Poll shows voters anti-tax, but unsure where cuts should be made

[October 24, 2009]  It is unlikely lawmakers will take steps next week to address the state's serious budget deficit, despite evidence that Illinois' financial condition will continue to deteriorate in the coming months. A statewide poll conducted by the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute shows that Illinois voters believe the state should be making big budget cuts; however, many couldn't point to specific areas to be reduced.

Only a small percent, less than 10 percent, believed that a revenue increase will address Illinois' budget problems, with approximately 65.5 percent of respondents voicing opposition to an income tax increase. Survey results show that the voters largely oppose increasing or expanding the state sales tax, though 27.3 percent think that a combination of cuts to the budget and tax increases will be necessary to bring Illinois out of the red.

However, despite overwhelming opposition to tax hikes, respondents were largely unable to identify areas of state waste and inefficiency that they thought could be axed.

[Text from file from Illinois Senate Republicans]