Newspaper
Survey Results 2008
Thank you for
taking the time to complete my survey. Many of you expressed your appreciation at being given the opportunity
to do so. Your input is invaluable to me. Thank you for participating in representative democracy. On
some of the questions, the total exceeds 100% as respondents marked multiple answers. Here are the results of
the survey:
1. Some Iowa roads need improving.
Should Iowa:
20%
Increase gasoline taxes to provide more money
31% Increase vehicle registration fees to provide more money
70% Re-prioritize our spending and not raise taxes or fees
2. What should Iowa do regarding illegal
immigrants?
65% Punish employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants
54% Find and deport illegal immigrants
65% Stop illegal immigrants from getting government
benefits
39% Help
illegal immigrants become legal, find jobs and become contributing taxpayers
2% Unanswered
3. Should Iowa pass a
statewide ban of smoking in:
67% Restaurants
22% Bars
25% Casinos
33% Answered the question below
4. Should Iowa:
60% Allow local governments (cities) to pass
local bans of smoking in public places
33% Stay out of the smoking issue and leave it to local business owners
7% Unanswered
5.
Iowa’s state law defining marriage as between one man and one woman was recently overturned by an Iowa district court
judge’s decision. That decision is now on appeal to the Iowa Supreme Court. Should the Iowa legislature:
73%
Work on passing an Iowa constitutional amendment* defining marriage as between one
man and one woman, thereby preventing future state court challenges
18% Do nothing
and allow the courts to decide this issue in Iowa
9% Unanswered
*To
pass a constitutional amendment in Iowa, it must pass in both the House and the Senate two consecutive general assemblies
and then go to the vote of the people
6. All
counties in Iowa have a one percent local option school infrastructure tax used for school buildings. It is approved
by voters every 10 years. There is a proposal to convert this local option tax to a permanent one percent sales tax
increase. In addition to providing more funds to rural school districts it would increase use taxes by up to $100
million annually. (This would include a one percent increase on car purchases as this is a use tax). Do you support
changing this local option tax to a permanent state sales and use tax?
45% Yes
55% No
7. Do you support expanding the bottle and can redemption
deposit fee to apply to water and juice bottles?
71% Yes
29%
No
8. Do you support increasing the 5 cent bottle and can deposit to 10 cents if you only receive
8 cents back and one cent goes to the State of Iowa generating $25-$35 million dollars in new tax revenue?
35% Yes
63% No
2% Unanswered
9. Do you support a one cent increase per bottle and can
paid to our redemption centers?
59% Yes
35% No
6%
Unanswered
