PAtownhall.com
Pennsylvania's Marketplace of Ideas
Pennsylvania's Marketplace of Ideas
PAtownhall.com
Pennsylvania's Marketplace of Ideas
Pennsylvania's Marketplace of Ideas
by Lincoln Institute
Total Respondants: 203
Section 1. Business Climate
1. In general, do you think business conditions in Pennsylvania are better, the same, or worse than they were SIX MONTHS AGO?:
| Response Percent | Response Total | |
| Better | 5.9% | 12 |
| Same | 34.5% | 70 |
| Worse | 59.1% | 120 |
| No opinion | 0.5% | 1 |
| Total Respondents | 203 | |
| (skipped this question) | 0 |
2. LOOKING AHEAD SIX MONTHS, do you think business conditions will be better, the same, or worse than they are now?
| Response Percent | Response Total | |
| Better | 16.7% | 34 |
| Same | 44.8% | 91 |
| Worse | 35.5% | 72 |
| No opinion | 3.0% | 6 |
| Total Respondents | 203 | |
| (skipped this question) | 0 |
3. Are employment levels at your company higher, the same, or lower, than they were SIX MONTHS AGO?
| Response Percent | Response Total | |
| Higher | 12.9% | 26 |
| Same | 62.7% | 126 |
| Lower | 21.9% | 44 |
| No Opinion | 2.5% | 5 |
| Total Respondents | 201 | |
| (skipped this question) | 2 |
4. LOOKING AHEAD SIX MONTHS, do you anticipate that employment levels at your company will be higher, stay the same, or be lower?
| Response Percent | Response Total | |
| Higher | 21.9% | 44 |
| Same | 67.2% | 135 |
| Lower | 9.0% | 18 |
| No opinion | 2.0% | 4 |
| Total Respondents | 201 | |
| (skipped this question) | 2 |
5. Have your company's sales increased, stayed relatively the same, or decreased during the PAST SIX MONTHS?
| Response Percent | Response Total | |
| Increased | 21.5% | 43 |
| Same | 30.5% | 61 |
| Decreased | 46.0% | 92 |
| No opinion | 2.0% | 4 |
| Total Respondents | 200 | |
| (skipped this question) | 3 |
6. Do you expect your company's sales to increase, stay relatively the same, or decrease during the COMING SIX MONTHS?
| Response Percent | Response Total | |
| Increased | 30.7% | 61 |
| Same | 44.2% | 88 |
| Decreased | 21.6% | 43 |
| No Opinon | 3.5% | 7 |
| Total Respondents | 199 | |
| (skipped this question) | 4 |
7. At any point in the PAST SIX MONTHS has your company considered moving all or part of its Pennsylvania operations to another state?
| Response Percent | Response Total | |
| Did move some operations | 1.5% | 3 |
| Considered moving some operations | 3.5% | 7 |
| Considered moving all operations | 5.0% | 10 |
| Moved operations into Pennsylvania | 0.0% | 24 |
| Didn't consider any moves | 90.1% | 182 |
| Total Respondents | 202 | |
| (skipped this question) | 1 |
8. Do you foresee at any point in the COMING SIX MONTHS your company considering moving all or part of its Pennsylvania operations to another state?
| Response Percent | Response Total | |
| May move all operations | 2.0% | 4 |
| May move some operations | 5.1% | 10 |
| Not considering any moves | 92.4% | 183 |
| May move operations INTO Pennsylvania | 0.5% | 1 |
| Total Respondents | 198 | |
| (skipped this question) | 5 |
9. In general, do you have a POSITIVE, NEGATIVE or NO OPINION of the job performance of the following individuals?
| Positive | Negative | No opinion | Response Count | |
| President George W. Bush | 44.5% (89) | 46.0% (92) | 9.5% (19) | 200 |
| Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke | 40.0% (80) | 28.0% (56) | 32.2% (64) | 200 |
| U.S. Senator Arlen Specter | 30.3% (61) | 51.7% (104) | 17.9% (36) | 201 |
| U.S. Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr. | 12.4% (25) | 52.7% (106) | 34.8% (70) | 201 |
| Governor Ed Rendell | 15.0% (30) | 77.0% (154) | 8.0% (16) | 200 |
| Attorney General Tom Corbett | 24.4% (49) | 14.9% (30) | 60.7% (122) | 201 |
| Auditor General Jack Wagner | 13.1% (26) | 11.1% (22) | 75.9% (151) | 199 |
| Answered this question | 201 | |||
| (skipped this question) | 2 |
10. In general, do you have a POSITIVE, NEGATIVE, or NO OPINION of the job performance of the following institutions?
| Positive | Negative | No opinion | Response Count | |
| United States Senate | 9.4% (19) | 73.3% (148) | 17.3% (35) | 202 |
| United States House of Representatives | 9.4% (19) | 74.3% (150) | 16.3% (33) | 22 |
| Pennsylvania Senate | 19.9% (40) | 57.2% (115) | 22.9% (46) | 201 |
| Pennsylvania House of Representatives | 14.9% (30) | 30.9% (123) | 24.3% (49) | 202 |
| Answered this question | 202 | |||
| (skipped this question) | 1 |
Section 2. Issues
11. Are you aware of the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program that provides tax credits to businesses who contribute to an approved scholarship organization?
| Response Percent | Response Total | |
| Aware | 38.2% | 76 |
| Unaware | 54.8% | 109 |
| Not sure | 6.0% | 12 |
| Refused/No opinion | 1.0% | 2 |
| Total Respondents | 199 | |
| (skipped this question) | 4 |
12. Has your business participated in the Education Improvement Tax Credit program?
| Response Percent | Response Total | |
| Yes | 8.0% | 16 |
| No | 83.4% | 166 |
| Don't Know | 7.0% | 14 |
| Refused/No opinion | 1.5% | 3 |
| Total Respondents | 199 | |
| (skipped this question) | 4 |
13. There is a bill pending before the Pennsylvania General Assembly that would mandate giving workers two specifically-timed breaks plus a specifically-timed meal break in each eight hour period. Do you FAVOR or OPPOSE such a law?
| Response Percent | Response Total | |
| Strongly favor | 5.0% | 10 |
| Somewhat favor | 10.1% | 20 |
| Somewhat oppose | 21.1% | 42 |
| Strongly oppose | 58.3% | 116 |
| Don't know | 3.5% | 7 |
| Refused/No opinion | 2.0% | 4 |
| Total Respondents | 199 | |
| (skipped this question) | 4 |
14. If a law were passed mandating such periodic breaks would it have a POSITIVE or NEGATIVE impact on your business operations?
| Response Percent | Response Total | |
| Strongly positive | 1.0% | 2 |
| Somewhat positive | 1.5% | 3 |
| No impact | 29.6% | 59 |
| Somewhat negative | 35.2% | 70 |
| Strongly negative | 30.7% | 61 |
| Refused/No opinion | 2.0% | 4 |
| Total Respondents | 199 | |
| (skipped this question) | 4 |
15. As a result of the recent minimum wage increase in PA, have you had to take any specific action(s) such as: (Check all that apply.)
| Response Percent | Response Total | |
| Lay-off employees | 6.2% | 11 |
| Cut hours of operation | 2.8% | 5 |
| Cancel or postpone expansion plans | 9.6% | 17 |
| Not hire new employees | 17.4% | 31 |
| Not hire teens or inexperienced workers | 20.2% | 36 |
| Raise prices | 23.0% | 41 |
| Other | 8.4% | 15 |
| Refused/No opinion | 55.1% | 98 |
| Total Respondents | 178 | |
| (skipped this question) | 25 |
16. How would an automatic minimum wage COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment), tied to the Consumer Price Index, impact your business?
| Response Percent | Response Total | |
| Lay-off employees | 2.3% | 3 |
| Freeze hiring | 9.2% | 12 |
| Reduce hours | 7.7% | 10 |
| Raise prices | 56.2% | 73 |
| Combination of the above | 10.8% | 14 |
| No impace | 1.5% | 2 |
| Refused/No opinion | 0.0% | 0 |
| Other | 0.0% | 0 |
| Total Respondents | 130 | |
| (skipped this question) | 10 |
17. The Rendell Administration has funded a number of (non-building) programs by significantly increasing the state's debt level. Do you believe the state's level of borrowing is appropriate, or has it become excessive?
| Response Percent | Response Total | |
| Very appropriate | 0.5% | 1 |
| Somewhat appropriate | 8.1% | 16 |
| Somewhat excessive | 28.3% | 56 |
| Very excessive | 46.5% | 92 |
| Don't know | 11.6% | 23 |
| Refused/No opinion | 4.0% | 8 |
| Other | 1.0% | 2 |
| Total Respondents | 118 | |
| (skipped this question) | 22 |
18. To what extent are rising gasoline or diesel fuel prices affecting your business?
| Response Percent | Response Total | |
| Very much | 60.7% | 119 |
| Somewhat | 31.1% | 61 |
| Not very much | 7.1% | 14 |
| Not at all | 1.0% | 2 |
| Refused/No opinion | 0.0% | 0 |
| Total Respondents | 196 | |
| (skipped this question) | 7 |
19. Do you think the U.S. economy is either currently in a recession or headed toward a recession?
| Response Percent | Response Total | |
| Already in recession | 46.7% | 93 |
| Headed toward recession | 32.7% | 65 |
| Is not/Will not be in recession | 12.6% | 25 |
| Don't know | 7.5% | 15 |
| Refused/No opinion | 0.5% | 1 |
| Total Respondents | 199 | |
| (skipped this question) | 4 |
20. Now that slot machine gambling has been legalized in Pennsylvania, would you say that the potential economic benefits will outweigh the potential increase in crime and social problems, or will the problems outweigh the benefits?
| Response Percent | Response Total | |
| Benefits outweigh problems | 22.6% | 45 |
| Problems outweigh benefits | 50.8% | 101 |
| Don't know | 24.1% | 48 |
| Refused/No opinion | 2.5% | 5 |
| Total Respondents | 199 | |
| (skipped this question) | 4 |
21. There have been a number of high profile corruption cases involving legalized slot machine gambling in Pennsylvania. Do you think the current law enforcement system is adequate or should the law be changed to give the state Attorney General jurisdiction over such matters.
| Response Percent | Response Total | |
| Current law is adequate | 12.6% | 25 |
| Give Attorney General oversight | 54.3% | 108 |
| Don't Know | 29.6% | 59 |
| Refused/No Opinion | 3.5% | 7 |
| Total Respondents | 199 | |
| (skipped this question) | 4 |
22. Do you FAVOR or OPPOSE the placing of tolls on Interstate 80?
| Response Percent | Response Total | |
| Strongly favor | 5.0% | 10 |
| Somewhat favor | 19.6% | 39 |
| Somewhat oppose | 19.6% | 39 |
| Strongly oppose | 47.2% | 94 |
| Refused/No opinion | 8.5% | 17 |
| Total Respondents | 199 | |
| (skipped this question) | 4 |
23. Governor Ed Rendell is proposing to lease the Pennsylvania Turnpike to private enterprise as a way of funding road and bridge repairs throughout the state. Do you FAVOR or OPPOSE privatization of the Pennsylvania Turnpike?
| Response Percent | Response Total | |
| Strongly favor | 8.0% | 16 |
| Somewhat favor | 23.1% | 46 |
| Somewhat oppose | 12.6% | 25 |
| Strongly oppose | 45.7% | 91 |
| Refused/No opinion | 10.6% | 21 |
| Total Respondents | 199 | |
| (skipped this question) | 4 |
24. In what part of Pennsylvania is your business located?
| Response Percent | Response Total | |
| Northwest PA | 10.1% | 20 |
| Southwest PA | 16.1% | 32 |
| Northcentral PA | 9.5% | 19 |
| Altoona/Johnstown | 1.5% | 3 |
| Southcentral/Harrisburg | 13.6% | 27 |
| Southeastern PA | 33.7% | 67 |
| Lehigh Valley | 3.0% | 6 |
| Northeastern PA | 12.6% | 25 |
| Total Respondents | 199 | |
| (skipped this question) | 4 |
25. Which category best describes your position at the business in which your work:
| Response Percent | Response Total | |
| Owner | 37.1% | 46 |
| CEO/COO/CFO | 12.9% | 16 |
| State Manager | 4.0% | 5 |
| Local Manager | 6.5% | 8 |
| No Answer/Refused | 3.2% | 4 |
| Other | 0.8% | 1 |
| Total Respondents | 124 | |
| (skipped this question) | 16 |
