The Paul Simon Institute has released more poll numbers which show just how difficult it is for policymakers to do anything dramatic these days. A large majority of the populace believes the fairy tale that the state deficit can be solved by “cutting waste and inefficiency.” That’s just absolutely ludicrous…
The state of Illinois has a budget deficit of over 12 billion dollars. I’m going to read three statements that people have made about how to fix the deficit, and ask you which one comes closest to your views.
Only a revenue increase can solve the state’s budget problems 9.5%
The budget problems can be solved by cutting waste and inefficiency 56.5%
A combination of budget cuts and revenue increases will be needed to solve the problem 27.3%
Have not thought about it 3.4%
No response/Don’t know 3.4%
It’s not surprising that people would think this, considering the horrific problems state government has had…
“Part of the problem for policy makers in Illinois is that many people don’t feel they get good value for state services,” [David Yepsen, director of the Paul Simon Institute] said. “There are 48 percent who don’t think the value of state services is very good. By contrast, 39 percent don’t think federal services are so good and 30 percent don’t think much of local services.”
But it’s an utter, complete fantasy to believe there is $12 billion in waste and inefficiency within state expenditures of about $30 billion.
* The only way to completely cut ourselves out of this mess is not to just cut into the bone, but to actually remove many of the bones. But since the majority believes in the fairy tale, they don’t want to make the painful cuts, either…
Do you favor or oppose cuts in state spending on:
Kindergarten through high school education? 13.0%
State Universities? 31.9%
Public safety, such as state police and prisons? 16.3%
Natural resources, such as state parks and the
environment? 32.0%Programs for poor people? 20.4%
Pension benefits for state workers’ retirement? 39.5%
And because they believe in fairies, there’s no need to raise revenues, either…
I’m going to read several ways people have suggested for raising more money. For each one that I read, I’d like you to tell me whether you favor or oppose raising revenues in that way, OK?
Raise the state sales tax 21.4%
Expand the sales tax to cover services, such as dry cleaning or haircuts. 44.1%
Expand legalized gambling in Illinois 44.5%
Sell or lease state assets, such as the lottery or the Illinois toll road system 25.9%
* But a few more people are waking up to reality…
(T)here has been some public opinion movement since fall 2008, both on the revenue-enhancing side and the program-cutting side.
Last year, for example, 20.9 percent favored spending cuts for state universities; this year support grew to 31.9 percent. In 2008, 21.2 percent favored spending cuts for natural resources such as state parks and environmental services; in 2009 that increased to 32.0 percent.
In the Simon Institute’s 2008 poll, 28.4 percent favored expanding the state sales tax to cover services, such as dry cleaning or haircuts; in the 2009 poll, 44.1 percent approved. In a less dramatic result, 21.4 percent of those surveyed this year approved of raising the sales tax rate, up from 17.0 percent in 2008.
“These results may show that increasing numbers of voters have come to the conclusion that something’s got to give,” [Charles Leonard, the Simon Institute visiting professor who supervised the poll] said. “While most people still oppose both specific cuts and various tax increases, the continued media attention to the budget situation, and the daily realities of people losing their jobs and state services disappearing may be bringing people closer to the stark realities of funding state operations. I expect next year’s poll will demonstrate even more movement.”
Source: The Capital Fax Blog
