Spring 2009 Keystone Business Climate Survey: Numeric Results

Total Started Survey: 229
Total Completed Survey: 219 (95.6%)

Section I: 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 Count
Better	4.0%	9
Same	19.9%	45
Worse	75.7%	171
No Opinion	0.4%	1

2. LOOKING AHEAD SIX MONTHS, do you think business conditions will be better, the same, or worse than they are now?

	Response Percent	Response Count
Better	22.1%	50
Same	45.6%	103
Worse	29.2%	66
No Opinion	3.1%	7

3. Are employment levels at your company higher, the same, or lower, than they were SIX MONTHS AGO?

	Response Percent	Response Count
Higher	4.4%	10
Same	54.0%	122
Lower	41.6%	94
No Opinion	0.0%	0

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 Count
Higher	9.7%	22
Same	74.4%	169
Lower	12.8%	29
No Opinion	3.1%	7

5. Have your company’s sales increased, stayed relatively the same, or decreased during the PAST SIX MONTHS?

	Response Percent	Response Count
Increased	13.3%	30
Same	24.3%	55
Decreased	61.5%	139
No Opinion	0.9%	2

6. Do you expect your company’s sales to increase, stay relatively the same, or decrease during the COMING SIX MONTHS?

	Response Percent	Response Count
Increase	24.0%	54
Same	48.9%	110
Decrease	23.6%	53
No Opinion	3.6%	8

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 Count
Did move some operations	1.8%	4
Considered moving some operations	1.8%	4
Considered moving all operations	4.9%	11
Moved operations into Pennsylvania	0.0%	0
Didn’t consider any moves	91.5%	204

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 Count
May move all operations	4.9%	11
May move some operations	4.5%	10
Not considering any moves	90.6%	203
May move operations INTO Pennsylvania	0.0%	0

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 Barack Obama	26.4% (60)	63.4% (144)	10.1% (23)	227
Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke	22.0% (50)	49.3% (112)	28.6% (65)	227
U.S. Senator Arlen Specter	24.4% (55)	60.0% (135)	15.6% (35)	225
U.S. Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr.	13.8% (31)	54.2% (122)	32.0% (72)	225
U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner	15.0% (34)	63.3% (143)	21.7% (49)	226
Governor Ed Rendell	13.8% (31)	75.1% (169)	11.1% (25)	225
Attorney General Tom Corbett	37.9% (85)	12.9% (29)	49.1% (110)	224
Auditor General Jack Wagner	13.8% (31)	13.3% (30)	72.9% (164)	225
State Treasurer Rob McCord	6.7% (15)	15.2% (34)	78.1% (175)	224

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	9.7% (22)	80.1% (181)	10.2% (23)	226
United States House of Representatives	6.6% (15)	82.7% (187)	10.6% (24)	226
Pennsylvania Senate	17.7% (40)	57.1% (129)	25.2% (57)	226
Pennsylvania House of Representatives	12.0% (27)	62.7% (141)	25.3% (57)	225

Section II: Issues

11. Do you FAVOR or OPPOSE the Employee Free Choice Act, also known as "Card Check" which would eliminate a secret ballot when employees are voting on whether or not to unionize?

	Response Percent	Response Count
STRONGLY FAVOR	1.4%	3
SOMEWHAT FAVOR	1.8%	4
SOMEWHAT OPPOSE	8.7%	19
STRONGLY OPPOSE	80.8%	177
REFUSED/NO OPINION	7.8%	17

12. Would you be MORE LIKELY or LESS LIKELY to vote to re-elect U.S. Senator Arlen Specter if he supports "Card Check" legislation?

	Response Percent	Response Count
MUCH MORE LIKELY TO VOTE TO RE-ELECT	1.8%	4
SOMEWHAT MORE LIKELY TO VOTE TO RE-ELECT	5.5%	12
SOMEWHAT LESS LIKELY TO VOTE TO RE-ELECT	7.8%	17
MUCH LESS LIKELY TO VOTE TO RE-ELECT	70.8%	155
REFUSED/NO OPINION	14.2%	31

13. If the U.S. Congress enacts the "Card Check" bill (which would allow organization of a union without a private ballot, creates binding arbitration on businesses, and significantly increases penalties for violations of the law) would you be MORE LIKELY or LESS LIKELY to hire new/more employees?

	Response Percent	Response Count
MUCH MORE LIKELY	0.5%	1
SOMEWHAT MORE LIKELY	0.9%	2
SOMEWHAT LESS LIKELY	12.8%	28
MUCH LESS LIKELY	51.1%	112
NO IMPACT	28.8%	63
REFUSED/NO OPINION	5.9%	13

14. Do you FAVOR or OPPOSE enactment of what is commonly referred to as a Right to Work law, whereby a worker cannot be compelled to join or pay fees to a labor union as a condition of employment?

	Response Percent	Response Count
STRONGLY FAVOR	72.0%	157
SOMEWHAT FAVOR	16.5%	36
SOMEWHAT OPPOSE	2.3%	5
STRONGLY OPPOSE	3.7%	8
REFUSED/NO OPINION	5.5%	12

15. Generally speaking, do you have a POSITIVE or NEGATIVE opinion of the economic stimulus bill passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama in February?

	Response Percent	Response Count
STRONLY POSITIVE	3.3%	7
SOMEWHAT POSITIVE	19.1%	41
SOMEWHAT NEGATIVE	21.9%	47
STRONGLY NEGATIVE	54.4%	117
REFUSED/NO OPINION	1.4%	3

16. Generally speaking, do you think the policies of the Obama Administration will strengthen the U.S. economy and cause the resession to end sooner; or will the administration’s policies weaken the economy and prolong the recession?

	Response Percent	Response Count
STRENGTHEN/END SOONER	25.6%	56
WEAKEN/PROLONG	59.8%	131
WILL HAVE NO IMPACT	11.4%	25
REFUSED/NO OPINION	3.2%	7

17. Are you concerned about whether or not your business will be able to survive the current economic crisis; ie: might you be forced out of business because of the recession?

	Response Percent	Response Count
LIKELY MAY GO OUT OF BUSINESS	4.2%	9
POSSIBLE MAY GO OUT OF BUSINESS	30.8%	66
WELL POSITIONED TO SURVIVE THE RECESSION	37.9%	81
DON’T KNOW	29.0%	62
Other		10

18. Do you FAVOR or OPPOSE the federal government spending billions of dollars more to keep the U.S. auto industry, specifically Chrysler and General Motors, in business?

	Response Percent	Response Count
STRONGLY FAVOR	0.9%	2
SOMEWHAT FAVOR	10.5%	23
SOMEWHAT OPPOSE	28.3%	62
STRONGLY OPPOSE	58.0%	127
REFUSED/NO OPINION	2.3%	5

19. If Pennsylvania were to implement a limitation on CO2 emissions through a cap and trade program would you be MORE LIKELY or LESS LIKELY to invest in your business and to hire new/more employees?

	Response Percent	Response Count
MUCH MORE LIKELY	0.5%	1
SOMEWHAT MORE LIKELY	0.9%	2
SOMEWHAT LESS LIKELY	9.1%	20
MUCH LESS LIKELY	31.1%	68
NO IMPACT	47.9%	105
REFUSED/NO OPINION	10.5%	23

20. The Pennsylvania state budget deficit is projected to exceed $2 billion. Should lawmakers raise taxes, or cut spending to close this deficit?

	Response Percent	Response Count
RAISE TAXES	0.5%	1
CUT SPENDING	81.7%	178
COMBINATION OF TAX HIKES AND SPENDING CUTS	16.1%	35
REFUSED/NO OPINION	1.8%	4

21. The Rendell Administration is proposing to levy a 2% tax on health insurance premiums paid by businesses and consumers. If such a tax is implemented what impact would it have on your business?

	Response Percent	Response Count
STOP PROVIDING EMPLOYER-PAID HEALTH INSURANGE	16.1%	34
IMPLEMENT/RAISE EMPLOYEE CO-PAYS	39.3%	83
LAY-OFF EMPLOYEES TO OFF-SET THE COST OF THE TAX	6.6%	14
GO OUT OF BUSINESS	2.8%	6
CURRENTLY DO NOT PROVIDE EMPLOYER-PAID HEALTH INSURANCE	21.3%	45
NO IMPACT	11.8%	25
REFUSED/NO OPINION	1.9%	4
Other		11

22. Would you FAVOR or OPPOSE raising taxes on tobacco products to help off-set the current state budget deficit?

	Response Percent	Response Count
STRONGLY FAVOR	24.8%	54
SOMEWHAT FAVOR	22.9%	50
SOMEWHAT OPPOSE	17.9%	39
STRONGLY OPPOSE	28.4%	62
REFUSED/NO OPINION	6.0%	13

23. Would you FAVOR or OPPOSE raising the state SALES TAX to help off-set the current state budget deficit?

	Response Percent	Response Count
STRONGLY FAVOR	3.2%	7
SOMEWHAT FAVOR	18.7%	41
SOMEWHAT OPPOSE	16.9%	37
STRONGLY OPPOSE	60.7%	133
REFUSED/NO OPINION	0.5%	1

24. Have you had to take any of the following actions to deal with the current economic recession:

	Response Percent	Response Count
LAY OFF EMPLOYEES	40.9%	72
REDUCE EMPLOYEE WORK HOURS	53.4%	94
CLOSE OR CONSOLIDATE FACILITIES	4.5%	8
REDUCE PRODUCT LINES	13.6%	24
RAISE PRICES	29.5%	52
CUT PRICES	27.3%	48
CLOSE YOUR BUSINESS	1.1%	2
Other		32

25. As a result of the recent increase in the minimum wage are you: MORE LIKELY or LESS LIKELY to hire new/more employees?

	Response Percent	Response Count
MUCH MORE LIKELY	0.5%	1
SOMEWHAT MORE LIKELY	0.5%	1
SOMEWHAT LESS LIKELY	15.1%	33
MUCH LESS LIKELY	18.7%	41
NO IMPACT	63.5%	139
REFUSED/NO OPINIONW	1.8%	4

26. What is your top business concern?

	Response Percent	Response Count
ACCESS TO CREDIT	8.6%	18
LOST SALES	42.4%	89
TAXES	22.9%	48
COST OF HEALTH CARE COVERAGE	19.5%	41
ENERGY COSTS	6.7%	14
Other		21

27. Tell us what steps you are taking in your business to survive the recession.

	Response Count
VIEW	153

28. DEMOCRATS ONLY: IF the Democratic Primary for Governor of Pennsylvania were held today, would you vote for

	Response Percent	Response Count
Jack Wagner	29.4%	5
Dan Onorato	23.5%	4
Don Cunningham	11.8%	2
Tom Knox	17.6%	3
Bob Mellow	17.6%	3
Other		28

29. REPUBLICANS ONLY: If the Republican Primary for Governor of Pennsylvania were held today, would you vote for:

	Response Percent	Response Count
TOM CORBETT	72.2%	78
PAT MEEHAN	10.2%	11
JIM GERLACH	17.6%	19
Other		25

30. REPUBLICANS ONLY: IF the Republican Primary for U.S. Senator were held today, would you vote for Arlen Specter or Pat Toomey?

	Response Percent	Response Count
ARLEN SPECTER	15.3%	24
PAT TOOMEY	63.7%	100
PEG LUKSIK	4.5%	7
REFUSED/NO OPINION	16.6%	26
Other		15

31. In what part of Pennsylvania is your business located?

	Response Percent	Response Count
Northwest PA	12.4%	27
Southwest PA	16.5%	36
Northcentral PA	7.8%	17
Altoona/Johnstown	2.3%	5
Southcentral/Harrisburg	16.5%	36
Southeastern PA	23.9%	52
Lehigh Valley	7.8%	17
Northeastern PA	12.8%	28

32. Which category best describes your position at the business in which your work:

	Response Percent	Response Count
OWNER	80.3%	175
CEO/COO/CFO	9.6%	21
STATE MANAGER	0.0%	0
LOCAL MANAGER	4.6%	10
NO ANSWER/REFUSED	1.8%	4
Other	3.7%	8