2012 Democratic Delegate & Alternate Survey

2012 Democratic Delegate & Alternate Survey

Total Started Survey: 50
Total Finished Survey: 39

Section I: FEDERAL LEVEL ISSUE QUESTIONS

1. With ONE being the LEAST important and FIVE being the MOST important; we would like to know how you rate the importance of the following issues:

[td c7]Other Responses

* Infrastructure
* Growing income disparity
* Campaign Finance Reform
* Infrastructure funding
* foreign policy in general
* Military, Veteran, and Military familie’s issues
* Defense spending to reduce the deficit
* I approve of the Affordable Health Care Act!

[td c7]answered question[td c7]skipped question

	1	2	3	4	5	Rating Average	Response Count
Economy	6.3% (3)	2.1% (1)	8.3% (4)	20.8% (10)	62.5% (30)	4.31	48
Development of Energy Resources	12.8% (6)	10.6% (5)	19.1% (9)	29.8% (14)	27.7% (13)	3.49	47
Unemployment Rate	6.3% (3)	4.2% (2)	16.7% (8)	35.4% (17)	37.5% (18)	3.94	48
War in Afghanistan	13.0% (6)	21.7% (10)	32.6% (15)	17.4% (8)	15.2% (7)	3.00	46
Federal Budget Deficit	10.4% (5)	16.7% (8)	22.9% (11)	22.9% (11)	27.1% (13)	3.40	48
Obamacare	10.4% (5)	2.1% (1)	12.5% (6)	27.1% (13)	47.9% (23)	4.00	48
Medicare/Medicaid Reform	6.3% (3)	16.7% (8)	31.3% (15)	27.1% (13)	18.8% (9)	3.35	48
Gay Marriage	19.1% (9)	17.0% (8)	34.0% (16)	17.0% (8)	12.8% (6)	2.87	47
Global Warming	13.0% (6)	10.9% (5)	26.1% (12)	26.1% (12)	23.9% (11)	3.37	46
Abortion	23.4% (11)	17.0% (8)	27.7% (13)	17.0% (8)	14.9% (7)	2.83	47
Tax Cuts	17.4% (8)	23.9% (11)	23.9% (11)	17.4% (8)	17.4% (8)	2.93	46
Social Security Reform	8.3% (4)	22.9% (11)	20.8% (10)	29.2% (14)	18.8% (9)	3.27	48
Mortgage/Banking Crisis	8.3% (4)	20.8% (10)	14.6% (7)	31.3% (15)	25.0% (12)	3.44	48
Gasoline Prices	19.6% (9)	30.4% (14)	21.7% (10)	6.5% (3)	21.7% (10)	2.80	46
Federal Government Spending	6.4% (3)	12.8% (6)	29.8% (14)	27.7% (13)	23.4% (11)	3.49	47
Illegal Immigration	16.7% (8)	27.1% (13)	31.3% (15)	12.5% (6)	12.5% (6)	2.77	48
10
48
2

2. Do you think the Obama Administration’s foreign policies have made the United States more secure or less secure?

		Response Percent	Response Count
SOMEWHAT MORE SECURE		25.0%	12
ABOUT THE SAME		12.5%	6
SOMEWHAT LESS SECURE		0.0%	0
MUCH LESS SECURE		0.0%	0
MUCH MORE SECURE		62.5%	30
answered question		48
skipped question		2

3. Do you think President Obama’s handling of the War in Afghanistan is on the RIGHT TRACK or off on the WRONG TRACK?

[td c4]answered question[td c4]skipped question

		Response Percent	Response Count
RIGHT TRACK		83.3%	40
WRONG TRACK		16.7%	8
48
2

4. Do you think the United States should intervent militarily in Syria?

[td c3]answered question[td c3]skipped question

		Response Percent	Response Count
YES		17.0%	8
NO		83.0%	39
47
3

5. Do you think the United States should intervene militarily to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons?

[td c3]answered question[td c3]skipped question

		Response Percent	Response Count
YES		27.7%	13
NO		72.3%	34
47
3

6. Generally speaking, do you feel that the U.S. Economy is on the right track, or is it off in the wrong direction?

[td c3]answered question[td c3]skipped question

		Response Percent	Response Count
RIGHT TRACK		87.5%	42
WRONG DIRECTION		12.5%	6
48
2

7. Who is to blame for the nation’s current economic ills? (Check all that apply)

[td c3]answered question[td c3]skipped question

		Response Percent	Response Count
PRESIDENT OBAMA		6.3%	3
PRESIDENT BUSH		81.3%	39
FEDERAL RESERVE		10.4%	5
CONGRESS		83.3%	40
CORPORATE AMERICA		70.8%	34
INVESTORS		33.3%	16
CONSUMERS		20.8%	10
Other Responses * Regulators from 96-08 * Congress and Senate * Investment banks shorting; inventing/selling derivatives * The tope 1% who do not pay their fair share of taxes * Investment banks * Wall Street excessive borrowing, leveraging, and lax standars; absence of oversight and enforcement of regulations, de-regulation * entitlement programs * Governors * Wall Street		18.8%	9
48
2

8. When it comes to the Bush-era tax rates (cuts) do you Favor:

[td c3]answered question[td c3]skipped question

		Response Percent	Response Count
Make Bush Tax Rates Permanent for all Americans		2.2%	1
Make Bush Tax Rates Permanent for Families Earning Under $250,000 Per Year		39.1%	18
Temporarily Extend the Bush Tax Rates for All Americans		0.0%	0
Temporarily Extend the Bush Tax Rates for Families Earning Under $250,000 Per Year		41.3%	19
Reinstate the Pre-Bush Higher Rates for All Americans		17.4%	8
46
4

9. Do you FAVOR or OPPOSE extending the Obama cuts in the payroll (Social Security) tax rate?

[td c3]answered question[td c3]skipped question

		Response Percent	Response Count
STRONGLY FAVOR		27.7%	13
SOMEWHAT FAVOR		46.8%	22
SOMEWHAT OPPOSE		19.1%	9
STRONGLY OPPOSE		6.4%	3
47
3

10. Do you FAVOR or OPPOSE cutting tax rates on Capital Gains?

[td c3]answered question[td c3]skipped question

		Response Percent	Response Count
STRONGLY SUPPORT		2.1%	1
SOMEWHAT SUPPORT		14.6%	7
SOMEWHAT OPPOSE		41.7%	20
STRONGLY OPPOSE		41.7%	20
48
2

11. When it comes to the estate or "death tax" do you favor:

[td c3]answered question[td c3]skipped question

		Response Percent	Response Count
ELIMINATING THE ESTATE TAX ENTIRELY		8.5%	4
CUTTING THE ESTATE TAX RATE		23.4%	11
MAINTAINING CURRENT ESTATE RATES		34.0%	16
RAISING THE RATE ON THE ESTATE TAX		34.0%	16
47
3

12. Do you SUPPORT or OPPOSE lowering personal income tax rates as a means of stimulating economic growth?

[td c3]answered question[td c3]skipped question

		Response Percent	Response Count
STRONGLY SUPPORT		14.6%	7
SOMEWHAT SUPPORT		39.6%	19
SOMEWHAT OPPOSE		20.8%	10
STRONGLY OPPOSE		25.0%	12
48
2

13. Which approach would you take toward balancing the federal budget?

[td c3]answered question[td c3]skipped question

		Response Percent	Response Count
RAISE TAXES ONLY		6.3%	3
COMBINATION OF TAX HIKES/SPENDING CUTS		89.6%	43
SPENDING CUTS ONLY		4.2%	2
48
2

14. Generally speaking, do you favor or oppose free trade policies (such as NAFTA or CAFTA)?

[td c3]answered question[td c3]skipped question

		Response Percent	Response Count
STRONGLY FAVOR		17.0%	8
SOMEWHAT FAVOR		36.2%	17
SOMEWHAT OPPOSE		38.3%	18
STRONGLY OPPOSE		8.5%	4
47
3

15. Do you FAVOR or OPPOSE raising the U.S. Government debt ceiling?

[td c3]answered question[td c3]skipped question

		Response Percent	Response Count
STRONGLY FAVOR		40.4%	19
SOMEWHAT FAVOR		38.3%	18
SOMEWHAT OPPOSE		17.0%	8
STRONGLY OPPOSE		4.3%	2
47
3

16. What do you see as the solution to America’s oil energy needs? (Check all that apply.)

[td c3]answered question[td c3]skipped question

		Response Percent	Response Count
More Domestic Drilling		25.0%	12
Development of Alternate Fuels		93.8%	45
Importing More Foreign Oil		6.3%	3
Conservation		66.7%	32
Other Responses		20.8%	10
48
2

17. Do you SUPPORT or OPPOSE term limits on Members of Congress?

[td c3]answered question[td c3]skipped question

		Response Percent	Response Count
STRONGLY SUPPORT		38.3%	18
SOMEWHAT SUPPORT		23.4%	11
SOMEWHAT OPPOSE		17.0%	8
STRONGLY OPPOSE		21.3%	10
47
3

18. Do you believe the Federal government is primarily an adversarial force when it comes to helping solve problems, or is the Federal government a positive force in helping people.

[td c3]answered question[td c3]skipped question

		Response Percent	Response Count
POSITIVE FORCE		93.6%	44
ADVERSARIAL FORCE		8.5%	4
47
3

19. Do you believe "global warming" is an accurate environmental assessment, or a greatly overblown issue?

[td c3]answered question[td c3]skipped question

		Response Percent	Response Count
ACCURATE ASSESSMENT		91.7%	44
GREATLY OVERBLOWM		8.3%	4
48
2

20. Do you believe in "natural rights," that our basic rights as Americans are God-given; or are our rights granted to us by government?

[td c3]answered question[td c3]skipped question

		Response Percent	Response Count
RIGHTS ARE GOD-GIVEN		29.5%	13
RIGHTS ARE GRANTED BY GOVERNMENT		70.5%	31
44
6

21. Do you think Social Security will be around for the next generations of Americans or will it go bankrupt?

[td c3]answered question[td c3]skipped question

		Response Percent	Response Count
YES, WITHOUT CHANGE IT WILL BE AROUND		27.1%	13
YES, WITH SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES IT WILL BE AROUND		64.6%	31
NO, IT’S HEADED TOWARD BANKRUPTCY		10.4%	5
48
2

22. Do you think younger Americans should be allowed to invest a portion of their Social Security funds in personal savings accounts outside of the current Social Security system?

[td c3]answered question[td c3]skipped question

		Response Percent	Response Count
YES		22.9%	11
NO		77.1%	37
48
2

23. Do you think federal earmarks, specific spending directed by Members of Congress, are an appropriate way for Congress to spend tax money or wasteful spending?

[td c3]answered question[td c3]skipped question

		Response Percent	Response Count
APPROPRIATE WAY		31.9%	15
WASTEFUL SPENDING		68.1%	32
47
3

Page: Section II: STATE LEVEL ISSUE QUESTIONS

1. Do you feel the property tax-based system currently utilized by school districts, local and county governments to fund services is fair and equitable to most segments of your community?

[td c3]answered question[td c3]skipped question

		Response Percent	Response Count
FAIR		19.4%	7
UNFAIR		80.6%	29
36
14

2. Would you favor or oppose replacing property/real estate taxes with:

[td c3]answered question[td c3]skipped question

		Response Percent	Response Count
HIGHER STATE SALES TAX RATE		30.0%	9
MORE BROAD BASED STATE SALES TAX AT THE CURRENT RATE		36.7%	11
LOCAL SALES TAX		30.0%	9
LOCAL EARNED INCOME TAXES		16.7%	5
COMBINATION LOCAL SALES/EARNED INCOME TAX		56.7%	17
30
20

3. Generally speaking, do you feel PERSONAL STATE INCOME TAXES are too high, about right, too low?

[td c3]answered question[td c3]skipped question

		Response Percent	Response Count
TOO HIGH		14.3%	5
ABOUT RIGHT		68.6%	24
TOO LOW		20.0%	7
35
15

4. Generally speaking, do you feel STATE BUSINESS TAXES are too high, about right, too low?

[td c3]answered question[td c3]skipped question

		Response Percent	Response Count
TOO HIGH		17.6%	6
ABOUT RIGHT		67.6%	23
TOO LOW		20.6%	7
34
16

5. When it comes to economic development, do you think the state should borrow money to help finance select business ventures, or should the state cut business taxes and regulations?

[td c3]answered question[td c3]skipped question

		Response Percent	Response Count
BORROW AND FINANCE		78.8%	26
CUT TAXES/REGULATIONS		21.2%	7
33
17

6. Do you feel vouchers or grants should be made available to students who wish to attend a PUBLIC school in a district other than their own?

[td c3]answered question[td c3]skipped question

		Response Percent	Response Count
YES		25.0%	9
NO		77.8%	28
36
14

7. Generally speaking do you feel Corbett Administration cuts to K-12 public education are:

[td c3]answered question[td c3]skipped question

		Response Percent	Response Count
TOO DEEP		97.2%	35
ABOUT RIGHT		2.8%	1
NOT DEEP ENOUGH		0.0%	0
36
14

8. When it comes to the state’s GENERAL FUND budget, would you say spending is:

[td c3]answered question[td c3]skipped question

		Response Percent	Response Count
TOO HIGH		17.6%	6
ABOUT RIGHT		29.4%	10
TOO LOW		52.9%	18
34
16

9. Would you favor an increase in the State’s Gas Tax as a way to help pay for more infrastructure costs?

[td c3]answered question[td c3]skipped question

		Response Percent	Response Count
YES		80.6%	29
NO		19.4%	7
36
14

10. Would you FAVOR or OPPOSE an increase in vehicle registration and/or driver license fees to help fund road and bridge improvements?

[td c3]answered question[td c3]skipped question

		Response Percent	Response Count
STRONGLY FAVOR		43.2%	16
SOMEWHAT FAVOR		51.4%	19
SOMEWHAT OPPOSE		2.7%	1
STRONGLY OPPOSE		2.7%	1
37
13

11. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania currently is in debt in the amount of $110 billion dollars, or about $9,000 for every citizen of the state. Do you think this too much, about the right amount, or not enough debt?

[td c3]answered question[td c3]skipped question

		Response Percent	Response Count
TOO MUCH		53.1%	17
ABOUT THE RIGHT AMOUNT		40.6%	13
NOT ENOUGH		6.3%	2
32
18

12. Some states within the nation have a RIGHT TO WORK law, which means that a worker cannot be fired or kept from having a job for either joining or not joining a union. Do you favor or oppose such a law in Pennsylvania?

[td c3]answered question[td c3]skipped question

		Response Percent	Response Count
STRONGLY FAVOR		32.4%	12
SOMEWHAT FAVOR		21.6%	8
SOMEWHAT OPPOSE		18.9%	7
STRONGLY OPPOSE		27.0%	10
37
13

13. Do you support or oppose a ban on public school teachers strikes?

[td c3]answered question[td c3]skipped question

		Response Percent	Response Count
STRONGLY SUPPORT		8.1%	3
SOMEWHAT SUPPORT		27.0%	10
SOMEWHAT OPPOSE		51.4%	19
STRONGLY SUPPORT		16.2%	6
37
13

14. Do you FAVOR or OPPOSE privatizing the state’s liquor store system?

[td c3]answered question[td c3]skipped question

		Response Percent	Response Count
STRONGLY FAVOR		40.0%	14
SOMEWHAT FAVOR		14.3%	5
SOMEWHAT OPPOSE		11.4%	4
STRONGLY OPPOSE		34.3%	12
35
15

15. If you had to chose one person, who would you select as the 2014 Democratic Nominee for Governor of Pennsylvania?

		Response Count
Responses * michael nutter mayor of phil * State Senator Jay Costa * Bob Casey * Ed Rendall * Bob Casey * Joe Sestak * I don’t have a name at this time. * Joe Sestak * Patrick Murphy * Joe Sestak * ROBERT A BRADY * Joe Sestak * Allyson Schwartz * Cheri Honkala * Jack Wagner * Robin Wiessmann * Michael Nutter * How would I know the answer to this now?! How do I know who might want to run? If Governor Rendell could run again, I would choose him. * Rob McCord * Rob McCord * Christopher Carney * Mayor Michael Nutter * Rob McCord * McCord * Joe Sestak * Scott Conklin * Josh Shapiro * Bob Casey * Bob Casey * Jim Burn, Allegheny County * State Treasurer Rob McCord		31
answered question		31
skipped question		19

16. PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ABOUT YOURSELF: ARE YOU:

[td c3]answered question[td c3]skipped question

		Response Percent	Response Count
VERY CONSERVATIVE		2.7%	1
SOMEWHAT CONSERVATIVE		2.7%	1
MODERATE		27.0%	10
SOMEWHAT LIBERAL		40.5%	15
VERY LIBERAL		27.0%	10
37
13

17. GENDER:

[td c3]answered question[td c3]skipped question

		Response Percent	Response Count
MALE		32.4%	12
FEMALE		67.6%	25
37
13

18. AGE:

[td c3]answered question[td c3]skipped question

		Response Percent	Response Count
18-30		8.1%	3
30-50		16.2%	6
50-65		56.8%	21
OVER 65		18.9%	7
37
13

19. Please feel free to share with us any comments you might have on federal and/or state policy issues:

		Response Count
Responses * This survey had too many ambiguously worded questions, as well as a number of typos… Surprised at no questions re Marcellus Shale, and other environmental Q’s… Felt this was a sloppily drafted survey…. * question 13 doesn’t have the strongly oppose option which is the one I would have chosen. * PA infrastructure must be addressed now PA education funding is jeopardizing the future workforce of a state that is rapidly aging and retiring There must be stronger reform of Wall Street and the securities industry, possibly examine reinstating Glass-Stegal. * Some of your questions were too broad. Some questions I did not feel I knew enough about the topic to answer with intelligence. * Voter ID laws are shameful. Obamacare is essential to implement * Close Corporate Tax loopholes/outlaw passive entities used for tax avoidance…go to Combined Reporting as IRS requires at federal level. Impose a fair severance tax (4-6%) on natural gas drilling in PA — use funds for public education, economic development and public welfare (ie, for persons with disabilities); consolidate municipal pensions at the state level to save admin costs and enhance investment returns; amend Constitution so legislators cannot draw their own legislative district lines (Congressional or State Senate/House districts); uncap the oil franchise tax and invest in transportation infrastructure and mass transit – particularly passenger rail to serve regional economies. * The survey was poorly worded. I am not sure it would have passed the reliability or validity tests. * Give me five minutes with the Sect of Defense and I would balance the budget, * Education cuts are too deep. The Governor, House and Senate should listen to the citizens of Pennsylvania, not Grover Norquist. Grover has many hats, unfortunately, one of his hats is in Pennsylvania! * Federal Govt should implement Simpson/Bowles or similar. Need to address all 4 issues – cuts to entitlements ok ONLY if paired with cuts to military and tax increases (restore Clinton rates for all). We had a surplus in the 90s. * Some of your questions are problematic since I did not want to pick any choice because it gave a false view. for example, question 2 state level, I think that schools should be financed by more state spending but not just sales tax. I think there should be a graduated income tax at a higher level not greater sales tax only. * The safety net is disappearing for our most vurnerable citizens young and old in PA		12
answered question		12
skipped question		38