Accessibility menu
State Representative Paul Anderson
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4317
For more information contact: House GOP Communications 651-296-5520
NEWS RELEASE
Rep. Anderson releases survey results
ST. PAUL – The results from a survey Rep. Paul Anderson, R-Starbuck, recently distributed in District 13A have been tabulated. Nearly 700 local residents participated.
“This input will continue to be helpful as we progress through the current legislative session,” Anderson said. “I am grateful to those folks who took a few minutes to weigh in with their opinions on these important issues we face.”
Here is a recap of the survey results:
There were nine questions covering a wide variety of topics, but most of them related to the economy one way or another. One question asked what problems people are facing during the current economic recession. Six categories were provided and Anderson asked respondents to mark all that apply. The most common response is the recession has had no effect (37%). A cut in pay (23%), job loss (11%), lack health insurance (11%), unable to sell/buy homes (9%) and reduced credit access (9%) were the other options.
A 58-percent majority say the state should cut spending to erase its budget shortfall while only 6 percent favor tax increases. A little more than one-third (36%) favor a combination of both. But, if cuts are necessary, a roughly two-thirds majority (65 percent) say K-12 education should be spared.
Approximately 65 percent of respondents indicate they support the expansion of gambling – either through electronic pull-tabs in local bars or slot machines in a racino – as another source of revenue for the state.
The state of Minnesota’s land ownership also has come under scrutiny as we wrestle with this tight economy; the more land the state owns, the more it costs to maintain and the less it collects in property taxes. The overwhelming majority (80%) of the survey respondents say the state currently owns enough land.
Talk of building a new Minnesota Vikings stadium continues since the team’s Metrodome lease expires in 2011. Anderson asked how this funding should be handled and the most popular answer (48%) was there should be no state money used for a stadium. About 30 percent indicate the state should look for a new revenue source to finance a stadium and 22 percent say the state should help with the project, with limited funding.
The cost of health insurance is a major concern for Minnesota families and the top way participants say we should address the problem is by increasing competition (43 percent). A total of 33 percent say they don’t know what the answer is, but we need to change the system. Far fewer respondents want to leave the system the way it is (14%) or enact a government takeover (10%).
The other two questions on the survey pertained to nuclear energy and medical marijuana. A total of 75 percent want nuclear plants to once again be built in our state, while only 44 percent favor legalizing marijuana for medical uses.
REP. ANDERSON'S SURVEY RESULTS:
1. What problems are you and your family facing during the current economic recession? (Mark all that apply)
11% A. Job loss
23% B. Cut in pay
11% C. Lack health insurance
9% D. Unable to sell/buy homes
9% E. Reduced credit access
37% F. No effect
2. What is the best way to address the state’s current budget shortfall?
58% A. Cut spending
6% B. Raise taxes
36% C. Combination of A and B
3. Last year, the Minnesota Senate voted to lift the ban on nuclear power plant construction in Minnesota, while the House did not. Do you favor allowing nuclear plants to once again be built in our state?
75% A. Yes
25% B. No
4. The Minnesota Vikings had a high-profile year this past season. They have two more years left to play at their current site - the Metrodome - after which their future is unclear. Would you support some sort of state funding to finance a new football stadium?
48% A. No, there should be no state money used for a stadium
22% B. The state should help with the project, with limited funding
30% C. The state should look for a new revenue source to finance a stadium
5. Would you support the expansion of gambling - either through electronic pull-tabs in local bars or slot machines in a racino - as another source of revenue for the state?
65% A. Yes
35% B. No
6. Should K-12 education funding be considered among budget cuts, or should that area of spending be off-limits during discussions?
35% A. Yes, K-12 funding should be considered among budget cuts
65% B. No, K-12 funding should not be considered among budget cuts
7. Health insurance is a major concern for Minnesota families. How should the problem be addressed?
10% A. The government should take over health care
43% B. Competition should be increased, even across state lines, so more companies would be working for your business
33% C. I don’t know what the answer is, but we need to make changes in the system
14% D. Leave the health insurance system the way it currently is because it’s working for me
8. Do you favor the legalization of marijuana for medical uses?
44% A. Yes
56% B. No
9. Should the state of Minnesota continue buying land for uses such as parks or public hunting areas, or do you think the state already owns enough land?
20% A. State should buy more land
80% B. State owns enough land
--30--
Rep. Anderson encourages constituents to contact his new office with input regarding any state legislative issue. He can be reached on the web at www.house.mn/13A and via email at rep.paul.anderson@house.mn. To contact Anderson by phone, call (651) 296-4317. Mail can be sent to Rep. Paul Anderson, 239 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, Minnesota 55155.
News Items
- Still no budget as session winds down - (Posted: May 10 2013 12:00AM)
- MUCH WORK REMAINS IN SESSION’S WANING WEEKS - (Posted: May 6 2013 12:00AM)
- Results of online survey are telling - (Posted: May 3 2013 12:00AM)
- Archived News Items
- Subscribe to RSS News Feeds
- Read more about RSS.