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IssuesPA/Pew Benchmark and Legislative Poll
January 2007
The January 2007 IssuesPA/Pew Benchmark and Legislator Survey shows that after a turbulent year statewide between state elected officials and the electorate, the public as a whole seems ready to wipe the slate clean and start anew. Seventy-two percent of residents say they have a lot or some confidence in Governor Edward G. Rendell. Two-thirds (66 percent) of Pennsylvanians polled have a lot or some confidence in the legislature as a whole. This is up from 48 percent in November 2005 and may be a result of the election that swept in many new legislators who ran on a reform agenda.
While the public has confidence in state government, they do not necessarily see eye to eye with the legislature on what should be the state’s top priorities. While the legislature is focused on two top priorities that emerge among all the possible issues – property tax reform (46%) and health care reform (41%), Pennsylvanians have a longer list of items on their legislative priority lists, including healthcare (24%), jobs (18%), education (15%), taxes generally (13%), property taxes specifically (11%), and crime (10%). Other priorities for legislators include government/legislative reform (21 percent), budget/spending level (15 percent) and infrastructure (14 percent).
The poll also shows that 60 percent of Pennsylvanians are satisfied with the direction of the state, showing a level of satisfaction that is higher than any other in nearly five years of IssuesPA/Pew polling. Only 32 percent of respondents say they are dissatisfied. This shows a significant change in attitude since September 2006, when only 51 percent of residents were satisfied and 43 percent were dissatisfied.
The upbeat mood in Pennsylvania contrasts with a sober national mood. A survey conducted by PSRAI in for Newsweek in late January found only 30 percent of adults nationally saying they were satisfied with the direction of the country. Much of the negative view nationally is likely the result of the Iraq war and perceptions of presidential leadership.
Other findings of the IssuesPA/Pew poll include:
- A majority of legislators (62 percent) think school reform to reduce property taxes should take precedence over actions to improve or expand education; 27 percent of the public agree.
- Legislators are split between helping the uninsured (34%) and helping employers provide coverage (31%) when asked to name their top health care priority; the general public’s top health care priority Is helping low-income people get access to health care (38%)
- Changing the business tax structure and upgrading infrastructure are the top priorities of 65 percent of legislators for improving the Commonwealth’s economic climate.
- Only 12 percent of legislators see additional funding for mass transit as a top economic priority.
To download detailed results from the January 2007 IssuesPA/Pew Benchmark and Legislative poll, use the following links:
Legislator Survey - Top Findings
Benchmark Survey - Top Findings
Legislator Survey:
Topline Results
Detailed Tables
Benchmark Survey:
General Topline Results
Regional Topline Results
Detailed Tables:
www.issuespa.net/resources/pdf/Feb2007BannerABenchmark.pdf
www.issuespa.net/resources/pdf/Feb2007BannerBBenchmark.pdf
www.issuespa.net/resources/pdf/Feb2007BannerCBenchmark.pdf
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