THELOUISIANA
SURVEY
2015
MostWantTaxHikesandSpending
Cuts,butNottoKeyPrograms
Thesecondinaseriesofreportsfromthe
2015LouisianaSurvey
Sponsoredby:
TheReillyCenterforMediaandPublicAffairs
ManshipSchoolofMassCommunication
LouisianaStateUniversity
FORFURTHERINFORMATION
ONTHISREPORT:
Dr.MichaelHenderson
225‐578‐5149
mbhende1@lsu.edu
AbouttheLouisianaSurvey
The2015LouisianaSurveyisthefourteenthinanannualseriesconductedbyLouisianaState
University’sPublicPolicyResearchLab(PPRL).Forthe2015editionoftheLouisianaSurvey,
wecontacted980adultresidentsofthestatebetweenJanuary12andFebruary13.The
LouisianaSurveyissponsoredbytheReillyCenterforMediaandPublicAffairsinLouisiana
StateUniversity’sManshipSchoolofMassCommunication.Thesurveyhasbeenconducted
eachyearsince2003andtwicein2006,establishingrichlongitudinalmeasuresofpublic
opinioninLouisiana.ThemissionoftheLouisianaSurveyistoestablishbenchmarksaswellas
toassesschangeinresidents’assessmentsofstategovernmentservices.Thesurveyisfurther
dedicatedtotrackingpublicopiniononthecontemporarypolicyissuesthatfacethestate.Each
iterationoftheLouisianaSurveycontainscoreitemsdesignedtoserveasbarometersofpublic
sentiment,includingassessmentsofwhetherthestateisheadingintherightdirectionor
wrongdirection,perceptionsaboutthemostimportantproblemsfacingthestate,aswellas
evaluationsofpublicrevenuesourcesandspendingpriorities.Inthe2015LouisianaSurvey,
thiscoreissupplementedbymeasuresofpublicattitudesaboutcurrentissuessuchastax
incentivesforattractingbusinesses,theCommonCoreStateStandards,costcontrolmeasures
fortheTaylorOpportunityProgramforStudents(TOPS),Medicaidexpansionunderthefederal
AffordableCareAct,racerelationsandlawenforcement,same‐sexmarriage,andlegalizationor
decriminalizationofmarijuana.
AspartofanefforttoassurethattheLouisianaSurveyfulfillsitspublicservicemission,the
researchteamsolicitedinputfromanAdvisoryCommittee.Thiscommitteeprovided
invaluableinsightintothedesignofthequestionnaireandinidentifyingthecontemporary
policyquestionsthatcouldmostbenefitfromanunderstandingofthepublic’sviews.Whilewe
areindebtedtothecommitteemembersfortheirtimeandcontributions,theybearno
responsibilityforanymistakesinthequestionnaire,analysis,orinterpretationpresentedin
thisreport.
WeespeciallythanktheReillyFamilyFoundationfortheirgeneroussupportandvisionin
helpingtocreatetheLouisianaSurvey.
PrincipalResearchers
Dr.MichaelHenderson,DirectorofResearch,PPRL
Dr.BelindaDavis,AssociateDirector,PPRL
MichaelClimek,OperationsManager,PPRL
ResearchTeam
SrinivasThouta,TechnologyManager,PPRL
GailHagan,HeadSupervisor,PPRL
Questionsregardingthecontentofthisreportmaybedirectedto:
Dr.MichaelHenderson,ResearchDirector,PPRL
mbhende1@lsu.edu
225‐578‐5149
1
AbouttheReillyCenterforMediaandPublic
Affairs
TheReillyCenterforMedia&PublicAffairs,anintegralpartofLouisianaStateUniversity’s
ManshipSchoolofMassCommunication,usestheintellectualmuscleoftheschool’sfacultyto
helpsolvepracticalproblemsandadvancegoodgovernmentinitiatives.TheReillyCenter’s
missionistogeneratethoughtfulprograms,dialogue,andresearchaboutmass
communicationanditsmanyfacetedrelationshipswithsocial,economic,andpolitical
issues.EvidentineverythingtheCenterdoesisitscommitmenttostrengthenandadvance
theManshipSchool’snationalleadershipinmediaandpolitics.
TheCenter’sagendaisdiverseandfluid–fromtheannualJohnBreauxSymposium,which
bringsinnationalexpertstodiscussatopicthathasreceivedlittleornoattention,to
conductingtheannualLouisianaSurvey,avitalresourceforpolicymakers,whichtracks
advancementsandregressionsofcitizenattitudesaboutstateservices.Ittakesseriouslyits
role,withintheFlagshipUniversity,torespondquicklyintimesofcrisistohelpstate
governance,suchasduringHurricanesKatrinaandRitaandthe2010DeepwaterHorizonoil
spill.Itsaction‐orientedandpartnership‐drivenphilosophyunderscorestheReillyCenter’s
dedicationtotacklingideasandissuesthatexploretherelationshipofmediaandthepublicin
democraticsociety.
Dr.AmyReynolds,Director,ReillyCenterforMediaandPublicAffairs
2
AboutthePublicPolicyResearchLab
LouisianaStateUniversity’sPublicPolicyResearchLab(PPRL)isaresearchcenterdedicated
tohighquality,state‐of‐the‐artdatacollectionandanalytics,withaspecialemphasison
surveyresearch.PPRLisajointeffortoftheManshipSchoolofMassCommunication’sReilly
CenterforMediaandPublicAffairsandtheCollegeofHumanitiesandSocialSciences.
PPRLprovidesavarietyofservicesincludingsurveyresearch,‘bigdata’analytics,social
mediatracking,andfocusgroupinterviews.TheLabisprimarilyknownforitstelephone
surveywork.PPRLhas52computer‐assistedtelephoneinterviewcallstationsandacorpsof
highly‐trained,well‐supervisedprofessionalcallers.Itisoneofthelargestphonesurveydata
collectionfacilitiesintheSoutheasternConference.
TheLabisdedicatedtomeetingtheuniquegoalsandobjectivesforeachprojectbyworking
closelywiththoseseekingdata,researchexpertise,oranalysis.PPRL’sclientshaveincluded:
thefederalCenterforDiseaseControlandPrevention,theLouisianaDepartmentofHealth
andHospitals,theLouisianaDepartmentofLabor,LouisianaPublicBroadcasting,the
Mississippi‐AlabamaSeaGrantConsortium,andtheBatonRougeAreaFoundation.
Moreinformationonprevioussurveysmaybefoundat:www.survey.lsu.edu
FormoreinformationaboutPPRL,pleasecontact:
MichaelClimek,OperationsManager
mclimek@lsu.edu
225‐578‐7499
3
ExecutiveSummary
Alargemajorityofthepublic(83%)wantsthestatebudgetshortfallresolvedthroughacombinationof
spendingcutsandadditionalrevenue,howevertheyopposereductionsinkeyareassuchashigher
educationandhealthcare.AdditionalfindingsaboutwhatLouisianaresidentsthinkofthestate’sbudget
situationinclude:
o
o
o
o
o
o
Whenaskedingeneralterms,mostwanttoemphasizespendingcutseventhoughtheyarewilling
tomixthemwithtaxincreasestosolvethebudgetshortfall.
Whenaskedaboutspecificreductions,however,thepublicwantsmorespending–notless–in
areassuchaselementaryandsecondaryeducation,highereducation,transportation,andhealth
care.
Nearlytwo‐thirdsofresidents(63%)saythestategovernment–ratherthancollegestudentsand
theirfamilies–shouldplaythemajorroleinfundinghighereducation.
Thereisalsolittlesupportforraisingmostspecifictaxes.Thetaxincreaseswiththemostsupport
aretobaccotaxes(50%),taxesonthegamingindustry(49%),andalcoholtaxes(42%).
Thepublicispoorlyinformedaboutmostfiscalfacts.Contrarytoactualrevenueandexpenditure
trendsoverthepastsevenyears,amajority(54%)believesthatstatetaxeshavegoneupoverthis
period.Onthespendingside,nearlyathird(30%)saystategovernmentspendinghas“goneupa
lot”.
Nearlytwoinfive(39%)saythestatespendsthemostmoneyonwelfareprograms,andathird
(33%)saythestatespendsthemostonprisons.Yet,eachofthesemakeuprelativelysmallshares
ofactualstatespending.
TheLouisianaSurveytrackstrendsinstateresidents’perceptionsaboutthestateofthestate.Additionally,
the2015editiontapsthepublic’sviewsofpressingcontemporaryissuessuchasstrategiesforaddressing
budgetshortfalls,taxincentivesforeconomicdevelopment,theCommonCoreStateStandards,cost
controlsfortheTaylorOpportunityProgramforStudents,MedicaidexpansionundertheAffordableCare
Act,racerelationsandlawenforcement,same‐sexmarriage,andlegalization/decriminalizationof
marijuana.Toexecutethesurvey,LouisianaStateUniversity’sPublicPolicyResearchLabconductedalive‐
caller,dualframesurvey(landlineandcellphonesamples)of980adultresidentsofthestate.Thetotal
samplehasamarginoferrorof+/‐3.1percentagepoints.
Thisisthesecondinaseriesofreleasesaboutfindingsfromthe2015LouisianaSurvey.
4
MostWantBudgetShortfall
AddressedwithBlendofSpending
CutsandTaxIncreases
Alargemajorityofthepublic(83%)thinkthat
bothspendingcutsandtaxincreasesshouldbe
usedtoaddressbudgetshortfalls(Figure1).
Thirteenpercentwanttoconcentrateonlyon
spendingcutstodealwithbudgetshortfalls,and
just2%wanttofocusonlyontaxincreases.In
all,85%wanttaxincreasestobepartofthe
solution,and96%wantspendingreductionsto
bepartofthesolution.
AmongRepublicans,22%wantonlyspending
cuts,significantlymorethanthe13%of
independentsand6%ofDemocratswhosaythe
same.YetevenamongRepublicans,aclear
majoritypreferacombinationofspendingcuts
andtaxincreases(75%).
Mostofthosewhopreferacombinedapproach,
however,alsowantthefocustobemostlyon
spendingcutswhenaskedafollowupquestion
aboutwhichofthetwoapproachestoemphasize.
Overall,whencombiningresponsestoboth
questions,72%wantthestategovernmentto
dealwithbudgetshortfallsbyfocusingonlyor
mostlyonspendingcuts.Justoneinfive
Louisianaresidentswanttofocusonlyoreven
mostlyontaxincreases.
PublicHasLittleStomachfor
SpecificSpendingCuts
Eventhoughthepublicsaystheyarewillingto
considertaxincreasesincombinationwith
spendingcuts,thereislittleevidencefor
widespreadsupportofspecificcuts.
Infact,ratherthancallingforspecificcuts,the
publicgenerallysupportsspendingincreasesina
varietyofprograms(Figure2).Largemajorities
wanttoincrease–ratherthancut–spendingfor
K‐12education,highereducation,transportation
infrastructure,andhealthcare.Onlyforpublic
assistanceprograms,suchaswelfare,doesa
substantialshareofthepublicsupportspending
cuts(49%).
Figure1:LargeMajorityWantsBudget AddressedwithBlendofCutsandTaxes,PrefersCuts
Todealwithbudgetshortfalls,legislatureandgovernorshouldfocuson...
Combination,83%
DK/Refuse,2%
Onlytaxincreases,2%
Mostlyspendingcuts,59%
Onlyspendingcuts,13%
Mostlytaxincreases,19%
DK/Refuse,6%
NOTE:Respondents firstchosebetween'onlyspendingcuts,''onletaxincreases,'and'acombinationofboth'.Respondentswhochose'a
combinationofboth'werethenaskedtochoosebetween'mostlyonspendingcuts'and'mostlyontaxincreases'inafollowupquestion.
LouisianaSurvey,2015
PublicPolicyResearchLab
5
Figure2:MostWantMore SpendingonManySpecificPrograms
%Sayingstate spendingfor
shouldbeincreased,decreased,orkeptthesame
80
73
70
60
50
56
49
35
40
30
20
76
73
26
18
14
5
10
5
4
0
Welfare
Prisonsandlaw
enforcement
LouisianaSurvey,2015
PublicPolicyResearchLab
Healthcare
Decreased
FootingtheBillforHigher
Education
Thepublicalsobelievesthatthestate
governmentshouldbeprimarilyresponsiblefor
fundingLouisiana’spubliccollegesand
universitiesratherthanthestudentswhoattend
themandtheirfamilies.Nearlytwo‐thirds
(63%)saythestategovernmentshouldplaythe
majorroleinsupportinghighereducation.
Therearesignificantpartisandifferences.Alarge
majorityofDemocrats(79%)believesthestate
shouldbeprimarilyresponsibleforfunding,but
Nearlytwo‐thirdssaythat
stategovernment(rather
thanstudentsandtheir
families)shouldplaythe
majorroleinsupporting
highereducation.
Highereducation Roads,bridges,and
highways
K‐12education
Increased
Republicansaredivided–45%thinkthestateis
primarilyresponsibleand46%thinkstudents
andtheirfamiliesareprimarilyresponsible.
Thesurveyalsoincludesavariationofthis
questionpresentedtoarandomlyselectedsubset
ofrespondents.Thisalternatequestionspecifies
recenttrendsinstatefundingforhigher
education.Informationaboutcutstostate
collegesanduniversitiesoverthepastseveral
yearsproducesnostatisticallymeaningful
differenceinopinionaboutwhoshouldprimarily
bearthecostsofhighereducationinLouisiana.
LittleSupportforRaisingSpecific
Taxes
Whenaskedifspecificstatetaxesaretoohigh
andneedtobereduced,toolowandneedtobe
raised,orjustaboutright,Louisianaresidents
tendtostickwiththestatusquo.Thespecific
taxesinclude:Incometaxes,salestaxes,local
propertytaxes,taxesonalcohol,taxesontobacco,
corporatetaxes,mineraltaxes,andtaxeslevied
onthegamingindustry.Majoritiessaythatthe
stateincometaxandsalestaxarejustaboutright
astheycurrentlystand(Figure3).Thisisalso
themostfrequentresponseforseveralother
taxes–mineraltaxes,corporatetaxes,andlocal
propertytaxes.
6
Figure3:NoTaxHasMajoritySupportfor
Increases
%Saying
aretoohighandneedtobereduced,
toolow andneedtobeincreased,oraboutright.
Salestaxes
35
Localproperty
taxes
40
Incometaxes
27
Mineraltaxes
24
Corporatetaxes
14
Alcoholtaxes
11
Gamingtaxes
11
Tobaccotaxes
15
Toohigh/Reduce
DK/Refuse
59
5
47
6
56
14
46
23
47
41
32
30
29
42
49
50
Aboutright
Toolow/Increase
LouisianaSurvey,2015
PublicPolicyResearchLab
AbouthalfofLouisianaresidentswouldliketo
seetobaccotaxesandtaxesongamingraised–
theonlytwotaxeswherethisisthemostpopular
response.Asubstantialportionofthepublicalso
favorsraisingtaxesonalcohol(42%),although
thisisastatisticaltiewiththosesayingalcohol
taxesarejustaboutright.
Ingeneral,perceptionsthattaxesaretoohighare
morefrequentamonglowerincomehouseholds.
Forexample,49%ofindividualswithhousehold
annualearningsbelow$20,000(approximately
thebottomquartile)saythatsalestaxesaretoo
high,butonlyabouthalfasmanyofindividuals
withhouseholdincomeof$100,000ormore
agree(24%).Likewise,halfofthosewiththe
lowesthouseholdincomesaylocalpropertytaxes
aretoohighandneedtobereduced,whilejust
32%ofthoseinthehighestearninghouseholds
haveasimilargrievance.Asimilarpatternholds
formineraltaxes,gamingtaxes,andtaxeson
alcoholandtobacco.Theexceptionistheincome
tax,forwhichindividualswithlowerhousehold
incomesarethemostlikelytosaytaxesaretoo
lowandneedtoberaised(29%versusjust11%
amongthosewithhouseholdearningsof
$100,000ormore).
MostFeelTheyPayTheirFairShare
WhileOthersShirk
Louisianaresidentsgenerallyseethemselvesas
payingtheirfairshareintaxes.Morethanhalf
(56%)saytheypayabouttherightamountin
taxes,butanother41%feeltheyarepayingmore
thantheirfairshare(Figure4).Veryfewfeel
theyarepayinglessthantheirfairshareintaxes.
Overall,judgmentsaboutwhethermiddle‐income
earnersarepayingmoreorlessthantheirfair
sharelookremarkablysimilartojudgments
aboutone’sowntaxburden.Thisisnottruefor
theperceivedfairnessoftaxespaidbyupper‐
incomeandlow‐incomeearners.Amajorityof
thepublic(57%)believesupper‐incomeearners
paylessthantheirfairshareintaxes,whileonly
14%thinktheypaymorethantheirfairshare.
Opinionismoredividedonwhetherornotlow‐
incomeearnerspaytherightamount.Roughly
equalsharesofthepublicsaylow‐income
earnerspayabouttherightamount(39%)assay
theypaytoomuch(38%).Aboutoneinfive
Louisianaresidentssaythepoorarepayingless
thantheirfairshare.
Beliefsaboutwhethercompaniespaymoreor
lessthantheirfairshareintaxeshavealottodo
withhowthequestionisphrased.Toexplorethis
dynamic,the2015LouisianaSurveyaskedtwo
differentversionsofaquestion–oneeachtoa
randomlyselectedhalfofrespondents.When
askedabout“corporations,”amajority(55%)
saystheypaylessthantheirfairshare.However,
whentheterm“businesses”isusedthisshare
7
Figure4:MostSayWealthyPeopleandCorporationsDo NotPayFairShare
%Saying
payless/more thantheirfairshareinstatetaxes
57
60
50
41
43
38
40
55
28
30
19
20
10
17
14
8
5
1
0
Self
Low‐income
Middle‐income
Less
Upper‐income
Corporations
Businesses
More
LouisianaSurvey,2015
PublicPolicyResearchLab
plummetstojust28%.Whenaskedthelatter
version,abouthalfofrespondentssaybusinesses
arepayingabouttherightamount.Thissuggests
thatevensupportforincreasestocorporatetaxes
maywanewhenthoseproposalsareframedas
affectingbusinesses.
Figure5:Overestimating Spendingon
PublicAssistanceandPrisons
%namingeachastheareawherestatespendsmost
money
Welfareandfoodstamps
39
Prisons
33
Healthcare
9
Roadsandbridges
9
Education
5
DK/Refuse
6
0
10
20
30
40
50
LouisianaSurvey,2015
PublicPolicyResearchLab
1TheseFiguresarebasedontotalexpenditures
(includingfederalfundedexpendituresbyLouisiana)
asreportedbytheNationalAssociationofState
BudgetOfficersinStateExpenditureReport2012‐2014.
PublicKnowsLittleaboutState
Budget
Howisit,then,thatthepublicbelievesthebudget
canbebalancedwithoutreducingspendingfor
specificprograms?Therearetwopotential
answers.Thefirsthastodowithmisperceptions
aboutspending.Largeswathsofthepublicare
misinformedaboutwherethestatespendsits
money.Fromalistoffivepolicyareas–
education,healthcare,prisons,roadsand
bridges,andwelfareandfoodstamps–
respondentsselectedtheonewheretheybelieve
thestatespendsthemostmoney.
AbouttwoinfiveLouisianaresidentsbelievethe
statespendsmoreonwelfareandfoodstamps
thanonanyoftheseotherareas(Figure5).
Anotherthirdbelieveprisonsgetthelargest
share.Inactualitytheseareasmakeuprelatively
smallsharesoftotalexpenditures–threepercent
goestocorrectionsandlessthanonepercent
goestopublicassistanceprogramssuchas
welfareandfoodstamps.1Incontrast,thestate
spendsthelargestsharesonhealthcareand
education.About19%ofLouisiana’stotal
However,eveniffederalrevenueisexcluded,health
careandeducationremainthetoptwoexpenditure
categoriesamongthesefivebyfar.
8
expendituresgoestoelementaryandsecondary
educationwhileanadditional10%goestohigher
education.2Aquarterofthestate’stotalbudget
goestoMedicaid,whichisonlyonepieceofstate
healthcarespending.Yet,only9%ofLouisiana
residentschosehealthcare,andjust5%chose
educationastheareaswherethestatespendsthe
mostmoney.
Everyonedoesnotmakethesamemistakes.
Democrats(46%)areespeciallyproneto
overestimatingtheamountthestatespendson
prisons,whileRepublicans(60%)aremorelikely
tooverestimatespendingonwelfareandfood
stamps.
Thepublicisalsopoorlyinformedaboutrecent
trendsinstatefinance.Althoughthestatehas
repeatedlyfacedbudgetarychallengesinrecent
years,thebasicfactsofthestate’sfiscalsituation
havenotregisteredbroadlyamongthepublic.A
majorityofLouisianaresidents(54%)believe
thatstatetaxeshaverisenoverthepastseven
years,includingoneinfive(20%)whothink
taxeshave“goneupalot.”Inactualityratesfor
statetaxeshaveremainedconstantorbeen
reducedsinceJanuary2008.Eveniftheterm
“statetaxes”isdefinedinsteadastheamountof
revenuethestatedrawsfromtaxes,licenses,and
otherfees(ratherthanastherateoftaxation),
theserevenuesdeclinedbynearly$3billionfrom
2008to2010andhaveshownonlyslight
increasessincethen.3
Similarly,amajorityofthepublicbelievestate
spendinghasincreasedsince2008(56%),
including30%whosayspendinghasincreaseda
lot.Again,thesewidespreadperceptionsdonot
mirrorthefacts.Evenwiththemostgenerous
definitionofspending–toincludecapital
investmentsandspendingwithfederalrevenue–
totalexpendituresforLouisianashowlittle
changefrom2008amounts.4Whenfocusingjust
onstategeneralfundspending,current
expendituresremainnearly$2billionbelow
2008.
Thepublicisabitclosertothefactswhenit
comestohighereducationfunding,butstill
missesthemarksignificantly.Since2008,the
statehascutsupportforhighereducationby
approximately$700million.Still,onlyabouta
thirdofresidents(32%)knowofthesecuts.A
slightlylargershare(39%)believehigher
educationfundinghasactuallyincreasedoverthis
period.
Amajorityofresidentsincorrectly
believethatstatetaxeshaverisen
overthepastsevenyears,including
oneinfivewhothinktaxeshave
“goneupalot.”
Publicbelieves44centsofevery
dollarwasted
Thesecondreasonthepublicmaybelievethe
budgetcanbebalancedwithoutsacrificing
valuedprogramsorraisingspecifictaxeshasto
dowithperceptionsofwaste.Thesurveyasks
respondentstospecifythenumberofcentsthey
thinkiswastedoutofeverydollarspentbystate
government.Onaverage,thepublicbelieves44
centsofeverystatedollariswasted.Therefore,
thepublicmaybelievethatoverallspendingcan
bereducedbycuttingthisperceivedwasterather
thancuttingservices.
2NationalAssociationofStateBudgetOfficers.State
4NationalAssociationofStateBudgetOfficers.State
ExpenditureReport2012‐2014.
ExpenditureReports.2008‐2014.
3LouisianaDivisionofAdministration.StateBudget
DocumentFY2014‐2015.
9
SurveyMethodology
Datainthisreportarefromarandomlyselected,statewiderepresentativegroupofadultresidentsof
Louisiana.DatawerecollectedviatelephoneinterviewsconductedfromJanuary12toFebruary13,2015,
amongarandomlyselectedstatesampleof980adultresidents(18yearsorolder).Thesurveyincludesa
traditionallandlinetelephonesurveycombinedwithasurveyofLouisianacellphoneusers.Thecombined
sampleof980respondentsincludes542respondentsinterviewedonalandlineand438respondents
interviewedonacellphone.Thecellphonesampleincludes292respondentswhohavenolandline.The
designofthelandlinesampleensuresrepresentationofbothlistedandunlistednumbersbyuseofrandom
digitdialing.Thecellphonesampleisrandomlydrawnfromknown,availablephonenumberbanks
dedicatedtowirelessservice.
Theresponserateis7%forthelandlinesampleand6%forthecellphonesample.Thisresponserateis
thepercentageofresidentialhouseholdsorpersonalcellphonesforwhichaninterviewiscompleted.The
ratesarecalculatedusingtheAmericanAssociationforPublicOpinionResearch’smethodforResponse
Rate3aspublishedintheirStandardDefinitions.Responserateshavedeclinedsteadilyforallsurveys
overthepastseveraldecades.Theresponseratesforthe2015LouisianaSurveyarewithintherangeof
whatnationalsurveyresearchorganizationssuchasGallupandthePewResearchCenterhavereported.
Thecombinedlandlineandcellphonesampleisweightedusinganiterativeprocedurethatmatchesrace
andethnicity,education,householdincome,genderandagetoknownprofilesforLouisianafoundinthe
CensusBureau’sAmericanCommunitySurvey.Thesampleisalsoweightedforpopulationdensityby
parishusingparametersfrom2012UnitedStatesCensusdata.Thespecificfactorsusedforweightingare:
parishofresidence,gender,age,householdincome,education,race,andHispanicethnicity.
Weightingcannoteliminateeverysourceofnonresponsebias.However,properconductionofrandom
samplingcombinedwithacceptedweightingtechniqueshasastrongrecordofyieldingunbiasedresults.
Themarginoferrorandtestsforstatisticalsignificancetakethisweightingintoaccount.
Theoverallsurveyhasamarginoferrorof+/‐3.1percentagepoints.However,severaloftheresultsin
thisreportarebasedonsubsetsfromthesample,includinganalysisofexperimentsutilizingmultiple
versionsofquestionsrandomlyassignedtodifferentsetsofrespondentsaswellascomparisonsof
demographicorpartisansubgroups.Themarginoferrorforthesecomparisonsarelargerthanforthe
totalsample.
Inadditiontosamplingerror,asaccountedforthroughthemarginoferror,readersshouldrecognizethat
questionswordingandpracticaldifficultiesinconductingsurveyscanintroduceerrororbiasintothe
findingsofopinionpolls.
Pleasedirectanyquestionsconcerningsurveymethodologyto:
Dr.MichaelHenderson,ResearchDirector,PPRL
mbhende1@lsu.edu
225‐578‐5149
10
RegionalDefinitions
Respondentsaredividedintosixregionalgroupsbasedonparishofresidenceusingthefollowing
classifications:
NewOrleansArea:Jefferson,Orleans,Plaquemines,St.Bernard
[164respondents]
BatonRougeArea:Ascension,EastBatonRouge,EastFeliciana,Iberville,Livingston,PointCoupee,St.
Helena,WestBatonRouge,WestFeliciana
[191respondents]
NorthwestLouisiana:Bienville,Bossier,Caddo,Claiborne,DeSoto,Natchitoches,RedRiver,Sabine,Union,
Vernon,Webster
[144respondents]
NortheastLouisiana:Avoyelles,Caldwell,Catahoula,Concordia,EastCarroll,Franklin,Grant,Jackson,La
Salle,Lincoln,Madison,Morehouse,Ouachita,Rapides,Richland,Tensas,WestCarroll,Winn
[133respondents]
SouthwestLouisiana:Acadia,Allen,Beauregard,Calcasieu,Cameron,Evangeline,Iberia,JeffersonDavis,
Lafayette,St.Landry,St.Martin,St.Mary,Vermilion
[169respondents]
SoutheastLouisiana(excludingNewOrleansAreaandBatonRougeArea):Assumption,Lafourche,St.
Charles,St.James,St.JohntheBaptist,St.Tammany,Tangipahoa,Terrebonne,Washington
[175respondents]
11
SurveyToplines
NOTE:Frequenciesrepresentpercentagesofrespondentswhoreceivedthequestion.Percentagesmaynot
sumto100duetorounding.Questionsfieldedto980respondentsexceptwhereotherwisenoted.
Q1.–Q15.PREVIOUSLYRELEASED
Q16.HELDFORFUTURERELEASE
[FORQ17‐Q20,PROMPTWITH“Justtellmeyourbestguess.”IFRESPONDENTINITIALLYSAYSDON’T
KNOW/NOTSURE]
Q17.Basedonyourbestguess,onwhichoftheseactivitiesdoestheLouisianastategovernmentcurrently
spendthemostmoney?Isit[RANDOMIZEORDERANDREADALL:healthcare,education,prisons,roads
andbridges,orwelfareandfoodstamps]?
Healthcare 9
Education
5
Prisons
33
Roadsandbridges
9
Welfareandfoodstamps
39
DK/Refused(Vol)
6
Q18.Thinkingbackoverthepastsevenyears,wouldyousaythatstatetaxeshavegoneupalot,goneupa
little,remainedaboutthesame,gonedownalittle,orgonedownalot?
Goneupalot 20
Goneupalittle
34
Remainedaboutthesame
36
Gonedownalittle
4
Gonedownalot
1
DK/Refused(Vol)
5
[RANDOMLYASSIGNTOQ19AORQ19B]
Q19A.Stillthinkingaboutthepastsevenyears,wouldyousaythatspendingbythestategovernmentin
generalhasgoneupalot,goneupalittle,remainedaboutthesame,gonedownalittle,orgonedownalot?
[n=486]
Goneupalot 30
Goneupalittle
26
Remainedaboutthesame
27
Gonedownalittle
9
Gonedownalot
5
DK/Refused(Vol)
4
12
Q19B.Stillthinkingaboutthepastsevenyears,wouldyousaythatspendingbythestategovernmentfor
collegesanduniversitieshasgoneupalot,goneupalittle,remainedaboutthesame,gonedownalittle,or
gonedownalot?
[n=494]
Goneupalot 17
Goneupalittle
22
Remainedaboutthesame
21
Gonedownalittle
16
Gonedownalot
16
DK/Refused(Vol)
8
Q20.–Q25.HELDFORFUTURERELEASE
Q26.Nextwe’lltalkaboutstatetaxesandspending.Budgetshortfallshappenwhenthegovernmentdoes
nothaveenoughmoneycomingintopayforthecostofthethingsitdoes.Inyourview,whenthe
legislatureandthegovernordiscussstepstoaddressshortfallsinthestatebudget,shouldtheyfocus
[RANDOMIZEORDERANDREADALL:onlyonspendingcuts,onlyontaxincreases]orshouldtheydoa
combinationofboth?
Onlyonspendingcuts 13
Onlyontaxincreases 2
Combinationofboth 83
DK/Refused(Vol)
2
[ASKIFQ26=COMBINATIONOFBOTH]
Q27.Ifbothspendingcutsandtaxincreasesarebeingconsideredshouldthefocusbeon[RANDOMIZE
ORDERANDREADALL:mostlyonspendingcutsormostlyontaxincreases]?
[n=775]
Mostlyonspendingcuts
71
Mostlyontaxincreases
22
DK/Refused(Vol)
7
Q28.–Q29.HELDFORFUTURERELEASE
13
SPENDINTRO:NowI'mgoingtoreadyousomedifferentareaswhereLouisianaspendstaxdollars.AsI
readeachone,tellmeifyouwouldliketoseestatespendinginthisareaincreased,decreased,orkept
aboutthesame.[INSERTITEMsQ30‐Q35,RANDOMIZEORDER]
Q30.Whataboutspendingforprimaryandsecondaryeducation?Shouldthisbeincreased,decreased,or
keptaboutthesame?
Increased
76
Decreased
4
Keptaboutthesame 19
DK/Refused(Vol)
1
Q31.Whataboutspendingforhighereducation?Shouldthisbeincreased,decreased,orkeptaboutthe
same?
Increased
73
Decreased
5
Keptaboutthesame 20
DK/Refused(Vol)
1
Q32.Whataboutspendingforhealthcare?Shouldthisbeincreased,decreased,orkeptaboutthesame?
Increased
56
Decreased
14
Keptaboutthesame 29
DK/Refused(Vol)
2
Q33.Whataboutspendingforroads,bridges,andhighways?Shouldthisbeincreased,decreased,orkept
aboutthesame?
Increased
73
Decreased
5
Keptaboutthesame 22
DK/Refused(Vol)
0
Q34.Whataboutspendingforprisonsandlawenforcement?Shouldthisbeincreased,decreased,orkept
aboutthesame?
Increased
35
Decreased
26
Keptaboutthesame 37
DK/Refused(Vol)
3
14
Q35.Whataboutspendingforwelfare,foodstamps,andotherpublicassistanceprograms?Shouldthisbe
increased,decreased,orkeptaboutthesame?
Increased
18
Decreased
49
Keptaboutthesame 32
DK/Refused(Vol)
1
Q36.Thinkingaboutstateincometaxesonindividualsandhouseholds,wouldyousaythatstateincome
taxesaretoohighandneedtobereduced,toolowandneedtobeincreased,orjustaboutright?
Toohighandneedtobereduced
27
Toolowandneedtobeincreased
14
Justaboutright
56
DK/Refused(Vol)
3
Q37.Whataboutthestatesalestax,wouldyousaythatthestatesalestaxistoohighandneedstobe
reduced,toolowandneedstobeincreased,orjustaboutright?
Toohighandneedtobereduced
35
Toolowandneedtobeincreased
6
Justaboutright
59
DK/Refused(Vol)
1
Q38.Whataboutlocalpropertytaxes,wouldyousaylocalpropertytaxesaretoohighandneedtobe
reduced,toolowandneedtobeincreased,orjustaboutright?
Toohighandneedtobereduced
40
Toolowandneedtobeincreased
5
Justaboutright
47
DK/Refused(Vol)
6
Q39.Whataboutstatetaxesonbeer,wine,andotheralcoholicbeverages,wouldyousaytaxesonbeer,
wine,andotheralcoholicbeveragesaretoohighandneedtobereduced,toolowandneedtobeincreased,
orjustaboutright?
Toohighandneedtobereduced
11
Toolowandneedtobeincreased
42
Justaboutright
41
DK/Refused(Vol)
6
15
Q40.Whataboutstatetaxesontobaccoproducts,wouldyousaytaxesontobaccoproductsaretoohigh
andneedtobereduced,toolowandneedtobeincreased,orjustaboutright?
Toohighandneedtobereduced
15
Toolowandneedtobeincreased
50
Justaboutright
30
DK/Refused(Vol)
5
Q41.Thinkingaboutstatetaxesoncorporations,wouldyousaythatstatetaxesoncorporationsaretoo
highandneedtobereduced,toolowandneedtobeincreased,orjustaboutright?
Toohighandneedtobereduced
14
Toolowandneedtobeincreased
29
Justaboutright
47
DK/Refused(Vol)
10
Q42.Thinkingaboutstatetaxesonextractionandproductionofoil,naturalgas,andothermineral
resources,wouldyousaythatthesetaxesaretoohighandneedtobereduced,toolowandneedtobe
increased,orjustaboutright?
Toohighandneedtobereduced
24
Toolowandneedtobeincreased
22
Justaboutright
46
DK/Refused(Vol)
8
Q43.Thinkingaboutstatetaxesoncasinos,videopokermachines,andthelottery,wouldyousaythatthese
taxesaretoohighandneedtobereduced,toolowandneedtobeincreased,orjustaboutright?
Toohighandneedtobereduced
11
Toolowandneedtobeincreased
49
Justaboutright
32
DK/Refused(Vol)
8
16
[RANDOMLYASSIGNTOQ44AORQ44B]
Q44A.OfeverytaxdollarthatgoestothefederalgovernmentinWashingtonD.C.,howmanycentsofeach
dollarwouldyousayarewasted?
[n=473]
[ENTERRESPONSE0‐100]
Averageresponse:
50%
DK/Refused(Vol)
12
Q44B.OfeverytaxdollarthatgoestothestategovernmentofLouisiana,howmanycentsofeachdollar
wouldyousayarewasted?
[n=507]
[ENTERRESPONSE0‐100]
Averageresponse:
44%
DK/Refused(Vol)
14
Q45.Ifyouhadtochoose,wouldyouratherhaveasmallergovernmentprovidingfewerservicesoralarger
governmentprovidingmoreservices?
Smallergovernmentandfewerservices
49
Largergovernmentandmoreservices
45
DK/Refused(Vol)
6
Q46.ThinkingaboutthetaxesyoupaytothestateofLouisiana,doyouthinkyou’repayingmorethanyour
fairshare,lessthanyourfairshare,orabouttherightamount?
Morethanyourfairshare
41
Lessthanyourfairshare
1
Abouttherightamount
56
DK/Refused(Vol)
2
Q47.AsIreadoffsomedifferentgroups,pleasetellmeifyouthinktheyarepayingmorethantheirfair
shareofstatetaxes,lessthantheirfairshare,orabouttherightamount.Howaboutlower‐incomepeople,
aretheypayingmorethantheirfairshareofstatetaxes,lessthantheirfairshare,orabouttheright
amount?
Morethantheirfairshare
38
Lessthantheirfairshare
19
Abouttherightamount
39
DK/Refused(Vol)
3
17
Q48.Howaboutmiddle‐incomepeople,aretheypayingmorethantheirfairshareofstatetaxes,lessthan
theirfairshare,orabouttherightamount?
Morethantheirfairshare
43
Lessthantheirfairshare
5
Abouttherightamount
50
DK/Refused(Vol)
2
Q49.Howaboutupper‐incomepeople,aretheypayingmorethantheirfairshareofstatetaxes,lessthan
theirfairshare,orabouttherightamount?
Morethantheirfairshare
14
Lessthantheirfairshare
57
Abouttherightamount
27
DK/Refused(Vol)
2
[RANDOMLYASSIGNTOQ50AORQ50B]
Q50A.Howaboutcorporations,aretheypayingmorethantheirfairshareofstatetaxes,lessthantheirfair
share,orabouttherightamount?
[n=511]
Morethantheirfairshare
8
Lessthantheirfairshare
55
Abouttherightamount
29
DK/Refused(Vol)
9
Q50B.Howaboutbusinesses,aretheypayingmorethantheirfairshareofstatetaxes,lessthantheirfair
share,orabouttherightamount?
[n=469]
Morethantheirfairshare
17
Lessthantheirfairshare
28
Abouttherightamount
49
DK/Refused(Vol)
6
Q51.–Q60.HELDFORFUTURERELEASE
18
[RANDOMLYASSIGNTOQ61AORQ61B]
Q61A.Asyoumaybeaware,stategovernmentfundingforcollegesanduniversitieshasdecreasedoverthe
lastseveralyears.Tooffsetthesecuts,collegesanduniversitieshaveraisedtuitionandfeesonstudents.
WhodoyouthinkshouldbeprimarilyresponsibleforfundingLouisiana’scollegesanduniversities–the
stategovernmentorthestudentswhoattendtheseschoolsandtheirfamilies?
[n=489]
Stategovernment
63
Studentsandtheirfamilies 31
DK/Refused(Vol)
6
Q61B.Asyoumaybeaware,stategovernmentfundingforcollegesanduniversitieshasdecreasedby700
milliondollarsoverthelastseveralyears.Tooffsetthesecuts,collegesanduniversitieshaveraisedtuition
andfeesonstudentsbyabout40%.Whodoyouthinkshouldbeprimarilyresponsibleforfunding
Louisiana’scollegesanduniversities–thestategovernmentorthestudentswhoattendtheseschoolsand
theirfamilies?
[n=491]
Stategovernment
60
Studentsandtheirfamilies 32
DK/Refused(Vol)
8
Q62.–Q80.HELDFORFUTURERELEASE
Q81.GenerallyspeakingdoyouconsideryourselfaDemocrat,Republican,Independent,orwhat?
Democrat
35
Republican
27
Independent 28
Other 8
DK/Refused(Vol)
2
[ASKONLYIFANSWERED“Democrat”OR“Republican”TOQ81]
Q82.Wouldyouconsideryourselfastrongoranotsostrong[INSERTANSWERTOQ81]?
[n=651]
Strong 59
NotsoStrong 38
DK/Refused(Vol)
2
19
[ASKONLYIFDIDNOTANSWER“Democrat”OR“Republican”TOQ81]
Q83.Wouldyousay,youleantotheDemocraticPartyorRepublicanParty,orwouldyousayyoudon'tlean
toeitherparty?
[n=329]
DemocraticParty
16
RepublicanParty
21
Independent(Don'tleantoeitherparty)
60
DK/Refused(Vol)
4
Q84.Wejusthaveafewfollowupquestionsleft.Yourdataisveryhelpfulandwillbeusedonlyfor
statisticalpurposes.Inwhatyearwereyouborn?
[Open‐ended] [Answerscodedintocategories]
18‐29 24
30‐49 32
50‐64 27
65orolder
17
DK/Refused(Vol)
0
Q85.Doyouownyourownhome,payrent,orsomethingelse?
Ownhome
62
PayRent
22
Somethingelse
16
DK/Refused(Vol)
1
Q86.Anddoanychildrenundertheageof18currentlyresideinyourhousehold?
Yes
39
No
61
DK/Refused(Vol)
0
[ASKONLYIFANSWERED“Yes”TOQ86]
Q87.DoanyofthesechildrenattendapublicschoolinLouisiana?
[n=291]
Yes
71
No
29
DK/Refused(Vol)
0
20
Q88.Whichofthefollowingcategoriesbestdescribesyourlevelofeducation?PleasestopmewhenIgetto
thatcategory.
6
Lessthan9thgrade
11
9th–11thgrade
Highschooldiploma,nocollege
34
SomecollegeorvocationalDegree
26
Four‐yearcollegedegree
11
Somegraduateschool 3
Advanceddegree
7
DK/Refused(Vol)
0
Q89.Whatisyourcurrentmaritalstatus?
Married
46
Single 34
Divorced
9
Separated
3
Widowed
7
DK/Refused(Vol)
0
Q90.Andwhatisyourzipcode?
[ENTERRESPONSE]
Q91.AreyouofHispanic,Latino,orSpanishorigin?
Yes
4
No
95
DK/Refused(Vol)
0
Q92.Whichofthefollowingbestdescribesyou?AreyouWhite,African‐American,Asian,orsomething
else?
White 62
African‐American
32
Asian 7
Other 4
DK/Refused(Vol)
1
21
Q93.IsyourreligiouspreferenceChristian,Jewish,Muslim,Agnostic,Atheists,orsomethingelse?
Christian
81
Jewish 1
Muslim
0
Agnostic
2
Atheist
1
SomethingElse
15
DK/Refused(Vol)
0
[ASKONLYIFANSWERED“Christian”TOQ93]
Q94.DoyougenerallyconsideryourselfProtestant,Catholic,nondenominational,orsomethingelse?
[n=840]
Protestant
12
Catholic
34
Baptist
23
Nondenominational 20
Somethingelse
11
DK/Refused(Vol)
1
[ASKONLYIFANSWERED“Christian”TOQ93]
Q95.Doyougenerallyconsideryourselfanevangelicalorbornagain?
[n=840]
Yes
49
No
45
DK/Refused(Vol)
7
Q96.Howoftendoyouattendservicesatachurch,synagogue,mosque,orotherplaceofworship?...Never,
onceayear,afewtimesayear,onceamonth,abouttwiceamonth,onceaweekormoreoften
Never 11
Onceayear 6
Afewtimesayear
18
Onceamonth 10
Abouttwiceamonth 11
Onceaweekormoreoften 44
DK/Refused(Vol)
6
22
Q97.Areyoucurrentlyemployedfull‐time,employedpart‐time,retired,unemployedandlookingforwork,
ornotemployedandnotlookingforwork?
EmployedFull‐time 52
EmployedPart‐time 10
Retired
17
Unemployedandlookingforwork
9
Notemployedandnotlookingforwork
8
OnDisability(Vol)
5
DK/Refused(Vol)
0
Q98.Wewouldliketoknowwhatyourhouseholdincomewaslastyearbeforetaxes.Thisinformationwill
remainstrictlyconfidentialandwillonlybeusedforstatisticalpurposes.PleasestopmewhenIgettothe
categorythatincludesyourhouseholdincome.
Under$10,000
10
$10,000‐$19,999
16
$20,000‐$29,999
10
$30,000‐$39,999
5
$40,000‐$49,999
4
$50,000‐$74,999
14
$75,000‐$99,999
10
$100,000‐$199,999 15
$200,000ormore
3
DK/Refused(Vol)
14
Q99.[RECORDGENDER.DONOTASK.]
Male 48
Female
52
23