Louisiana Business Poll: Economy, Jobs Most Important

The “economy and jobs” is the most important issue for Louisiana voters, according to a recent poll conducted by Southern Media & Opinion Research exclusively for the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI).

The poll of 600 likely Louisiana voters was completed by telephone from August 20 to August 24, 2008. According to LABI President Dan Juneau, the poll was designed to solely address the opinions of likely Louisiana voters on select national issues expected to come before the U.S. Congress in 2009. It contained no questions that would measure voter support for candidates in the fall elections.

At its annual Board Leadership Retreat held September 16, 2008, the LABI Board reviewed the poll findings and directed that the entirety of the poll results be offered to the media and other interested parties.

The poll indicated that 22.2% of the voters consider the economy and jobs to be the most important issue, followed by education at 13.9% and the situation in Iraq at 13.8%. Gasoline and energy prices were fourth most important at 12.7%. Of single digit interest were federal spending/deficit at 7.4%, health insurance at 6.9%, illegal immigration at 6.1%, crime and drugs at 4.9%, federal taxes at 4.4%, and global warming/climate change at 2.6%.

When asked if they thought the United States is headed in the right direction or the wrong direction, 60% said “wrong direction,” compared to 30% who said “right direction.” Of the respondents who said “wrong direction,” 26% of them considered “economy and jobs” to be the most important issue.

The poll results indicated that Louisiana voters continue to strongly support workers’ rights to choose whether or not they want to belong and pay dues to a union. Over 80% of the respondents support this choice, while almost 15% do not. Support among union households is even greater than the public at large, with 87% supporting the worker’s right to choose.

Another union-related question generated overwhelming response from the voters. They were told, “Under the current system, for a union to be certified to represent the workers at a company, a secret ballot election must be held to accept or reject representation by the union.” They were asked whether they supported or opposed that manner of establishing union representation. Almost 74% of the respondents support that method, and almost 91% of the union households agreed, the highest percentage response of any demographic grouping.

When asked whether they support proposed federal legislation that would do away with the secret ballot process, 65% said they would oppose; 72% of the union households said they would oppose.

When asked about proposed federal legislation that would severely limit emissions from vehicles, power plants, factories and other sources that some say lead to warmer global temperatures, 66% of the voters said they would oppose any legislation that would result in any tax increase or increased cost of gasoline, electricity, natural gas, and other energy sources that create carbon dioxide.

Their views are also split on the issue of “global warming.” Some 42% believe that “our planet is being significantly threatened by temperature increases generated by man-made activities.” Another 30% believe that global warming issues are being exaggerated and

present no serious threat to the environment, and 25% believe that, while there may be some warming of the planet, it is not significant enough to be a serious danger. This mixed response may be further explained by the fact that 56% of the voters are “very concerned” about the negative impact of carbon emission legislation on jobs and the economy in Louisiana, 32% are “somewhat concerned,” and 12% are not concerned.

While over 90% of the respondents indicated they are currently covered by public or private health insurance, 56% of those covered by private policies are finding it very or somewhat difficult to continue maintaining coverage. The issue is of greatest concern for those whose annual income is less than $40,000 as well as those who are disabled.

Over 62% of voters believe that federal taxes on individuals are too high, while only 6.4% say they are not enough. Some 64% also believe that businesses in general pay too much or about the right amount. They would oppose allowing the personal income tax cuts that are currently in effect to expire on January 1, 2010, by a two-to-one margin. They would also oppose increasing the tax on capital gain, 67% to 27%.

By and large, the voters agree with those who say when taxes are reduced on businesses it leads to more job creation and more economic growth. Almost 65% agreed, while 27% disagreed.

NOTE: FULL CONTENT OF FREQUENCIES IS ATTACHED.

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FREQUENCY RESPONSES—WEIGHTED BY RACE

SAMPLE SIZE (n=600)

SMOR 2935--Louisiana Statewide Poll on National Issues

8.20.08

Hello, this is (interviewer’s name) calling for Southern Media and Opinion Research. We are calling Louisiana voters to get their opinions on several issues likely to come before the United States Congress next year.

1. Are you registered to vote in Louisiana? YES 100.0

(If no, ask to speak with a registered voter.) (NO/DNK/WS) TERMINATE

2. Overall would you say that the United States RIGHT DIRECTION 29.8

is headed in the right direction or the WRONG DIRECTION 60.0

wrong direction? (DNK/WS) 10.2

3. Please tell me how important the following issues are to you personally:

(very important, somewhat important, not important)

VERY SOMEWHAT NOT (DNK

(RANDOMIZE) IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IMPORTANT /WS)

a. the economy and jobs 83.2 14.9 1.6 0.4

b. the situation in Iraq 74.3 18.5 5.9 1.3

c. health insurance 76.5 18.8 4.3 0.4

d. global warming and climate change 41.3 33.0 24.4 1.3

e. crime and drugs 80.6 15.9 3.1 0.4

f. education 87.3 10.4 2.0 0.4

g. Federal taxes 71.5 24.5 2.7 1.3

h. Federal government spending and

the deficit 81.4 14.5 3.0 1.2

i. illegal immigration 61.0 29.2 7.8 1.9

j. gasoline and energy prices 80.7 16.7 1.8 0.8

4. Which one of those issues is most important to you? (READ IF NECESSARY)

THE ECONOMY AND JOBS 22.2

EDUCATION 13.9

THE SITUATION IN IRAQ 13.8

GASOLINE & ENERGY PRICES 12.7

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SPENDING AND THE DEFICIT 7.4

HEALTH INSURANCE 6.9

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION 6.1

CRIME AND DRUGS 4.9

FEDERAL TAXES 4.4

GLOBAL WARMING & CLIMATE CHANGE 2.6

(DNK/WS) 5.2

5. These next few questions are about how workers decide whether to join a union or not. Under present Louisiana law,

a worker has the right to choose whether SUPPORT 80.3

or not he wants to belong and pay dues to a OPPOSE 14.9

union. Do you support or oppose that law? (DNK/WS) 4.9

6. Under the current system, for a union to be certified to represent the workers at a company, a secret ballot

election must be held to accept or reject SUPPORT 73.6

representation by the union. Do you support OPPOSE 18.8

or oppose that manner of establishing union (DNK/WS) 7.6

representation?

7. Legislation is being proposed in Congress that would do away with workers voting privately by secret ballot in union representation elections. Instead, workers would check on

a form whether or not they want to be SUPPORT 27.6

represented by a union. The workers’ decisions OPPOSE 64.9

would then be public. Do you support or oppose (DNK/WS) 7.5

that change?

8. Which one of the following three statements best describes your position on the issue of global warming; please wait to answer until after I’ve read all three choices:

1) our planet is being significantly threatened by temperature

increases generated by man-made activities; 42.1

2) while there may be some warming of the planet, it is not

significant enough to be a serious danger; or 24.7

3) the global warming issue is being exaggerated and presents

no serious threat to the environment 29.6

(DNK/WS) 3.6

9. There is proposed legislation before Congress that would severely limit emissions from vehicles, power plants, factories and other sources that some say lead to warmer global temperatures. This legislation could cause a significant increase in energy costs to businesses and consumers by an indirect tax on carbon emissions. Which one of the following two statements best describes your feelings on this issue:

1) I strongly support reducing carbon emissions by direct or indirect

tax increases on gasoline, electricity, natural gas and other

energy sources that create carbon dioxide; or 31.1

2) I would oppose any legislation that would result in any tax

increase or increased cost of gasoline, electricity, natural gas

and other energy sources that create carbon dioxide 65.5

(DNK/WS) 3.5

10. If carbon emission legislation does pass in VERY CONCERNED 55.6

Congress and becomes law, how concerned would SOMEWHAT CONCERNED 31.8

you be that it would have a negative impact NOT CONCERNED 11.8

on jobs and the economy in Louisiana: very (DNK/WS) 0.8

concerned, somewhat concerned or not concerned?

11. Are you and your family currently covered YES 91.2

by public or private health insurance? NO (GO TO Q14) 8.7

(DNK/WS) (GO TO Q14) 0.1

(n=559)

12. Is your coverage provided through a PRIVATE POLICY 78.6

private policy paid for by you and/or GOVERNMENT POLICY (GO TO Q14) 18.6

your employer or is it a government (DNK/WS) (GO TO Q14) 2.9

policy under Medicare or Medicaid?

(n=431)

13. Regarding the rising cost of health insurance, VERY DIFFICULT 23.1

how difficult is it for you to continue SOMEWHAT DIFFICULT 32.6

maintaining health insurance coverage for you NOT DIFFICULT 43.8

and your family: very difficult, somewhat (DNK/WS) 0.5

difficult or not difficult?

14. Some people expect Congress to consider legislation next year that would require health insurance policies to cover additional medical conditions and procedures. Those supporting such legislation say that it is important that all policies cover more procedures than are currently covered by insurance. Those who oppose such legislation say that mandating additional coverage of benefits in health care policies will drive up the cost of health insurance, resulting in fewer employers offering health care coverage to their employees, and fewer employees being

able to pay their portion of the policy costs. FAVOR 45.7

Would you favor or oppose legislation in OPPOSE 46.6

Congress to expand the number of mandated (DNK/WS) 7.7

health care coverages?

15. In your opinion, are Federal taxes on TOO MUCH 62.1

individuals too much, about right or ABOUT RIGHT 28.0

not enough? NOT ENOUGH 6.4

(DNK/WS) 3.5

16. In your opinion, are Federal taxes on TOO MUCH 31.3

businesses in general too much, about ABOUT RIGHT 32.7

right or not enough? NOT ENOUGH 27.5

(DNK/WS) 8.5

17. There have been discussions in Washington D.C. about allowing many of the personal and business tax cuts enacted in 2003

to expire on January 1, 2010. Would you support SUPPORT 29.4

or oppose allowing the personal income tax cuts OPPOSE 61.8

that are currently in effect to expire? (DNK/WS) 8.8

18. In 2003, taxes on capital gains such as investment earnings from stocks and bonds, residential and commercial real

estate sales, and the sale of businesses SUPPORT 26.9

were reduced from 20% to 15%. Would you support OPPOSE 67.1

or oppose increasing the tax on capital gains? (DNK/WS) 6.0

19. Do you agree or disagree with those who say AGREE 64.8

when taxes are reduced on businesses it leads DISAGREE 27.0

to more job creation and more economic growth? (DNK/WS) 8.3

These last few questions will help us sort your responses with those of the other people participating in our survey.

20. Are you registered to vote as a Democrat, DEMOCRAT 52.7

Republican or Independent? REPUBLICAN 33.1

INDEPENDENT 10.6

(DNK/WS) 3.6

21. What is your employment status: EMPLOYED 50.9

are you employed, unemployed, retired, UNEMPLOYED (SKIP TO Q23) 4.0

disabled, a student, or a homemaker? RETIRED 31.7

DISABLED (SKIP TO Q23) 5.2

STUDENT (SKIP TO Q23) 0.7

HOMEMAKER (SKIP TO Q23) 6.3

(DNK/WS) (SKIP TO Q23) 1.3

(n=498)

22. (If employed or retired) Do/did you work for PRIVATE EMPLOYER 54.7

a private employer or a public employer? PUBLIC EMPLOYER 41.1

(DNK/WS) 4.2

23. Do you or anyone in your household belong YES 12.6

to a union? NO 86.0

(DNK/WS) 1.4

24. What is your age? Are you under 35, 35-49, UNDER 35 4.1

50-64, or 65 or older? 35 – 49 21.3

50 – 64 48.5

65 OR OLDER 25.8

(DNK/WS) 0.3

25. What is the highest grade you completed LESS THAN HIGH SCHOOL 5.5

in school? (FORMAL, ACADEMIC EDUCATION ONLY) HIGH SCHOOL GRAD 25.9

TECHNICAL/VOCATIONAL 4.5

SOME COLLEGE-NOT GRAD 19.5

COLLEGE GRAD 29.0

POST GRAD DEGREE 14.0

(WS) 1.7

26. (Verify if necessary) Are you male or female? MALE 44.8

FEMALE 55.2

(DNK/WS) 0.0

27. What is your race? WHITE 65.4

AFRICAN-AMERICAN 30.4

OTHER 4.2

(DNK/WS) 0.0

28. Is the approximate annual income for everyone UNDER $40,000 27.0

in your household under $40,000, over $100,000 OVER $100,000 20.8

or somewhere in between? SOMEWHERE IN-BETWEEN 44.9

(DNK/WS) 7.4

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