Bomke announces survey results

[MAY 25, 2005]  SPRINGFIELD -- State Sen. Larry Bomke, R-Springfield, announced the results of his spring survey this week. The surveys were placed in newspapers throughout the 50th District early this spring, and hundreds of constituents weighed in on some of the most important issues currently affecting Illinois.

Bomke said that the survey results give him an idea of the needs and concerns of his constituents and help him better serve the people of his district in the General Assembly.

The survey addressed a wide variety of timely topics, seeking the public's opinion on the state's current fiscal crisis and requesting input on issues like tax increases, medical malpractice, Gov. Blagojevich's administration, Illinois' future and education funding reform.

Only 5 percent of the people responding to the survey indicated that they believed Illinois is headed in the right direction. Approximately 82 percent specified that the state was traveling down the wrong path, and almost 13 percent said they were uncertain.

A total of 85 percent responded that they did not think that Gov. Blagojevich has done a good job representing the priorities and values of downstate Illinois, with only 8 percent responding yes, and 7 percent were undecided. Similarly, 85 percent noted that they did not believe the governor is able to serve all parts of Illinois while continuing to live in Chicago, although almost 10 percent felt that he was able to serve effectively and 5 percent were unsure.

Members of the 50th District indicated their strong support for implementing caps on noneconomic damages in jury awards. Approximately 78 percent of the respondents felt that caps would be an effective tool to address increasing insurance costs and keep medical doctors from leaving Illinois, while 16 percent felt that caps would be ineffective and 6 percent were undecided.

The survey results also indicated that 67 percent of the public believes Illinois should implement managed care principles within the state's Medicaid system as a way reduce Illinois' skyrocketing Medicaid costs. Sixteen percent of respondents answered no and 17 percent were undecided.

A significant 67 percent of the public was opposed to Illinois purchasing cheaper prescription medications from other countries if the FDA could not guarantee the safety of the medication, while 25 percent felt that Illinois could buy the less expensive medications and 8 percent were uncertain.

Additional results:

1. Who or what is most responsible for the state's financial troubles?

• Gov. Blagojevich: 37.8%
• General Assembly: 25.2%
• Other: 24.5%
• The economy: 12.5%

2. Illinois continues to feel the effects of a weak state economy. What course of action would your recommend the state take in order to address the situation?

	Yes	No	?
Increase taxes to pay for programs	65%	27.6%	7.4%
Cut back programs across the board	59%	31%	10%
Cut lower priority programs only	62.2%	21.4%	16.4%
Borrow money	6.6%	78.5%	14.8%

3. If you answered "increase taxes to pay for programs," which taxes would you recommend?

	Yes	No	?
Increase fees on state services	25%	59.5%	5.5%
Income taxes	71.6%	20.1%	8.3%
Tax increases on casinos	68.4%	21.6%	10%
Fee/tax increases on business	16.6%	68.2%	15.2%

4. Would you support using state funds to pay for embryonic stem cell research, which requires a fertilized human embryo?

• Yes: 32.4%
• No: 57.4%
• Undecided: 10.2%

5. Would you support state-funded stem cell research that uses only adult stem cells provided by consenting adult donors?

• Yes: 60%
• No: 30%
• Undecided: 10%

6. Now that Illinois has successfully passed a death penalty reform law, should the governor continue the moratorium on the death penalty?

• Yes: 28%
• No: 64%
• Undecided: 8%

7. Should the state raise the income tax to increase funding for education if property tax breaks are included?

• Yes: 51.3%
• No: 36.5%
• Undecided: 12.2%

8. Do you agree with Gov. Blagojevich's decision to take control of the state's independent State Board of Education?

• Yes: 13%
• No: 76%
• Undecided: 11%

9. Should the state ban the sale and rental of violent video games to children under 16?

• Yes: 69.6%
• No: 20.6%
• Undecided: 9.8%

[News release from Sen. Larry Bomke]