LSU Survey Results
Legislative Priorities 2007
Analysis:
Among the studio audience members who took the survey before and after the program, pay raises for teachers, tax cuts and health care for the uninsured were the three topics that produced the biggest changes in opinions.
The largest change was concerning teacher pay raises. After the program, most of respondents [92.3%] decided they either favored or strongly favored the raise, up from 54.6% prior to the program. The number who had no opinion or refused to answer the question about pay raises for teachers went from 27.3% before the program, to 0 afterwards. This is a common phenomenon in these surveys. Virtually all of the studio participants tend to form an opinion after discussing the topic and engaging the panel in the questions and answer session.
Louisiana currently has an $827 million budget surplus, and – without any spending changes - is expecting additional surpluses for the current year of over a billion dollars. Some people argue that these surpluses should be used only on “one time” items that do not commit future state spending, while others argue the money should be used for recurring items that would have to be funded in future years.
What about you? Do you think the money should be used on “one time” items or do you think it would be ok to spend the money on recurring items?
% After One time items 69.2 Recurring items 30.8 Don't know / Not available 0.0 Refused 0.0 Some suggestions for ways to use the state budget surplus which assume the money will be used for one-time expenses. Please tell whether you strongly favor, favor, oppose or strongly oppose each proposal:
Build and repair roads and infrastructure
% Before % After Strongly favor 45.5 69.2 Favor 54.5 23.1 Oppose 0.0 7.7 Strongly oppose 0.0 0.0 Don't know / Not available 0.0 0.0 Refused 0.0 0.0 Some suggestions for ways to use the state budget surplus which assume the money will be used for one-time expenses. Please tell whether you strongly favor, favor, oppose or strongly oppose each proposal:
Pay off the debt on pension and retirement programs for teachers and state workers
% Before % After Strongly favor 9.1 23.1 Favor 45.5 53.8 Oppose 27.3 15.4 Strongly oppose 0.0 7.7 Don't know / Not available 18.2 0.0 Refused 0.0 0.0 Some suggestions for ways to use the state budget surplus which assume the money will be used for one-time expenses. Please tell whether you strongly favor, favor, oppose or strongly oppose each proposal:
Use the money for hurricane-recovery related projects.
% Before % After Strongly favor 27.3 30.8 Favor 54.5 46.2 Oppose 9.1 23.1 Strongly oppose 9.1 0.0 Don't know / Not available 0.0 0.0 Refused 0.0 0.0 Some suggestions for ways to use the state budget surplus which assume the money will be used for one-time expenses. Please tell whether you strongly favor, favor, oppose or strongly oppose each proposal:
Provide a ONE-TIME tax rebate or tax cut.
% Before % After Strongly favor 9.1 23.1 Favor 27.3 23.1 Oppose 63.6 23.1 Strongly oppose 0.0 30.8 Don't know / Not available 0.0 0.0 Refused 0.0 0.0 Now for items that include recurring budget items and would commit future state funding. Please tell whether you would strongly favor, favor, oppose or strongly oppose each proposal:
a. Provide pay raises for teachers in state public schools
% Before % After Strongly favor 18.2 30.8 Favor 36.4 61.5 Oppose 18.2 7.7 Strongly oppose 0.0 0.0 Don't know / Not available 18.2 0.0 Refused 9.1 0.0 Now for items that include recurring budget items and would commit future state funding. Please tell whether you would strongly favor, favor, oppose or strongly oppose each proposal:
b. Provide pay raises for all state employees
% Before % After Strongly favor 0.0 0.0 Favor 36.4 38.5 Oppose 54.4 46.2 Strongly oppose 9.1 15.4 Don't know / Not available 0.0 0.0 Refused 0.0 0.0 Now for items that include recurring budget items and would commit future state funding. Please tell whether you would strongly favor, favor, oppose or strongly oppose each proposal:
c. Provide PERMANENT tax cuts
% Before % After Strongly favor 0.0 30.8 Favor 27.3 15.4 Oppose 36.4 38.5 Strongly oppose 18.2 15.4 Don't know / Not available 18.2 0.0 Refused 0.0 0.0 Now for items that include recurring budget items and would commit future state funding. Please tell whether you would strongly favor, favor, oppose or strongly oppose each proposal:
d. Provide health care for people without health insurance
% Before % After Strongly favor 36.4 61.5 Favor 27.3 15.4 Oppose 36.4 15.4 Strongly oppose 0.0 7.7 Don't know / Not available 0.0 0.0 Refused 0.0 0.0 Would you say the government is pretty much run by a few big interests looking out for themselves or that it is run for the benefit of all the people?
% Before % After Few Big Interests 81.8 76.9 Benefit of all 18.2 23.1 Don't Know / Not Available 0.0 0.0 Refused 0.0 0.0 How much attention do you feel the government pays to what the people think when it decides what to do -- a good deal, some, or not much?
% Before % After Good Deal 0.0 15.4 Some 63.6 61.5 Not Much 36.4 23.1 Don't Know / Not Available 0.0 0.0 Refused 0.0 0.0
Some questions and comments may be included in the program.
