2009 State Fair Poll Results

By slight margin, budget cuts favored over tax increases
Medical marijuana use, open budget talks both get high marks

Following a contentious 2009 legislative session that ended with Gov. Tim Pawlenty balancing the anticipated $4.8 billion state budget deficit through unallotment, polltakers generally prefer budget cuts over tax increases as a budget solution albeit by a slight margin.

Of the 8,746 people participating in the 2009 House of Representatives State Fair Poll, 47.5 percent generally support cuts to balance the state budget. Nearly 44 percent support tax increases. When asked the identical question in last year's poll, voters generally supported budget cuts over tax increases 46.5 percent to 43 percent.

By nearly eight percentage points, polltakers believe the governor should not have the power to use unallotment to prevent an anticipated budget deficit.

Conducted by nonpartisan House Public Information Services, the poll is an informal, unscientific survey of issues discussed in prior legislative sessions and may again be topics of discussion in the upcoming session scheduled to begin Feb. 4.

More than three-quarters of polltakers believe the legislative process should be more transparent by requiring budget negotiations between the governor and legislative leaders be done in a public setting. Like years past, much of the final 2009 discussion took place behind closed doors in the governor's office.

Almost 70 percent of ballot casters believe terminally ill patients should be able to use medical marijuana to ease their suffering.

Polltakers also strongly believe:

Homeowners should be entitled to attorney fees and other costs related to the legal action against a builder or contractor to have a warranty enforced (81 percent);

Speeding violations should not be placed on a person's driving record if the driver was traveling no more than 10 mph over the speed limit in a 60 mph zone (74.7 percent);

A local disaster assistance fund should be established to help local governments deal with the aftermath of a tornado, flood or other natural disaster (70.8 percent); and

Charter school students should be allowed to participate in an activity in their resident school district if the activity is not offered by the charter school (68.3 percent).

By a 2-to-1 ratio, polltakers said voter approval should be required before any public money is used for a new or refurbished Minnesota Vikings' stadium. The team's lease expires at the Metrodome after the 2011 season.

Nearly 57 percent of voters believe Minnesota should join 31 other states and allow voters to cast ballots as early as two weeks before Election Day. Fifty-one percent believe that when a person registers for a driver's license or state identification card it should automatically allow them to vote.

Slightly more than half of respondents oppose a state-run casino inside the ticketed area at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport; and nearly the same oppose allowing Minnesotans to fish with two rods at once.

Here's a look at the questions and results. All percentages are rounded to the nearest one-tenth. Totals are for those that actually voted on the question.

1. Should the use of medical marijuana for terminally ill patients be permitted in Minnesota?

Yes
69.1%
(6,029)

No
23.4%
(2,038)

Undecided/No Opinion
7.5%
(652)


2. Should Minnesotans be permitted to fish with two rods at once?

Yes
31.6%
(2,752)

No
51%
(4,446)

Undecided/No Opinion
17.5%
(1,524)


3. When a person registers for a driver's license or state identification card, should they automatically be registered to vote?

Yes
51%
(4,438)

No
43.3%
(3,775)

Undecided/No Opinion
5.8%
(502)


4. Should Minnesota voters be allowed to cast their ballots as early as two weeks before Election Day?

Yes
56.8%
(4,961)

No
37.2%
(3,249)

Undecided/No Opinion
5.9%
(519)


5. Under current law, the governor is permitted to unallot to prevent an anticipated budget deficit. Should he or she have this power?

Yes
40.2%
(3,496)

No
48.1%
(4,187)

Undecided/No Opinion
11.7%
(1,018)


6. Should bill and budget negotiations between the governor and legislative leaders be required to be open to the public?

Yes
76.2%
(6,639)

No
15.9%
(1,382)

Undecided/No Opinion
7.9%
(689)


7. Do you generally support budget cuts as opposed to increasing certain taxes in times of economic distress?

Yes
47.5%
(4,130)

No
43.8%
(3,810)

Undecided/No Opinion
8.7%
(760)


8. Should speeding violations be placed on a person's driving record if the driver was traveling no more than 10 mph over the speed limit in a 60 mph zone?

Yes
18.6%
(1,623)

No
74.7%
(6,512)

Undecided/No Opinion
6.7%
(580)


9. Should the state lottery be permitted to operate slot machines inside the ticketed area at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, meaning only air travelers with valid tickets could use the machines?

Yes
38%
(3,313)

No
51.2%
(4,458)

Undecided/No Opinion
10.8%
(942)


10. The Minnesota Vikings lease at the Metrodome expires after the 2011 season. Should any public financing for a new or refurbished stadium be contingent on voter approval?

Yes
63.5%
(5,531)

No
31.7%
(2,766)

Undecided/No Opinion
4.8%
(416)


11. If a charter school does not offer a specific extracurricular opportunity, such as a hockey or debate team, should its students be allowed to participate in such an activity in their resident school district?

Yes
68.3%
(5,938)

No
23.7%
(2,058)

Undecided/No Opinion
8.1%
(704)


12. Should a local disaster assistance fund be established to help local governments deal with the aftermath of a tornado, flood or other natural disaster?

Yes
70.8%
(6,152)

No
16.3%
(1,417)

Undecided/No Opinion
12.9%
(1,120)


13. When a homeowner prevails in a court action against a contractor or builder to have a warranty enforced, should the homeowner also be entitled to attorney fees and other costs related to the legal action?

Yes
81%
(7,044)

No
8.6%
(749)

Undecided/No Opinion
10.4%
(904)