 75.7% 171
No Opinion 0.4% 1

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 22.1% 50
Same 45.6% 103
Worse 29.2% 66
No Opinion 3.1% 7

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

Response
Percent
Response
Count
Higher 4.4% 10
Same 54.0% 122
Lower 41.6% 94
No Opinion 0.0% 0

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 9.7% 22
Same 74.4% 169
Lower 12.8% 29
No Opinion 3.1% 7

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

Response
Percent
Response
Count
Increased 13.3% 30
Same 24.3% 55
Decreased 61.5% 139
No Opinion 0.9% 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 24.0% 54
Same 48.9% 110
Decrease 23.6% 53
No Opinion 3.6% 8

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 1.8% 4
Considered moving some operations 1.8% 4
Considered moving all operations 4.9% 11
Moved operations into Pennsylvania 0.0% 0
Didn’t consider any moves 91.5% 204

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 4.9% 11
May move some operations 4.5% 10
Not considering any moves 90.6% 203
May move operations INTO Pennsylvania 0.0% 0

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 Barack Obama 26.4% (60) 63.4% (144) 10.1% (23) 227
Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke 22.0% (50) 49.3% (112) 28.6% (65) 227
U.S. Senator Arlen Specter 24.4% (55) 60.0% (135) 15.6% (35) 225
U.S. Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr. 13.8% (31) 54.2% (122) 32.0% (72) 225
U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner 15.0% (34) 63.3% (143) 21.7% (49) 226
Governor Ed Rendell 13.8% (31) 75.1% (169) 11.1% (25) 225
Attorney General Tom Corbett 37.9% (85) 12.9% (29) 49.1% (110) 224
Auditor General Jack Wagner 13.8% (31) 13.3% (30) 72.9% (164) 225
State Treasurer Rob McCord 6.7% (15) 15.2% (34) 78.1% (175) 224

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 9.7% (22) 80.1% (181) 10.2% (23) 226
United States House of Representatives 6.6% (15) 82.7% (187) 10.6% (24) 226
Pennsylvania Senate 17.7% (40) 57.1% (129) 25.2% (57) 226
Pennsylvania House of Representatives 12.0% (27) 62.7% (141) 25.3% (57) 225

Section II: Issues

11. Do you FAVOR or OPPOSE the Employee Free Choice Act, also known as "Card Check" which would eliminate a secret ballot when employees are voting on whether or not to unionize?

Response
Percent
Response
Count
STRONGLY FAVOR 1.4% 3
SOMEWHAT FAVOR 1.8% 4
SOMEWHAT OPPOSE 8.7% 19
STRONGLY OPPOSE 80.8% 177
REFUSED/NO OPINION 7.8% 17

12. Would you be MORE LIKELY or LESS LIKELY to vote to re-elect U.S. Senator Arlen Specter if he supports "Card Check" legislation?

Response
Percent
Response
Count
MUCH MORE LIKELY TO VOTE TO RE-ELECT 1.8% 4
SOMEWHAT MORE LIKELY TO VOTE TO RE-ELECT 5.5% 12
SOMEWHAT LESS LIKELY TO VOTE TO RE-ELECT 7.8% 17
MUCH LESS LIKELY TO VOTE TO RE-ELECT 70.8% 155
REFUSED/NO OPINION 14.2% 31

13. If the U.S. Congress enacts the "Card Check" bill (which would allow organization of a union without a private ballot, creates binding arbitration on businesses, and significantly increases penalties for violations of the law) would you be MORE LIKELY or LESS LIKELY to hire new/more employees?

Response
Percent
Response
Count
MUCH MORE LIKELY 0.5% 1
SOMEWHAT MORE LIKELY 0.9% 2
SOMEWHAT LESS LIKELY 12.8% 28
MUCH LESS LIKELY 51.1% 112
NO IMPACT 28.8% 63
REFUSED/NO OPINION 5.9% 13

14. Do you FAVOR or OPPOSE enactment of what is commonly referred to as a Right to Work law, whereby a worker cannot be compelled to join or pay fees to a labor union as a condition of employment?

Response
Percent
Response
Count
STRONGLY FAVOR 72.0% 157
SOMEWHAT FAVOR 16.5% 36
SOMEWHAT OPPOSE 2.3% 5
STRONGLY OPPOSE 3.7% 8
REFUSED/NO OPINION 5.5% 12

15. Generally speaking, do you have a POSITIVE or NEGATIVE opinion of the economic stimulus bill passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama in February?

Response
Percent
Response
Count
STRONLY POSITIVE 3.3% 7
SOMEWHAT POSITIVE 19.1% 41
SOMEWHAT NEGATIVE 21.9% 47
STRONGLY NEGATIVE 54.4% 117
REFUSED/NO OPINION 1.4% 3

16. Generally speaking, do you think the policies of the Obama Administration will strengthen the U.S. economy and cause the resession to end sooner; or will the administration’s policies weaken the economy and prolong the recession?

Response
Percent
Response
Count
STRENGTHEN/END SOONER 25.6% 56
WEAKEN/PROLONG 59.8% 131
WILL HAVE NO IMPACT 11.4% 25
REFUSED/NO OPINION 3.2% 7

17. Are you concerned about whether or not your business will be able to survive the current economic crisis; ie: might you be forced out of business because of the recession?

Response
Percent
Response
Count
LIKELY MAY GO OUT OF BUSINESS 4.2% 9
POSSIBLE MAY GO OUT OF BUSINESS 30.8% 66
WELL POSITIONED TO SURVIVE THE RECESSION 37.9% 81
DON’T KNOW 29.0% 62
Other 10

18. Do you FAVOR or OPPOSE the federal government spending billions of dollars more to keep the U.S. auto industry, specifically Chrysler and General Motors, in business?

Response
Percent
Response
Count
STRONGLY FAVOR 0.9% 2
SOMEWHAT FAVOR 10.5% 23
SOMEWHAT OPPOSE 28.3% 62
STRONGLY OPPOSE 58.0% 127
REFUSED/NO OPINION 2.3% 5

19. If Pennsylvania were to implement a limitation on CO2 emissions through a cap and trade program would you be MORE LIKELY or LESS LIKELY to invest in your business and to hire new/more employees?

Response
Percent
Response
Count
MUCH MORE LIKELY 0.5% 1
SOMEWHAT MORE LIKELY 0.9% 2
SOMEWHAT LESS LIKELY 9.1% 20
MUCH LESS LIKELY 31.1% 68
NO IMPACT 47.9% 105
REFUSED/NO OPINION 10.5% 23

20. The Pennsylvania state budget deficit is projected to exceed $2 billion. Should lawmakers raise taxes, or cut spending to close this deficit?

Response
Percent
Response
Count
RAISE TAXES 0.5% 1
CUT SPENDING 81.7% 178
COMBINATION OF TAX HIKES AND SPENDING CUTS 16.1% 35
REFUSED/NO OPINION 1.8% 4

21. The Rendell Administration is proposing to levy a 2% tax on health insurance premiums paid by businesses and consumers. If such a tax is implemented what impact would it have on your business?

Response
Percent
Response
Count
STOP PROVIDING EMPLOYER-PAID HEALTH INSURANGE 16.1% 34
IMPLEMENT/RAISE EMPLOYEE CO-PAYS 39.3% 83
LAY-OFF EMPLOYEES TO OFF-SET THE COST OF THE TAX 6.6% 14
GO OUT OF BUSINESS 2.8% 6
CURRENTLY DO NOT PROVIDE EMPLOYER-PAID HEALTH INSURANCE 21.3% 45
NO IMPACT 11.8% 25
REFUSED/NO OPINION 1.9% 4
Other 11

22. Would you FAVOR or OPPOSE raising taxes on tobacco products to help off-set the current state budget deficit?

Response
Percent
Response
Count
STRONGLY FAVOR 24.8% 54
SOMEWHAT FAVOR 22.9% 50
SOMEWHAT OPPOSE 17.9% 39
STRONGLY OPPOSE 28.4% 62
REFUSED/NO OPINION 6.0% 13

23. Would you FAVOR or OPPOSE raising the state SALES TAX to help off-set the current state budget deficit?

Response
Percent
Response
Count
STRONGLY FAVOR 3.2% 7
SOMEWHAT FAVOR 18.7% 41
SOMEWHAT OPPOSE 16.9% 37
STRONGLY OPPOSE 60.7% 133
REFUSED/NO OPINION 0.5% 1

24. Have you had to take any of the following actions to deal with the current economic recession:

Response
Percent
Response
Count
LAY OFF EMPLOYEES 40.9% 72
REDUCE EMPLOYEE WORK HOURS 53.4% 94
CLOSE OR CONSOLIDATE FACILITIES 4.5% 8
REDUCE PRODUCT LINES 13.6% 24
RAISE PRICES 29.5% 52
CUT PRICES 27.3% 48
CLOSE YOUR BUSINESS 1.1% 2
Other 32

25. As a result of the recent increase in the minimum wage are you: MORE LIKELY or LESS LIKELY to hire new/more employees?

Response
Percent
Response
Count
MUCH MORE LIKELY 0.5% 1
SOMEWHAT MORE LIKELY 0.5% 1
SOMEWHAT LESS LIKELY 15.1% 33
MUCH LESS LIKELY 18.7% 41
NO IMPACT 63.5% 139
REFUSED/NO OPINIONW 1.8% 4

26. What is your top business concern?

Response
Percent
Response
Count
ACCESS TO CREDIT 8.6% 18
LOST SALES 42.4% 89
TAXES 22.9% 48
COST OF HEALTH CARE COVERAGE 19.5% 41
ENERGY COSTS 6.7% 14
Other 21

27. Tell us what steps you are taking in your business to survive the recession.

Response
Count
VIEW 153

28. DEMOCRATS ONLY: IF the Democratic Primary for Governor of Pennsylvania were held today, would you vote for

Response
Percent
Response
Count
Jack Wagner 29.4% 5
Dan Onorato 23.5% 4
Don Cunningham 11.8% 2
Tom Knox 17.6% 3
Bob Mellow 17.6% 3
Other 28

29. REPUBLICANS ONLY: If the Republican Primary for Governor of Pennsylvania were held today, would you vote for:

Response
Percent
Response
Count
TOM CORBETT 72.2% 78
PAT MEEHAN 10.2% 11
JIM GERLACH 17.6% 19
Other 25

30. REPUBLICANS ONLY: IF the Republican Primary for U.S. Senator were held today, would you vote for Arlen Specter or Pat Toomey?

Response
Percent
Response
Count
ARLEN SPECTER 15.3% 24
PAT TOOMEY 63.7% 100
PEG LUKSIK 4.5% 7
REFUSED/NO OPINION 16.6% 26
Other 15

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

Response
Percent
Response
Count
Northwest PA 12.4% 27
Southwest PA 16.5% 36
Northcentral PA 7.8% 17
Altoona/Johnstown 2.3% 5
Southcentral/Harrisburg 16.5% 36
Southeastern PA 23.9% 52
Lehigh Valley 7.8% 17
Northeastern PA 12.8% 28

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

Response
Percent
Response
Count
OWNER 80.3% 175
CEO/COO/CFO 9.6% 21
STATE MANAGER 0.0% 0
LOCAL MANAGER 4.6% 10
NO ANSWER/REFUSED 1.8% 4
Other 3.7% 8