Copyright 2013 December 14-21, Interviews Fund for the Republic Survey Margin of Error: +/- 3.5%

Transcription

1 Copyright 2013 December 14-21, Interviews Fund for the Republic Survey Margin of Error: +/- 3.5% S1. Are you at least 18 years old and registered to vote? Yes % No... - VOL: (Don't know/refused)... - S2. Do you currently work as a member of the news media, for an elected official or candidate for political office in any capacity? Yes... - No VOL: (Don't Know/Refused)... - P1. When it comes to politics, do you genery think of yourself as a strong Democrat, a not very strong Democrat, a strong Republican, a not very strong Republican, or an Independent? [IF INDEPENDENT] Do you think of yourself as closer to the [ROTATE] Democratic Party or the Republican Party? Strong Democrat... 24% Weak Democrat Independent / Closer to the Democrats Independent Independent / Closer to the Republicans Weak Republican... 8 Strong Republican VOL: (Don't Know/Refused)... 3 DEMOCRAT ()... 34% INDEPENDENT () REPUBLICAN () DEMOCRAT W/ LEANERS ()... 45% REPUBLICAN W/ LEANERS () Now I'm going to read you the names of some organizations and people. For each, please tell me if you have a strongly favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable, or strongly unfavorable opinion of them. If you haven't heard of them, please say so and we'll move on. FAVORABLE UNFAVORABLE Strong Some Some Strong (CR) NH FAV UNFAV FAMILIAR Your member of Congress... 17% % Barack Obama... 24% * 1 44% [FORM B] Big corporations... 10% % John McCain... 11% % [FORM A] Oil companies... 14% * 3 40% [FORM B] W Street... 9% % The Tea Party movement... 17% % John Boehner... 6% % Congress... 4% % Federal Election Commission... 4% % Political Action Committees... 3% % [FORM A] Lobbyists... 3% % 66 83

2 Global Strategy Group 5736 Fund for the Republic Survey Page 2/11 Now I'm going to read you a list of issues. For each, please tell me if you think it is very important, somewhat important, somewhat unimportant or very unimportant for Congress to address today. IMPORTANT UNIMPORTANT Some Some IMPORTANT UNIMPORTANT [FORM B] Creating jobs and growing our economy... 88% % 4 [FORM B] Eliminating corruption in politics... 85% % 3 [FORM A] Protecting and preserving Social Security... 84% % 4 [FORM B] Protecting and preserving Medicare... 74% % 5 [FORM A] Reducing our national debt and budget deficit... 73% % 7 [FORM B] Improving our health care system... 70% % 9 [FORM A] Maintaining a strong national defense... 68% % 6 Reducing the effects of money in politics... 67% % 7 [FORM A] Protecting the environment, clean air and water... 67% * 92% 8 [FORM B] Reducing cronyism, the practice of political figures using their position to help friends or business associates... 63% % 17 [FORM A] Reducing the influence of well-funded interest groups and lobbyists on the way laws are made... 57% % Do you think our current political system works well or do you think the system is in need of reform? [IF CHOICE] Do you strongly or somewhat believe it works well/is in need of reform? Strongly believe it works well... 6% Somewhat believe it works well VOL: (Neither/Neutral)... 2 Somewhat believe is in need of reform Strongly believe is in need of reform VOL: (Don't Know/Refused)... 2 WORKS WELL ()... 16% IN NEED OF REFORM () Do you believe our political system is corrupt or not? [IF CHOICE] Do you hold view strongly or somewhat? Strongly believe is corrupt... 40% Somewhat believe is corrupt VOL: (Neither/Neutral)... 2 Somewhat believe is not corrupt Strongly believe is not corrupt VOL: (Don't Know/Refused)... 3 CORRUPT ()... 71% CORRUPT ()... 24

3 Global Strategy Group 5736 Fund for the Republic Survey Page 3/ When you think of corruption in politics, which of the following best describes corruption? [ROTATE AND READ LIST] Politicians doing favors for or awarding government contracts to particular donors, friends, or family... 24% Special interest groups controlling what gets done in terms of what is in laws and budgets being passed and what issues get attention The reliance of politicians on big money donors to fund their campaigns VOL: (Other SPECIFY)... 1 VOL: (All/multiple) VOL: (Don't Know/Refused)... 3 Thinking about how campaigns for political office are paid for in this country...how well would you say our current system of funding political campaigns does when it comes to... WELL WELL [FORM A] Encouraging voters to participate in elections... 26% % 36 [FORM A] Allowing voters to get adequate information about many candidates... 15% % 51 [FORM A] Encouraging people from different walks of life to run for office... 12% % 58 [FORM A] Giving voters a broad array of choices in candidates... 11% % 57 [FORM A] Building faith in our system of electoral politics... 7% % 63 Thinking about political campaigns and elections in this country...how important is each of the following to you when it comes to ensuring our elections are truly fair and democratic? Is very important, somewhat important, not important or not important at? IMPORTANT Some Some IMPORTANT at at IMPORTANT WELL WELL IMPORTANT [FORM B] Voters getting adequate information about many candidates... 86% % 2 [FORM B] Encouraging voters to participate in elections... 82% % 3 [FORM B] Encouraging people from different walks of life to run for office... 68% % 8 [FORM B] Voters having a broad array of choices in candidates... 60% % 6 [FORM B] Building faith in our system of electoral politics... 51% % 9

4 Global Strategy Group 5736 Fund for the Republic Survey Page 4/11 Thinking about money in politics, how serious a problem... SERIOUS PROBLEM Somewhat at SERIOUS PROBLEM [FORM A] Is the general influence of money in politics... 72% % 6 SERIOUS PROBLEM [FORM B] Is the amount of money being spent on political campaigns in this country... 71% % 7 [FORM B] Is the influence of corporate money in politics.. 66% % 10 [FORM A] Is the influence of campaign contributors on the actions of Congress... 60% % 7 [FORM A] Is the time lost because members of Congress must spend so much time fundraising... 52% % 16 [FORM B] Is the influence of campaign contributors on the actions of your Congressman... 51% % In the last five years do you think the influence of money in politics has gotten better, gotten worse or stayed about the same? [IF GOTTEN BETTER/WORSE] Would be much or somewhat better/worse? Much better... 1% Somewhat better... 3 Stayed about the same Somewhat worse Much worse VOL: (Don't Know/Refused)... 2 BETTER ()... 3% WORSE () A. [FORM A] Which of the following would you say is the source of most of the money for a typical political campaign for Congress? And what would you say is the second largest source of money for a typical campaign for Congress? [ROTATE AND READ LIST] First Total Donations from special interest groups... 24% 46% Donations from corporations Donations from labor unions Donations from national political parties Donations from individuals Candidates paying for their own campaigns Donations from local or state political parties Donations from local businesses VOL: (Other SPECIFY) VOL: (Don't Know/Refused) B. [FORM B] Which of the following would you say should be the source of most of the money for a typical political campaign for Congress? And what would you say should be the second largest source of money for a typical campaign for Congress? [ROTATE AND READ LIST] First Total Donations from individuals... 39% 56% Candidates paying for their own campaigns Taxpayer funded/public financing of campaigns Donations from local or state political parties Donations from national political parties Donations from local businesses Donations from special interest groups Donations from corporations Donations from labor unions VOL: (Other SPECIFY) VOL: (Don't Know/Refused)

5 Global Strategy Group 5736 Fund for the Republic Survey Page 5/11 For each of the following, please tell me if you agree or disagree...[if AGREE/DISAGREE] Would be strongly or somewhat agree/disagree? AGREE DISAGREE Strong Some (Neither) Some Strong AGREE DISAGREE [FORM A] We need to reduce the effects of money on our political system... 69% % 6 [FORM A] Politicians are more likely to represent the interests of those who fund their campaigns than they are to represent the interests of citizens... 69% % 5 [FORM B] Politicians are more likely to represent the moneyed private interests than do what is in the public good... 59% % 13 [FORM B] If we change the incentives for politicians, we can change their behavior in terms of the influence of money in politics... 53% % How long do you think it would take to see a meaningful change in terms of reducing the influence of money in politics? [OPEN END] Within the next three years... 6% Between 3-5 years Between 6-10 years Between years More than 20 years Never VOL: (Don't know/refused)... 9 For each of the following Supreme Court cases, please tell me how familiar you are with it, are you...with? FAMILIAR Somewhat at FAMILIAR Roe v. Wade... 58% % 14 Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission... 14% % 61 Buckley v. Valeo... 2% % 83

6 Global Strategy Group 5736 Fund for the Republic Survey Page 6/11 Now I'm going to read you some solutions have been proposed to reduce the effect of money on politics. For each please tell me how successful you think it would be in reducing the effect of money on politics. SUCCESSFUL Somewhat SUCCESSFUL at SUCCESSFUL SUCCESSFUL [FORM B] A cap on the amount of money a candidate can spend on political campaigns... 58% % 14 [FORM A] Term limits... 39% % 24 [FORM A] A cap on spending on political campaigns by independent, outside special interest groups... 37% % 20 [FORM A] A constitutional amendment setting limits on how money is raised and spent on political campaigns... 32% % 28 [FORM B] A change in the law to encourage more sm dollar donations from more individuals and fewer large donations from a handful of wealthy contributors... 31% % 23 [FORM B] Public funding for congressional candidates... 23% % 31

7 Global Strategy Group 5736 Fund for the Republic Survey Page 7/11 Now I'm going to read some reasons people have given for reducing the influence of money in politics. After each, please tell me whether it is, for you persony, a very convincing reason, a somewhat convincing reason, not convincing a reason, or not at convincing a reason to reduce the influence of money in politics. INCING ( accurate) After they have served in Congress, many, if not most members of Congress become lobbyists, making hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars more lobbying than they ever made as members of Congress. Some say the incentives to lobby corrupts the political process, as members of Congress are more interested in pleasing their future employers than the citizens they are supposed to represent. Is this a % % 14 [FORM B] The political system in Washington is broken and part of the reason is the money flowing through the system prevents good people from taking office and doing the people's work. By reducing the influence of money in politics we can start putting people in office who will work together with the other party and get things done rather than represent the interests of those who hold the purse strings and who benefit from our current political system. Is this % % 15 [FORM B] Politicians have to spend more and more of their time fundraising for the next election rather than doing their job representing their constituents. Time could be spent studying issues, reading legislation on which they will vote or meeting with constituents is increasingly sacrificed in order to raise money. As soon as they are elected, many members of Congress start fundraising and set up political action committees to get a jump on fundraising for an election is two years away. Is this % % 14 [FORM B] James Madison, one of our founders, said in the Federalist Papers Congress should be dependent on the people alone, but today the influence of money in politics has led to a system makes Congress depend primarily on their big funders, corrupting our founding principles of democracy. Is this a % % 13 Some at

8 Global Strategy Group 5736 Fund for the Republic Survey Page 8/11 Now I'm going to read some reasons people have given for reducing the influence of money in politics. After each, please tell me whether it is, for you persony, a very convincing reason, a somewhat convincing reason, not convincing a reason, or not at convincing a reason to reduce the influence of money in politics. INCING ( accurate) [FORM A] This country was founded on the ideal everyone should have a voice in our political system and ideal is being corrupted by the amount of money pouring into campaigns from a handful of wealthy donors, corporations, labor unions and others who drown out the average citizen. By limiting the amount of money going into political campaigns, we can begin to restore the voice and power of ordinary Americans as was intended by the founders. Is this % % 12 [FORM A] Political campaign contributions cause political leaders to use political power to fundraise, at the expense of doing the people's business. For example, a legislative tactic ced the "tollbooth" entails the Speaker of the House or a committee chairperson blocking or sting a bill right before a vote until they receive campaign contributions. Contributions are given to ensure the bill's passage, otherwise the bill is delayed. The House Speaker received over $200,000 from executives and companies a few days before holding votes on three bills pertained to the donors' industries. Is this % % 16 [FORM A] Because of the corruption of our system of politics, nothing gets done in Washington, including addressing issues of concern to those on the right, the left and the middle. The issue you care most about will not get addressed until this corrupt system is fixed. Is this a % * 4 75% 20 [FORM A] The current campaign finance laws are so lax they ow elected representatives to spend campaign money on virtuy anything they want. Less than a year after being elected a couple of years ago but one of the newly elected U.S. Senators set up a separate fundraising account, owing them to collect money from donors above the existing campaign limits. As long as the account is not spent on their reelection campaigns, there are no rules. Many officials donate to their colleagues' campaigns, ensuring they too will receive money during the next campaign. Is this % % 19 Some at

9 Global Strategy Group 5736 Fund for the Republic Survey Page 9/11 Now I'm going to read some reasons people have given for reducing the influence of money in politics. After each, please tell me whether it is, for you persony, a very convincing reason, a somewhat convincing reason, not convincing a reason, or not at convincing a reason to reduce the influence of money in politics. INCING Some at ( accurate) [FORM B] Campaign money has been flooding into judicial election campaigns in recent years, raising concerns about the decisions judges make from the bench. In 2010, Illinois Supreme Court Justice Thomas Kilbride voted to strike down a ceiling on certain medical malpractice awards. In response he was attacked by $688,000 in negative ads in his retention race. In other states, well-funded interest groups are overwhelming the ability of individual judicial candidates to be heard by voters as big money groups and those on different sides on issues like abortion spend fortunes to get judges favorable to their cause. Is this % % Thinking back to a question we asked earlier...do you agree or disagree we need to reduce the effects of money on our political system? [IF AGREE/DISAGREE] Would be strongly or somewhat [AGREE/DISAGREE]? Strongly agree... 80% Somewhat agree VOL: (Neither/Neutral)... 2 Somewhat disagree... 2 Strongly disagree... 1 VOL: (Don't know/refused)... 1 AGREE ()... 94% DISAGREE ()... 3 Now I'm going to read some solutions people have given for reducing the influence of money in politics. After each, please tell me whether, you persony, support or oppose the solution? [IF ANSWER] Do you feel this way strongly or just somewhat? SUPPORT OPPOSE Strong Some Some Strong (Neither) SUPPORT OPPOSE [FORM B] One proposal is to change the laws so candidates have to raise more money from smer, individual donors and receive less form large donors. Supporters of this approach say it will lessen the influence of a few donors and make politicians more responsive to more citizens % [FORM A] Arizona's voters approved a "Clean Elections" law gave public funding to candidates who agreed to follow rules including limiting their personal spending on campaigns. Afterwards, Arizona experienced a 3-fold increase in donors, with the majority of contributors earning $50,000 or less %

10 Global Strategy Group 5736 Fund for the Republic Survey Page 10/11 Now I'm going to read some solutions people have given for reducing the influence of money in politics. After each, please tell me whether, you persony, support or oppose the solution? [IF ANSWER] Do you feel this way strongly or just somewhat? SUPPORT OPPOSE Strong Some Some Strong (Neither) SUPPORT OPPOSE [FORM B] The Fair Elections Now Act would create a system of matching public funds for every qualified Congressional candidate who does not accept large donations from individuals and interest groups. To receive matching funds, candidates would have to reach out to their constituents to raise a large number of donations under $ % [FORM A] Fifteen states and more than 500 cities, towns, and counties have supported a constitutional amendment to change the U.S. Constitution to revise the way campaigns are funded in this country, including limiting large donations and capping spending. Supporters say a constitutional amendment is necessary in the wake of Supreme Court decisions equate money to speech and say corporations should have the rights of people % [FORM B] In Minnesota a new program has owed its citizens to receive a rebate or voucher of up to $50 from the state shortly after contributing to a candidate. This program is credited with generating the country's fourth highest number of contributors to campaigns... 19% [FORM A] In Minnesota a new program has owed its citizens to receive a refund of up to $50 from the state shortly after contributing to a candidate. This program is credited with generating the country's fourth highest number of contributors to campaigns % Finy I would like to ask you a few final questions for statistical purposes only. D101. What is your age? % VOL: (Refused)... 4

11 Global Strategy Group 5736 Fund for the Republic Survey Page 11/11 D102. What is the last grade you completed in school? Some grade school... 1% Some high school... 5 Graduated high school Technical/Vocational... 4 Some college Graduated college Graduate professional VOL: (Refused)... 3 D170. Thinking of your socio-economic status, would you describe yourself as working class, middle class, or as affluent? [IF MIDDLE CLASS] And would you describe yourself as lower middle class, upper middle class, or somewhere in between? Working class... 31% Lower middle class Middle class Upper middle class... 9 Affluent... 4 VOL: (Don't Know/Refused)... 6 LOWER ()... 42% MIDDLE () UPPER () D105. When it comes to politics, do you genery think of yourself as very liberal, somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat conservative, or very conservative? liberal... 8% Somewhat liberal Moderate Somewhat conservative conservative VOL: (Refused)... 7 LIBERAL ()... 25% CONSERVATIVE () D200. And may I ask your religious background; is it Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim or something else? Protestant... 47% Catholic Jewish... 1 Muslim... * VOL: (Mormon/Latter Day Saints)... 2 VOL: (Christian Scientist)... 2 VOL: (Other) VOL: (None/Atheist)... 9 VOL: (Refused)... 8 D300. And just to make sure we have a representative sample of voters, could you please tell me your race? [IF BLACK/WHITE/OTHER] Do you consider yourself a Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish-speaking American? Black/African-American... 13% White/Caucasian Hispanic/Latino... 8 Asian-American... 1 Other (SPECIFY)... 2 VOL: (Refused)... 4 Gender [BY OBSERVATION] Male... 46% Female Region [FROM SAMPLE] Northeast... 18% Midwest South Pacific... 20