Alaska Voters Organization

"An Informed Voter Is The Best Defense Against Bad Government"

June 2002 Survey

See how your answers compared with everyone else.  Question number 2 can have more than one answer:

Question 1.  The State Legislature recently passed a budget that will spend almost one billion dollars more than our oil revenue.  In your opinion, is this deficit a “budget crisis” or an “over spending problem”? 

     A.  Budget crisis:  17%

     B.  Over spending problems:  83%

Question 2.  Many Legislators wanted to use earnings of the Permanent Fund (the account your dividend comes from), and new taxes to reduce the budget deficit.  What would be your solution to this situation?

     A.  New Taxes (if so, which one(s) do you favor):  11%

     B.  Use earnings of the permanent fund:  2%

     C.  Cut spending (suggest where):  27%

     D.  Combination of all above:  8%

     E.  Close existing corporate tax loopholes:  21%

     F.  Cap state spending:  28%

     G.  Other (explain):  3%

Question 3.  Our Legislators voted to take money from the Constitutional Budget Reserve (CBR) to close the fiscal gap this year.  The CBR has been our “savings account” for many years, and has been used frequently to close the deficit.  Do you realize that at current spending levels this account will be bankrupt by 2004?

     A.  Yes:  56%

     B.  No:  44%

Question 4.  Once the CBR has been depleted, there are only two other sources of revenue available to close a budget deficit of this size.  One is the Permanent Fund, and the other is taxation.  A third option seldom discussed by our government, would be cutting expenses to match income available.  What instructions will you give your elected representatives?

     A.  Continue state government spending at current levels, spend balance of CBR, tap Permanent Fund, and find new revenue sources:  3%

     B.  Cut Spending:  90%

     C.  Other:  7%

Question 5.  According to our elected officials and the news media, this year’s operating budget is less than last year.  In your opinion how do FY-02 and FY-03 compare?

     A.  Higher spending with additional approved employee positions:  26.5

     B.  Lower spending with reduced approved employee positions:  36%

     C.  Same spending level and no change in number of state employees:  37.5%

Question 6.  Do you agree with the new “closed primary” election process which forces non-partisan and undeclared (52%) voters to choose one of the six partisan ballots available?

     A.  Yes:  25.5%

     B.  No:  71%

     C. Other:  3.5%

Question 7.  Would you support legislation requiring political parties to pay all the expenses associated with a “closed primary”?

     A.  Yes:  76.5%

     B.  No:  19%

     C.  Other:  4.5%

Question 8.  What location in Alaska would make our Legislators more responsive to the voting public, while dramatically reduce travel and per diem expense?

     A.  Juneau:  9%

     B.  Sessions held via teleconference from one of the 22 local Legislative Information Offices statewide:  28.5%

     C.  Other:  32.5

Question 9.  Would you support a constitutional amendment that creates a non-partisan (no political affiliation) legislature?

     A.  Yes:  63.5%

     B.  No:  32%

     C.  Other:  4.5%

Question 10.  Are you a registered voter?

     A.  Yes:  99%

     B.  No:  1%

Question 11.  Have you seen your legislators voting record on “tax and spend bills” during the last legislative session on the “Watchdog” page at www.akvoters.org?

     A.  Yes: 21.5%

     B.  No:  78.5%

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