Constituent Survey Results - Fall 2006

Dear Friends:

I recently sent a survey to you asking for your opinions on a wide range of issues -  many of which are now being considered in the State Legislature or will be considered in the future.

As part of the process of keeping you up to date, please find the results of the survey that many of you took the time to complete.

I'd like to thank the more than 3,000 people who took the time to return the survey or fill it out on my website. I also received many comments, suggestions and commentary - which are helpful to me.

Thank you again for your input. If you need assistance with state government, please contact me.

Sincerely,

State Senator Edwin B. Erickson

1) PUBLIC SMOKING – Legislation has been introduced that would prohibit smoking in public places and workplaces. "Public place" would be defined as any enclosed area to which the public is invited or in which the public is permitted. Examples of public places are restaurants, taverns or bars, retail stores, theatres and arenas.

a. Do you support totally prohibiting smoking in public places?

75% - Yes
22% - No
3% - Undecided

b. If you do not support a total ban on smoking in public places, do you support prohibiting smoking in:

17% - A restaurant
6% - A bar or tavern
18% - A retail store
17% -A waiting room or lobby
14% - A restroom
11% - A sports arena
15% - A shopping mall
3% - Other

2) PROPERTY TAXES – Legislation was introduced this year that would give taxpayers the opportunity to decide, in a statewide referendum, to reduce real estate property taxes by raising the state sales tax by 1% and the state income tax by .43%. Increasing both taxes would reduce property tax bills by an average of 33% in the 26th Senatorial District. Increasing one tax and not the other would result in half as much of a reduction.

a. If given the opportunity, would you vote to increase the state sales tax by 1% and the state income tax by .43% in order to reduce real estate property taxes?

38% - Yes
46% - No
16% - Undecided

b. If you would not vote to increase both the state sales tax and the state income tax in order to reduce real estate property taxes, would you vote to:

28% - Increase only the state sales tax by 1% in order to reduce real estate property taxes?
20% - Increase only the state income tax by .43% in order to reduce real estate property taxes?
52% - Not increase either tax?

c. To reduce property taxes would you support expanding the base of the state sales tax to include:

7% - Any and all goods and services?
44% - Non-essential items which would not include food, clothing or medicine?
49% - No expansion

3) HANDGUNS – The rate of violent crime has increased in the City of Philadelphia and a high percentage of this crime is being committed with handguns. There is some thought that handgun violence can be reduced if more restrictions are placed on handgun sales. Toward that end, legislation has been introduced that would limit the number of handguns any individual could purchase in Pennsylvania to one per month.

a. Do you believe that handgun violence is a problem in your neighborhood?

22% - Yes
70% - No
8% - Undecided

b. Do you believe that Pennsylvania has a handgun trafficking problem?

77% - Yes
12% - No
11% - Undecided

c. Would you support a law that limited the sale of handguns in Pennsylvania to one per month?

76% - Yes
16% - No
8% - Undecided

d. Do you believe that a law limiting the sale of handguns to one per month would result in a reduction of handgun violence in Pennsylvania?

32% - Yes
47% - No
21% - Undecided

e. Do you support requiring trigger locks on privately owned firearms when they are not in use?

75% - Yes
16% - No
8% - Undecided

4) CELL PHONES – The use of cell phones while driving has been proven to distract a driver's attention, thereby increasing the risk of accident. Legislation was introduced that would prohibit the use of handheld mobile telephones while operating a motor vehicle.

a. Except in cases of emergency, do you support banning the use while driving of:

48% - All cell phones
40% - Handheld cell phones only
8% - Neither
4% - Undecided

b. Do you believe that a driver should face a penalty if they are driving while operating a handheld cell phone?

73% - Yes
15% - No
13% - Undecided

5) SIZE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY – Currently each of the 50 State Senators represents 248,000 people while each of 203 Pennsylvania House of Representatives represents approximately 61,000 people. The Senate has scheduled a hearing to explore the feasibility and desirability of decreasing the size of the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

a. Do you support reducing the size of the Senate?

40% - Yes
37% - No
23% - Undecided

b. Do you support reducing the size of the House?

55% - Yes
23% - No
22% - Undecided

6) LIMITATIONS ON STATE SPENDING – Bills have been introduced in the Senate and House of Representatives to place a cap on increasing state spending by limiting the state appropriations to within the rate of inflation. The proposed legislation contains exemptions for emergencies or disasters and provides for the General Assembly to vote for increases greater than the inflation rate in limited, unforeseen circumstances.

a. Do you favor limiting the Commonwealth's ability to limit the State appropriation as described above?

70% - Yes
13% - No
17% - Undecided

7) PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - There has been a great deal of discussion regarding state funding for public transportation. Do you think the Commonwealth should divert funding for roads and bridges to help pay for mass transit?

35% - Yes
48% - No
17% - Undecided

8) CHILD SEX OFFENDERS – Would you support legislation mandating the tracking of convicted child sex offenders by Global Positioning Satellite (GPS)?

75% - Yes
12% - No
13% - Undecided

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