Poll Presentation April 2013

Civitas Institute Poll Presentation

April 2013

600 Registered Voters: 25% Cell

Margin of Error =+/-4.00

Field Dates: April 20-22, 2013

National Research

21%

9%

7% 28%

32%

Party Self-ID

Strong GOP GOP

Democrat Strong Democrat

Independent

Party Registration

34%

43%

23%

Registration by Voter Roll

Republican Democrat Independent

#CivitasPoll

21%

44%

31%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Jan '11

Feb '11

Mar '11

May '11

Jul '11

Sep '11

Oct '11

Jan '12

Feb '12

Mar '12

May '12

July '12

Sep '12

Oct '12

Jan '13

Feb '13

Mar '13

Apr '13

Liberal Conservative Moderate

If you were to label yourself, would you say you are a liberal, a moderate, or a conservative in your political beliefs?

#CivitasPoll

Performance Data

37%

48%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70% Ja

n '1

1

Feb

'11

Mar

'11

May

'11

Jul '

11

Sep

'11

Oct

'11

Jan

'12

Feb

'12

May

'12

Jul '

12

Sep

'12

Oct

'12

Jan

'13

Feb

'13

Mar

'13

Ap

r '1

3

Right Direction Wrong Track

Do you feel things in North Carolina are generally headed in the right direction or have gotten off on the wrong track?

#CivitasPoll

38%

42%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

Jan '12

Mar '12

May '12

Jul '12 Sep '12

Nov '12

Jan '13

Feb '13

Mar '13

Apr '13

Republican Democrat

And if the election for North Carolina State Legislature were held today, would you be voting for the:

#CivitasPoll

Now I am going to read you a list of people and organizations active in politics. After I read each name, please tell me if you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of that person or group. If you never heard of them, just tell me and we’ll go on to the next one…

Favorability

#CivitasPoll

32% 17% 10% 37% 5%

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

Very Favorable Somewhat Favorable

Somewhat Unfavorable Very Unfavorable

No Opinion

President Barack Obama

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25% 28% 12% 18% 18%

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

Very Favorable Somewhat Favorable

Somewhat Unfavorable Very Unfavorable

No Opinion

Governor Pat McCrory

#CivitasPoll

6% 34% 20% 13% 27%

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

Very Favorable Somewhat Favorable

Somewhat Unfavorable Very Unfavorable

No Opinion

North Carolina Legislature

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North Carolina Legislative Republicans

Republican 15% 27% 14% 26% 18%

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

Very Favorable Somewhat Favorable

Somewhat Unfavorable Very Unfavorable

No Opinion #CivitasPoll

16% 27% 17% 19% 22%

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

Very Favorable Somewhat Favorable

Somewhat Unfavorable Very Unfavorable

No Opinion

North Carolina Legislative Democrats

#CivitasPoll

Tax Topics

8% Strongly

53% Strongly

8%

13% Somewhat

17% Somewhat

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Support Opposed Undecided

Do you support or oppose a program that uses state taxpayer dollars to help pay for the political campaigns of judicial, Council of State and other statewide candidates?

#CivitasPoll

35%

13%

36%

7%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40%

Reducing the size of the state budget

Spending more money on state government programs

Reducing state tax rates

Increasing state tax rates

Of the following fiscal policy issues, which do you feel North Carolina state lawmakers should address FIRST?

#CivitasPoll

I'm going to read you a list of things you might purchase in any given month. Please tell me, to the best of your knowledge, if you pay the state sales tax when you purchase these things:

Sales Tax Knowledge

#CivitasPoll

95%

69%

31%

91%

44%

3%

19%

54%

7%

35%

2%

12%

15%

2%

21%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Clothes

Car Repairs

Haircuts

Groceries

Prescription Drugs

Yes No Don't Know

Sales Tax Knowledge

#CivitasPoll

If North Carolina were to completely eliminate its state personal income taxes while expanding the sales tax to also apply to services such as lawyers, accountants, car repair, house painting, etc., would this change make your household better off, worse off, or about the same?

Republican

#CivitasPoll

28%

19%

46%

7% 0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Better Off Worse Off About the Same

Don't Know

21%

15%

26%

13%

0% 10% 20% 30%

Eliminate income taxes

Eliminate sales taxes

Eliminate the corporate tax

Increase taxes to fund additional state government spending

Of the following state tax reform options, which do you feel would create the most jobs for North Carolina?

#CivitasPoll

37%

25%

16%

7%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40%

Reducing state government regulations on businesses

Increasing state spending on government programs such as

education, transportation, and Medicaid

Reducing the state tax burden

More subsidy programs that award taxpayer dollars to specific companies

North Carolina’s unemployment rate is 9.4 percent – tied for fifth highest in the nation. Which of the following policy changes would best help North Carolina lower its high unemployment rate?

#CivitasPoll

There is a proposal being considered that would reform North Carolina's tax system. Among other things, it would not tax the first $12,000 of any family's income, would institute a flat tax rate for personal income above that amount, and lower the corporate tax rate. The proposal would also lower the sales tax rate, BUT would expand sales taxes to services not currently being taxed.

Proposed Tax Reform

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22% Strongly 19%

Strongly 16%

29% Somewhat

13% Somewhat

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Support Opposed Undecided

Do you support or oppose this tax reform proposal?

#CivitasPoll

32%

23%

12%

11%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40%

Fair, equal rates

Support flat tax

Lowers taxes, more money for the people

First $12,000 untaxed

Why do you support this tax plan?

#CivitasPoll

32%

15%

15%

14%

8%

8%

7%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40%

Oppose flat tax

Unfair

Only benefits corporations

Hurts the poor, only benefits the rich

Won't work, no benefit

Raises taxes, too expensive

Don't need more taxes

Why do you oppose this tax plan?

#CivitasPoll

41% Strongly

16% Strongly 10%

26% Somewhat

6% Somewhat

-10%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Support Opposed Undecided

If you knew this tax reform plan would be the biggest tax cut in state history for North Carolina families, would you support or oppose the proposal?

#CivitasPoll

36% Strongly

9% Strongly

21%

26% Somewhat

7% Somewhat

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Support Opposed Undecided

If you knew this tax reform plan would be a $500 million tax cut for North Carolina families, would you support or oppose the proposal?

#CivitasPoll

Currently non-profit Hospitals get a state refund on sales taxes worth almost $150 million a year. With that in mind, please tell me which of the following comes closer to your own opinion when it comes to non-profit hospitals getting these sales tax refunds...

Republican

Oppose 52%

Support 32%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

...because recent news reports show these hospitals mark up the prices on life saving

cancer drugs by up to 500% and make billions of dollars in profits. Even though they are

nonprofits, these hospitals pay their executives multi-million dollar salaries

...because these hospitals provide a vital service, are a business, and tax refunds can help them make improvements in medical care and

equipment.

#CivitasPoll

UNC

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill recently adopted a policy called "Gender Non-Specific Housing" which allows students of opposite sexes to apply for university housing and live in the same suite or apartment, but not the same room. They would share bathrooms and common living space in suites and apartments. The stated purpose for such housing is “concern for the safety of gay and transgendered students.”

UNC Housing

#CivitasPoll

22% Strongly

42% Strongly

9%

17% Somewhat

10% Somewhat

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Approve Disapprove Undecided

Do you approve or disapprove of Gender Non-Specific Housing?

#CivitasPoll

Questions?

Keep in touch with Civitas!

@nccivitas

facebook.com/CivitasInstitute

youtube.com/CivitasInstitute

5%

5%

9%

9%

12%

30%

31%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40%

Don’t Know/Refused

Homemaker

Unemployed

Work for Government

Self Employed

Work for Private Company

Retired

Employment

#CivitasPoll

12%

30%

6%

31%

9% 5%

15%

25%

35%

45%

Jul '11

Sep '11

Oct '11

Jan '12

Feb '12

Mar '12

May '12

Jul '12

Sep '12

Oct '12

Jan '13

Feb '13

Mar '13

Apr '13

Are Self Employed Work for a Private Company Work for Government

Are a Spouse Are Retired Are Unemployed

In terms of your current employment status, would you say you…

#CivitasPoll

16%

29% 27%

23%

2%

0%

10%

20%

30%

Highest Level of Education Completed

#CivitasPoll

3%

32%

20%

6% 4% 6% 1%

48%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Do you or an immediate family member get any government benefits such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps, VA benefits and so on?

#CivitasPoll

25%

20%

28%

14%

6%

0%

10%

20%

30%

66+ 56-65 41-55 26-40 18-25

Age

#CivitasPoll

72%

22%

3% 2%

White

Black

Latino

Native American

Ethnicity

#CivitasPoll

48% 52% Men

Women

Gender

#CivitasPoll

13%

14%

12%

18%

22%

21%

Northeast

Southeast

Western

Piedmont Triad

Charlotte

Triangle

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%

Geographic Area

#CivitasPoll