4/2009 - Legislative Preview 2009
 
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Legislative Preview 2009

1. In your opinion, what are the most important issues confronting the state legislature this year?

2. Using a 0-5 scale where 0 indicates absolutely no confidence and 5 indicates total confidence, how confident are you that the state government will effectively address the issues you care most about?

3. Currently the state of Louisiana is projecting a $1.3 billion shortfall in the budget for the 2009/2010 fiscal year. Assuming current projections hold, how do you think the state should handle the shortfall - by raising taxes, cutting state government spending, or through some combination of spending cuts and tax increases?

4. If state government addresses the shortfall through spending cuts, what areas of government spending do you think should be cut?

5. And are there areas of government spending that you think should be completely protected from spending cuts?

6. Would you support or oppose a proposal to raise taxes on cigarettes and tobacco as part of an effort to address the budget shortfall?

7. Please tell me whether you strongly agree, agree, neither agree nor disagree, disagree, or strongly disagree with the following statements.

The state could make significant cuts to state colleges and universities without affecting the quality of existing academic programs.

8. If necessary to reduce costs, the state should consolidate programs by closing some branch campuses of state colleges and universities.

9. The state could make significant cuts to public health care without affecting the quality of care received by patients in public hospitals and clinics.

10. I am generally well informed about this show's topic.

11. I understand why people would disagree with my perspective on this issue.

12. Discussions - even those that involve serious disagreements - should be an important part of the political processes.

13. Democracy requires hearing from all sides of a political issue, even those with unpopular views.