(STATEHOUSE) Feb. 24, 2009 - Here are the results of Rep. Tom Dermody's (R-LaPorte) 2009 legislative survey, based on responses from 922 constituents. 1. Do you support a constitutional amendment capping residential property taxes at 1 percent of a home's assessed value, 2 percent for agriculture and rental properties and 3 percent for business property? Yes: 74 percent. No: 19 percent. No Opinion: 7 percent.
2. Currently, an average of about 61 percent of school spending is earmarked for classrooms, including teacher salaries. Should the state require local schools to increase their classroom spending percentage to a minimum of 65 percent? Yes: 52 percent. No: 31 percent. No Opinion: 17 percent.
3. Do you support a state law requiring all state agencies to verify legal residence before issuing public benefits in order to ensure that only Hoosiers are receiving them? Yes: 95 percent. No: 3 percent. No Opinion: 2 percent.
4. Should Indiana offer more generous financial incentives for new employers to locate and create jobs here? Yes: 64 percent. No: 26 percent. No Opinion: 10 percent.
5. Should Indiana pass a moratorium on new construction of large confined animal feeding operations? Yes: 40 percent. No: 33 percent. No Opinion: 27 percent.
6. Do you favor replacing the three-member board of county commissioners with one person elected as the county's chief executive? Yes: 24 percent. No: 68 percent. No Opinion: 8 percent.
7. Should the township form of government be eliminated, with its duties being handled by municipal-, county- and state-level offices? Yes: 35 percent. No: 57 percent. No Opinion: 8 percent.
8. Should a statewide smoking ban be enacted? Yes: 52 percent. No: 41 percent. No Opinion: 7 percent.
9. Should the state look at a study for the Illiana highway east of I-65 to LaPorte County? Yes: 39 percent. No: 48 percent. No Opinion: 13 percent.
10. Should the state require Medicaid recipients to pay a fee for non-emergency care at the emergency room? Yes: 69 percent. No: 24 percent. No Opinion: 7 percent.
11. Should cities or towns be able to raise new revenues such as a local option income tax to replace losses in revenue due to property tax reductions? Yes: 31 percent. No: 59 percent. No Opinion: 10 percent.
12. If a local tax was to be raised, should a portion be set aside for only public safety? Yes: 47 percent. No: 33 percent. No Opinion: 20 percent.
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