Title:
Libertarians at 8% in EPIC/MRA Poll
Author:
Bill Hall
Date:
6/3/2010
Year:
2010
Article:
http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/political/exclusive-poll-shows-voters-think-politics-have-become-too-partisan
Exclusive poll shows voters think politics have become too partisan
Democracy 2010
Posted: 06/01/2010
By: Chuck Stokes By: Chuck Stokes
Michigan voters want to send a strong message to their political leaders in Washington and Lansing: There’s too much partisanship! An exclusive WXYZ – Detroit Free Press poll finds that both Republicans and Democrats are catering too much to party politics and that Congress deserves more of the blame than the State Legislature.
Out of 600 people surveyed by Lansing-based Epic MRA, a total of 67 percent believe President Obama and members of the U.S. House and Senate are putting politics above the best interests of the country. Closer to home, half of the people in Michigan say state lawmakers are also guilty of being too partisan. Only 22 percent feel the right amount partisanship is being displayed and 17 percent would like to see state politicians be even more partisan.
When asked if they support the Tea Party movement, 4 in 10 voters say yes. Among political parties, 65 percent of Democrats oppose the Tea Party, 72 percent of Republicans support it, and Independents are split. The poll also reveals that 36 percent of Michigan voters say the Democratic Party best reflects their views on the issues compared to the Republican Party at 24 percent and the Tea Party at 17 percent.
On balancing the state budget by the end of September, only 1 in 4 respondents favor a budget that requires only cuts. But if cuts are made, more voters support taking the axe to programs and services than employee wages and benefits. A narrow majority of 51% are opposed to reducing the sales tax to 5.5 percent and extending it to a wider range of services.
The poll was conducted May 22 – 26 and has a margin of error of 4.0 percent.
READ THE COMPLETE POLL RESULTS BELOW
Do you think that members of Congress are being too partisan in how they address important issues, putting politics above the interest of the country, are they showing about the right amount of partisanship, or, are they not being partisan enough in addressing issues?
67% Too Partisan
9% About the right amount of partisanship
19% Not being partisan enough
5% Undecided/Don’t know/Refused
In your opinion, which congressional party members have been too partisan in addressing issues – the Democrats or Republicans?
23% Democrats
33% Republicans
43% Both
Do you think that members of the Michigan state legislature are being too partisan in how they address important issues, putting politics above the interest of the state, are they showing about the right amount of partisanship, or, are they not being partisan enough in addressing issues?
50% Too Partisan
22% About the right amount of partisanship
17% Not being partisan enough
11% Undecided/Don’t know/Refused
In your opinion, which state legislative party members have been too partisan in addressing issues – the Democrats or Republicans?
21% Democrats
30% Republicans
47% Both
Based on what you know or have heard or read about the Tea Party movement, do you support the Tea Party movement and what it stands for, or oppose it?
40% Support
12% Neither support or oppose Tea Party movement
33% Oppose
15% Undecided/Don’t know/Refused
Thinking about the following political parties and groups that are getting involved in political issues these days, which group best reflects your views?
36% The Democratic Party
24% The Republican Party
17% The Tea Party movement
3% The Green Party
8% The Libertarian Party
4% Some other group
8% Undecided/Don’t know/Refused
Based on what you know or have heard or read about state budget cuts in programs or services, budget cuts in local government services, or budget cuts in your local public school district over the past few years, to what extent have you and your family felt the impact of those state and local budget cuts – a lot, some, only a little or not really at all?
23% A lot
28% Some
22% Only a little
26% Not really at all
1% Undecided/Don’t know/Refused
Governor Granholm and the State Legislature must balance the budget for next year by September 30th and eliminate a projected deficit. Which of the following statements best describes how the budget should be balanced?
26% By only cutting existing programs or employee wages or benefits, with no increase in state taxes;
17% By mostly cutting programs or employee wages and benefits, but also relying on some increases in state taxes;
27% By equally relying on cuts in programs or employee wages and benefits, and increasing state taxes;
12% By mostly increasing state taxes, but also relying on some cuts in programs or employee wages and benefits;
7% By only increasing state taxes and fees, with no further cuts in state programs
11% Undecided/Don’t know/Refused
If cuts are made, should it mostly be cuts in programs or services, or in employee wages and
benefits?
34% Programs and services
27% Employee wages and benefits
28% Both
11% Undecided/Don’t know/Refused
There is a proposal to reduce the current state sales tax from 6 to 5.5 percent, and extend it to
cover most services, including haircuts, dry cleaning, lawn services, and auto repair.
Read more: http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/political/exclusive-poll-shows-voters-think-politics-have-become-too-partisan#ixzz2UMP0SaKH
