Top Line Survey Results Pennsylvania State Pulse Poll
( Sample Size: 701)
Q1. In general, do you think things in Pennsylvania are going in the right direction, or do you think that things have gotten on the wrong track?
1. Right direction | 245 | 35% |
2. Wrong track | 315 | 45% |
3. Undecided | 142 | 20% |
Q2. What would you say is the single most important problem facing your area today. That is, the one that you would like to see resolved by your federal or state elected officials. (DO NOT READ CHOICES)
1. Taxes | 122 | 17% |
2. Drugs/Crime/Violence | 13 | 2% |
3. Economy/Jobs | 215 | 31% |
4. Growth/Development | 6 | 1% |
5. Streets/Road conditions | 14 | 2% |
6. Politicians/Government | 27 | 4% |
7. Corporate corruption | 3 | 0% |
8. Prescription drugs/Healthcare | 93 | 13% |
9. Medicare/Social security | 24 | 3% |
10. Education/Schools | 88 | 13% |
11. Morality/Family values | 16 | 2% |
12. Security/Terrorism/Foreign policy | 2 | 0% |
13. Environment/Pollution | 6 | 1% |
14. Stock market concerns | 2 | 0% |
15. Undecided/None | 48 | 7% |
16. Other | 23 | 3% |
Q3. Should unions be forbidden from deducting money from union workers’ pay without their permission, then using that money for political purposes?
1. Yes | 511 | 73% |
2. No | 147 | 21% |
3. Undecided | 39 | 5% |
4. Refuse | 5 | 2% |
Q4. Do you favor or oppose enactment of what’s commonly referred to as Right to Work Law, whereby a worker cannot be compelled to join or pay fees to a labor union as a condition of employment? (Test Intensity)
Total favor: |
Total oppose: |
1. Strongly favor | 297 | 42% |
2. Somewhat favor | 141 | 20% |
3. Strongly oppose | 119 | 17% |
4. Somewhat oppose | 82 | 12% |
5. Undecided | 61 | 9% |
6. Refuse | 2 | 0% |
Q5. Do you think local school districts and municipalities should have the option of paying union or prevailing wages on taxpayer funded construction projects, or should such projects go to the lowest bidder?
1. Must pay union/prevailing wage | 153 | 22% |
2. Go to the lowest bidder | 435 | 62% |
3. Undecided | 112 | 16% |
4. Refuse | 2 | 0% |
Q6. Do you think laws compelling certain state employees to pay fees to a labor union as a condition of government employment should be repealed?
1. Yes | 437 | 62% |
2. No | 156 | 22% |
3. Undecided | 104 | 15% |
4. Refuse | 5 | 1% |
Q7. Generally speaking, do you view the quality of public education in Pennsylvania as Excellent, Good, Fair, or Poor?
1. Excellent | 46 | 6% |
2. Good | 278 | 40% |
3. Fair | 219 | 31% |
4. Poor | 110 | 16% |
5. Undecided | 48 | 7% |
6. Refuse | 1 | 0% |
Q8. Do you think Pennsylvania spends too much, about the right amount, or not enough money on public education?
1. Too much | 87 | 12% |
2. About right amount | 175 | 25% |
3. Not enough | 355 | 51% |
4. Undecided | 85 | 12% |
Q9. As a taxpayer, would you like to have the right to vote to approve any property tax increase proposed by school districts, at the local level?
1. Yes | 601 | 86% |
2. No | 80 | 11% |
3. Undecided | 19 | 3% |
4. Refuse | 2 | 0% |
Q10. If local property taxes had to be replaced with another tax, would you favor a local earned income tax, a local sales tax, or a combination of earned income and sales taxes?
1. Local earned income tax | 121 | 17% |
2. Local sales tax | 165 | 24% |
3. Combination of both | 309 | 44% |
4. Undecided | 101 | 14% |
5. Refuse | 6 | 1% |
Q11. Do you favor or oppose giving taxpayer-funded tuition vouchers to parents to allow them to send their children to the public, private or parochial school of their choice?
1. Favor | 341 | 49% |
2. Oppose | 308 | 44% |
3. Undecided | 52 | 7% |
4. Refuse | 1 | 0% |
Q12. Pennsylvania is currently one of 13 states in the country that imposes an inheritance tax, often called the death tax, which taxes people’s estates after their death. This tax generates more than $700 million per year for the state. If it were up to you, would you: (READ CHOICES BELOW –ONE ANSWER ONLY)
1. Keep the tax as it is today | 106 | 15% |
2. Reduce the tax slightly | 151 | 22% |
3. Eliminate the tax and cut state spending | 303 | 43% |
4. Eliminate the tax and increase other taxes | 80 | 11% |
5. Undecided | 62 | 9% |
Q13. Should Pennsylvania reduce the amount of taxpayer money spent enticing businesses to move into the state, and return this money to the taxpayer?
1. Yes, reduce economic development spending | 294 | 42% |
2. No, don’t reduce economic development spending | 330 | 47% |
3. Undecided | 75 | 11% |
4. Refuse | 3 | 0% |
Q14. Generally speaking, do you think sports stadiums and arenas should be paid for with taxpayer money, or should they be financed privately?
1. Paid with tax money | 25 | 4% |
2. Financed privately | 626 | 89% |
3. Undecided | 50 | 7% |
4. Refuse | 1 | 0% |
Q15. If current state tax revenues fall short of budget projections, should the General Assembly and Governor Rendell reduce spending and eliminate government programs, or increase taxes and maintain current programs?
1. Reduce spending/Eliminate programs | 403 | 57% |
2. Increase taxes/Maintain programs | 152 | 22% |
3. Undecided | 137 | 20% |
4. Refuse | 10 | 1% |
Q16. Do your favor or oppose a constitutional amendment that would require voter approval for statewide tax increases that exceed the rate of inflation? (Test Intensity)
Total favor: |
Total oppose: |
1. Strongly favor | 345 | 49% |
2. Somewhat favor | 188 | 27% |
3. Strongly oppose | 56 | 8% |
4. Somewhat oppose | 67 | 9% |
5. Undecided | 42 | 6% |
6. Refuse | 4 | 1% |
Q17. Do you support allowing slot machines at racetracks in Pennsylvania?
1. Yes | 463 | 66% |
2. No | 197 | 28% |
3. Undecided | 40 | 6% |
4. Refuse | 2 | 0% |
Q18. Do you favor or oppose allowing other gaming in Pennsylvania, such as riverboat casinos?
1. Favor | 418 | 60% |
2. Oppose | 234 | 33% |
3. Undecided | 47 | 7% |
4. Refuse | 3 | 0% |
Q19. Have you personally had any difficulty accessing health care because providers have gone out of business due to an inability to obtain medical malpractice insurance?
1. Yes | 82 | 12% |
2. No | 610 | 87% |
3. Undecided | 8 | 1% |
4. Refuse | 2 | 0% |
Q20. Thinking of Pennsylvania state government, do you see any real difference between the policies and actions of Republicans and Democrats?
1. Yes | 313 | 45% |
2. No | 325 | 46% |
3. Undecided | 61 | 9% |
4. Refuse | 3 | 0% |
Now, I just have a few more questions for demographical purposes, and then we’ll be through…
Q21. Are you registered to vote in Pennsylvania as a Republican, Democrat, Independent or something else?
1. Republican | 303 | 43% |
2. Democrat | 327 | 47% |
3. Independent/Other | 58 | 8% |
4. Refuse | 14 | 2% |
Q22. What is your age according to the following brackets: 18 – 34, 35 – 44, 45 – 54, 55 – 64, or over 65?
1. 18-34 | 65 | 9% |
2. 35-44 | 145 | 21% |
3. 45-54 | 176 | 25% |
4. 55-64 | 143 | 21% |
5. 65+ | 171 | 24% |
6. Refuse | 2 | 0% |
Q23. Do you consider yourself to be a Libertarian, Conservative, Moderate, or Liberal when thinking about politics?
1. Libertarian | 9 | 1% |
2. Conservative | 247 | 35% |
3. Moderate | 241 | 34% |
4. Liberal | 122 | 18% |
5. Undecided | 55 | 8% |
6. None/Other | 21 | 3% |
7. Refuse | 7 | 1% |
Q24. What is your current household income level according to the following brackets: less than $15,000, $15 – 30,000, $31 – 50,000, $51 – 75,000, $76 – 100,000 or more than $100,000?
1. Less than $15,000 | 50 | 7% |
2. $15,000 – $30,000 | 129 | 18% |
3. $31,000 – $50,000 | 147 | 21% |
4. $51,000 – $75,000 | 142 | 20% |
5. $76,000 – $100,000 | 77 | 11% |
6. More than $100,000 | 55 | 8% |
7. Undecided | 4 | 1% |
8. Refuse | 98 | 14% |
Q25. Is your main racial heritage or background of White, African-American, Hispanic, or another background?
1. White/Caucasian | 631 | 90% |
2. African American | 33 | 4% |
3. Hispanic | 4 | 1% |
4. Asian or pacific islander | 0 | 0% |
5. Native American | 2 | 0% |
6. Other/None | 13 | 2% |
7. Refuse | 19 | 3% |
Q26. Is your main religious background Mainline Protestant, Catholic, Evangelical Christian, Eastern Orthodox, Jewish, Mormon, Agnostic or Atheist, or something else?
1. Mainline Protestant | 242 | 34% |
2. Catholic | 260 | 37% |
3. Evangelical Christian | 69 | 10% |
4. Eastern Orthodox | 4 | 1% |
5. Jewish | 9 | 1% |
6. Mormon | 2 | 0% |
7. Agnostic or Atheist | 12 | 2% |
8. Other/None | 87 | 12% |
9. Refuse | 17 | 3% |
Thank you for your participation in the survey. Have a good day/evening.
Q27. Gender
1. Male | 301 | 43% |
2. Female | 401 | 57% |
Q28. Area Breaks
1. Erie MM | 37 | 5% |
2. Pittsburgh MM | 165 | 24% |
3. Johnstown/Altoona MM | 68 | 10% |
4. Central PA/Hbg/York MM | 86 | 12% |
5. Northeast MM | 99 | 14% |
6. Philadelphia MM | 247 | 35% |
The margin of error for sample size of 702 is 3.70%.