Texans prefer state sales tax to state income tax.

Texas is one of only a handful of states without a state income tax, and funds general operations primarily through a consumption or sales tax.  This approach is clearly favored by a significant majority of Texans.  A recent survey by the Texas Research Organization reveals 89 percent of respondents opposing a state income tax, with 84 percent expressing support for continuing to use a state sales tax for state revenue.

These opinions against a state income tax and in support of a sale tax are shared across the political landscape.  In opposition to a state income tax, Republicans lead with 98 percent opposed, followed by independents with 83 percent against, and Democrats with 77 percent opposed.

Support for continuing to rely on a state sales tax for state revenue tracks the numbers in opposing a state income tax. As with the previous question, Republicans are most likely to support a state sales tax at 94 percent.  Independents also largely support the continued use of a sales tax with 82 percent, while support among Democrats lags, but is still significant at 62 percent.

“The results of this survey are not surprising, and are consistent with other surveys on a state income tax,” said Dr. Greg Hupp, senior research analyst with the Texas Center for Public Policy Research.

Some officials tied to the federal government have suggested in recent weeks that the federal government consider using a value added or sales tax to reduce the federal deficit. While a clear majority of Texans support the use of consumption taxes to finance the operations of government, these numbers should not be construed to also imply support for a national sales tax if that tax is simply added to the existing federal income tax rates.

These results are taken from a survey of 605 active registered voter households with a margin of error of +/- 3.98 percent.

56% of Texans believe taxes are too high.

In a recent survey by the Texas Research Organization, 56 percent of respondents believe the amount they pay in taxes is too high with only 15 percent believing their taxes are too low.  Twenty-six percent believe their taxes are “about right.”

Opinions on taxation vary substantially across political party affiliations. Republicans (66 percent) are more likely by a 2 to 1 margin over Democrats (34 percent) to see their taxes as “too high” with a majority of independents (53 percent) agreeing with Republicans.  A plurality of Democrats at 37 percent believe their taxes are “just right”, while 23 percent of Democrats believe the taxes they pay are “too low.”

“Texas attitudes on taxation are consistent with those seen across the nation as the public animosity to high taxes only intensifies,” said Dr. Greg Hupp, senior research analyst with the Texas Center for Public Policy Research. “Advocates for raising taxes will continue to have a hard sell that the government needs more money when a clear majority of the public already believe their taxes are too high.”

These results are taken from a survey of 605 active registered households with a margin of error of +/- 3.98 percent.

Texas voters believe federal deficit and debt a threat to the economy.

The Obama Administration and Democrats in the United States Congress have argued for the past year that the record nominal deficit and accumulated federal debt are necessary to spurring economic growth.  Texas voters, however, hold an opposite opinion with a Texas Research Organization survey finding 85 percent of registered voters believe the federal deficit and debt are a threat to economic growth and prosperity, with 56 percent of overall respondents seeing the deficit and debt as a “big threat.”

“The Texas Constitution requires the Texas Legislature to pass a balanced budget, which may in part explain why such a high number of Texas voters reject an economic approach that is the equivalent of ‘spending our way to prosperity’,” said Dr. Gregg Hupp, senior research analyst with the Texas Center for Public Policy Research.

Republicans with 95 percent and independents at 86 percent are most likely to see the deficit and debt as a threat to economic growth, along with a sizable number of Democrats sharing the same opinion at 64 percent.

“The federal deficits and accumulate federal debt is at the heart of the growing public dissatisfaction and frustration among many Americans with the federal government,” added Dr. Hupp.  “Therefore, it is not surprising to see concerns regarding the economic dangers of deficits are shared across political boundaries.”

These results are taken from a survey of 700 active registered households with a margin of error of +/- 3.7 percent.

Texas voters skeptical of federal stimulus impact.

In the Spring of 2009, President Obama and the Democratic controlled United States Congress passed a $787 billion stimulus package designed to stop the loss of jobs, create new jobs, and spur economic growth.  Despite the Obama Administration’s claims of success, a majority of the public do not agree that the stimulus plan has helped the national economy.  According to a recent survey by the Texas Research Organization, only one-third of registered voters credit the stimulus plan with helping the economy.

Even worse for the Administration, the survey finds only 18 percent of respondents believe the stimulus has been a personal economic benefit.  And, even among those who credit the economic stimulus with helping their own economic situation, only 32 percent give the stimulus “a lot” of credit with 50 percent saying it only helped “a little.”

“These numbers are not surprising when the stimulus was sold as a measure to create jobs, but the unemployment rate continues to hover near 10 percent despite assurances by the Administration that passing the stimulus package was necessary to stopping the rise of unemployment at about eight percent,” said Dr. Greg Hupp, senior research analyst with the Texas Center for Public Policy Research.

Not surprisingly, opinions on the economic stimulus may depend in part on political party affiliation or personal political viewpoints.  Republicans (88 percent) overwhelmingly reject the notion that the economy has benefited from the stimulus, while a significant number of Democrats (77 percent) agree the stimulus has helped.  However, only 53 percent of Democrats believe they have personally benefited from the stimulus. Independents are more likely to agree with Republicans with only 35 percent agreeing with the Administration that the stimulus has helped the economy.

These results are taken from a survey of 700 active registered households with a margin of error of +/- 3.7 percent.

Majority of Texans support the Tea Party movement.

In a recent survey by the Texas Research Organization, 53 percent of Texas registered voters support the Tea Party movement while 43 percent are opposed. The intensity of support or opposition slightly favors the Tea Party with 34 percent indicating strong support versus 30 percent strongly opposed. Only four percent had no opinion.

As might be expected, opinions on the Tea Party movement vary depending on political party affiliation. Republican support for the Tea Party registers at 69 percent with 46 percent holding a strongly support opinion.  Democrats are on the opposite end at 78 percent opposed with 66 percent strongly opposed to the Tea Party.  The balance of support for the Tea Party comes from independents at 55 percent in support and 45 percent opposed.

“The Tea Party movement is tapping into a broad sense of voter dissatisfaction with the federal government, and their low tax, limited government viewpoint clearly finds favor among Republicans more so than Democrats,” Dr. Greg Hupp, senior research analyst with the Texas Center for Public Policy Research.

These results are taken from a survey of 605 active registered voter households with a margin of error of +/- 3.98 percent.

Clear majority of Texans support Arizona Illegal Immigration Law.

A recent survey by the Texas Research Organization finds overwhelming support among registered voters for the Arizona law on illegal immigration, and support for a similar law her in the state of Texas.  By a nearly three to one margin, Texas voters favor the Arizona law with 74 percent supporting to 26 percent against.

“Politicians and special interest groups taking aim at the Arizona law are clearly out of sync with the prevailing mood of the public,” said Dr. Gregg Hupp, senior research analyst for the Texas Center for Public Policy Research.

However, this support is not universal across the political spectrum.  Republicans are about twice as likely to support the anti-illegal immigration measure than Democrats with 87 percent of Republicans supporting the measure versus 54 percent of Democrats opposing the Arizona law.  Two-thirds of independents also support the law with only 24 percent opposed.

These numbers are nearly identical when respondents are asked if they would support a similar measure in Texas with Republicans leading at 88 percent, followed by independents at 72 percent, while Democrats are split 50/50.

These results are taken from a survey of 700 active registered households with a margin of error of +/- 3.7 percent.

Perry leads White among active voter households.

A recent poll by the Texas Research Organization finds incumbent Governor Rick Perry with a 16-point lead over Democratic challenger, former Houston Mayor Bill White.  With nearly six months to go before the November general election, Perry leads White 46 percent to 30 percent among registered voters, with 24 percent undecided.  Similar surveys conducted by Rasmussen Reports give Perry a 49 to 42 percent advantage among “likely voters” in the Rasmussen polling average.

“Governor Perry holds a sizable lead among active voter households, while Rasmussen Reports shows the race to be closer among “likely voters,” said Dr. Greg Hupp, senior research analyst with the Texas Center for Public Policy Research.  “Our active voter model pulls the sample of registered voters from households with a known history of participating in a previous election.”

As would be expected, Perry and White do very well within their own party ranks, with both taking about 70 percent of self-declared Republicans and Democrats respectively.  Among self-declared independents, White holds a slight advantage at 38 percent to 31 percent.  With the overall state political environment still clearly favoring Republicans – 46 percent GOP versus 21 percent Democratic – and likely to remain so with continued dissatisfaction with the Obama Administration, the Republican Party affiliation advantage is a clear advantage for Perry.

These results are taken from a survey of 605 active registered voter households with a margin of error of +/- 3.98 percent.

Majority see Texas moving in the right direction.

In a recent survey by the Texas Research Organization, 53 percent consider things in Texas are going in the “right direction” with 42 percent saying “wrong direction.”  This stands in measurable contrast to national surveys by Rasmussen Reports showing only 33 percent of Americans believe the nation is heading in the “right direction.”

“The Texas economy has faired better during the economic recession and the political leadership of the state is more in line with the political mood of the voters, so it stands to reason that Texans would feel their state is heading in the right direction even if they hold a completely different opinion of the nation as a whole under the current administration,” said Dr. Greg Hupp, senior research analyst with the Texas Center for Public Policy Research.

The view that Texas is heading in the “right direction’ is primarily held by self-declared Republicans and independents, while a clear majority of self-declared Democrats hold a completely opposite view.  Republicans have the most favorable viewpoint with 64 percent seeing the state heading in the “right direction” with a slim majority (52 percent) of independents sharing that opinion.  Among Democrats, the numbers are essentially reversed with only 33 percent believing the state is on the right track with 62 percent believing the state is heading in the “wrong direction.”

These results are taken from a survey of 605 active registered voter households with a margin of error of +/- 3.98 percent.

Texans split on cause for climate change.

For at least the past two decades, global warming theory has been at the center of a significant environmental and public policy debate.  Proponents of global warming theory argue that climate change is driven by human economic activity and any hope for reversing or otherwise mitigating global warming related climate change must involve a radical curtailing and regulation of economic output to reduce so-called greenhouse gases.  Skeptics of global warming range from those who deny any significant change in global temperatures to those who agree global temperatures are measurably changing over time, but are caused rather by natural events such as solar cycles.

In a recent survey by the Texas Research Organization, Texans appear divided over the causes with no significant segment of the population in one camp versus the other.  However, proponents of human caused global warming appear to have the least level of support with only 13 percent of respondents agreeing that climate change is caused by human actions.  Those arguing that climate change is the result of natural events are shared by 34 percent, while 38 percent believe climate change is a result of both natural events and human action.

“The results of this survey clearly reveal that the public remains to be convinced that there is a single cause that can be regulated or controlled by the government,” said Dr. Greg Hupp, senior research analyst for the Texas Center for Public Policy Research.

These results are taken from a survey of 740 respondents from active voter households with a margin of error of +/- 3.6 percent.

Only 39% see global warming as a problem.

Despite a relatively steady drumbeat within the political class and academia in support of global warming theory, a significant number of Texans do not see global warming as a problem or serious concern.

In a recent survey by the Texas Research Organization, 61 percent disagreed that global warming is a problem.  However, among the 39 percent that does see global warming as a problem, a significant portion – 70 percent – agreed it is very serious.  That portion, however, represents only 27 percent of all respondents.

These results are significant as the Obama Administration begins to look at climate change legislation in the wake of their legislative victory in passing a national health care bill. Global warming remains a very divisive issue, and very important when considering that global warming theory is one of the main drivers on federal environmental regulation.

“I would urge lawmakers to exercise caution in moving forward with global warming related legislation,” said Dr. Greg Hupp, senior research analyst for the Texas Center for Public Policy Research. “The public remains highly skeptical that global warming is a problem, and if the public does not see a problem then legislative solutions are likely to be rejected.”

These results are taken from a survey of 740 respondents from active voter households with a margin of error of +/- 3.6 percent.

61% agree TxDOT could make better decisions on transportation spending.

A consistent issue facing policy makers in Texas is the matter of transportation infrastructure and spending priorities.  Some policy makers believe that we need more money to address the current and future transportation needs facing the state of Texas.  Opponents to increased spending, which often involves increased taxes, argue that the Texas Department of Transportation could do more with the funds they have before asking the legislature for more revenue.

A recent survey by the Texas Research Organization reveals a sizable number of Texans agree with proponents for smarter spending.  While the survey did not specifically measure support for increased taxes, the survey did find that only 33 percent agreed that TxDOT uses our dollars wisely on various transportation issues.

“The public will always be skeptical and likely to oppose requests for more funds, especially when higher taxes or fees are involved, if the public is not convinced that more funds are actually needed or trust that the government is making the best use of the dollars they already have,” said Dr. Greg Hupp, senior research analyst for the Texas Center for Public Policy Research.

These results are taken from a survey of 740 respondents from active voter households with a margin of error of +/- 3.6 percent.

73% support challenging health care law in federal court.

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, along with Attorneys General from several other states, is challenging elements of the new national health care law in federal court.  Specifically, the State of Texas will argue that new federal requirements on individuals to purchase health insurance – known as the individual mandate – as well as new Medicaid spending requirements imposed on the states are violations of the United States Constitution.  According to a new survey by the Texas Research Organization, 73 percent of Texas voters support challenging the new health care law in federal court.

Results are taken from a survey of 654 registered voter respondents with a margin of error of +/- 3.83 percent.

Texas voters are skeptical of new health care law.

President Obama and Congressional Democrats passed the new health care law with the promise of expanding coverage, reducing costs, and improving health care.  Despite these promises, a clear majority in Texas remain skeptical.  Only 30 percent of respondents in a Texas Research Organization survey agreed that the new health care law will decrease costs of health care overall, and only 21 percent think the new law will improve their personal health care situation.

Results are taken from a survey of 654 registered voter respondents with a margin of error of +/- 3.83 percent.

73% of Texas voters oppose new health care law.

After President Obama signed his health care bill into law, some Congressional lawmakers began talking about an effort to repeal the new law if majority control of Congress shifts from Democrat to Republican.  While the prospect of a full or partial repeal of the new law remains a public policy question for members of Congress, and a political question for voters in November, a statewide survey of registered voters found strong opposition to the new law and support for proposals to repeal.  In a recent survey conducted by the Texas Research Organization, 73 percent of respondents expressed opposition to the new law with the same percentage favoring repeal.

Results are taken from a survey of 654 registered voter respondents with a margin of error of +/- 3.83 percent.

Rasmussen Reports on Texas Governor’s Race

The latest numbers from the Rasmussen Reports indicate Republican Governor Rick Perry holding a six point lead over the Democratic nominee, former Houston Mayor Bill White.  In a survey of likely voters, Perry leads White 49% to 43%.  To see the whole article from Rasmussen Reports, go to http://bit.ly/dpn2Hd for more information.

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