Posted on 09/06/2005 12:33:59 PM PDT by calcowgirl
SACRAMENTO – Voters favor the two rival prescription drug discount initiatives on the Nov. 8 special-election ballot, but neither has the majority support needed for approval, according to the latest Field Poll.
The survey shows more support for Proposition 78, the one sponsored by the pharmaceutical industry, than for Proposition 79, backed by unions and consumer groups.
Proposition 78 is favored 49 percent to 31 percent, while Proposition 79 is supported 42 percent to 34 percent.
The survey also found that voters are split on another ballot measure, Proposition 73, which would require girls under 18 seeking an abortion to first notify their parents, except if they obtain a judicial waiver or in an emergency.
Both support and opposition came in at exactly 45 percent.
Sixty-two percent of Democrats oppose Proposition 73, while 49 percent support it. Among Republicans, 61 percent support notification, while 28 percent oppose it.
All three measures will be on the Nov. 8 special election ballot, which was called by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in an effort to pass initiatives that limit state spending, change how political districts are drawn and make it tougher for teachers to get tenure.
Unions have spent between $1 million and $3 million on Proposition 79.
The measure would start a prescription discount drug program for the uninsured and underinsured, using the threat of reduced Medi-Cal sales against drug companies if they do not participate. The program would cover an estimated 10 million Californians.
Drug companies, rather then just fight a program they didn't like, decided to qualify a different initiative that relies on voluntary discounts from drug companies. Their program would cover about 5 million uninsured residents.
So far, pharmaceutical companies have stockpiled $72 million to push their ballot measure and have already launched a television campaign.
The survey found that only a small percentage of voters can correctly identify the main backers of Proposition 78 and Proposition 79.
The poll also tried to measure how voters might vote once they know who is behind each proposition.
When voters were told that drug companies were behind Proposition 78, 44 percent said that knowledge would make them less likely to vote for the measure, while 19 percent say it would make them more likely to support it. By contrast, when voters were informed that union and consumer groups backed Proposition 79, 40 percent said that information made them more likely to support it, while 24 percent said it made them less likely to vote for the proposition.
The survey, based on interviews with 325 likely voters, was conducted Aug. 19-29. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 5.8 percentage points.
AP version:
http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/business/12573178.htm
Despite confusion, voters like both drug initiatives, poll finds
TOM CHORNEAU
Associated Press
SACRAMENTO - California voters tend to favor both prescription drug initiatives on the special election ballot but are confused about which groups are supporting them, according to a poll released Tuesday.
The latest Field Poll shows most voters do not understand the differences between propositions 78 and 79. Proposition 78 is supported by the pharmaceutical industry, while Proposition 79 was placed on the ballot by a coalition of labor and consumer groups.
"We show that voters are clearly confused as to which side the drug companies are taking," Field Poll Director Mark DiCamillo said. "Usually that gets sorted out by the time the election comes, but right now there is uncertainty."
The initiatives are among eight measures voters will decide during the Nov. 8 election, which was called by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The industry-backed Proposition 78 would provide discounted drugs to the uninsured and lower-income residents. It would cover an estimated 5 million people, but participation by drug companies would be voluntary.
The poll found that 49 percent of likely voters support Proposition 78, with 31 percent opposed and 20 percent undecided. Support declined since June, however, when 57 percent of voters said they favored it.
Support for Proposition 79, supported by the consumer and labor groups, also has fallen since June, when 48 percent favored it. The Field Poll found it now has support from 42 percent of likely voters, with 34 percent opposed and 24 percent undecided.
That measure also would require drug companies to provide discounts to the uninsured and lower income residents, but it has significant differences compared to the industry-backed proposal.
The consumer-backed initiative would cover twice as many people because its income thresholds for individuals and families are higher than under Proposition 79. And under Proposition 78, individuals would be able to sue drug companies if they believe the company engages in "illegal profiteering."
In addition, the state could discourage the use of drugs in its Medicaid program from pharmaceutical companies that choose not to participate if voters approve Proposition 79.
(snip)
Sixty-two percent of Democrats oppose Proposition 73, while 49 percent support it.
So what they are saying is, the total number of Democrats is 111 percent. They must be factoring the dead and extra votes!
were you a math major in your prior life ? ;-)
Don't think so. But it's obvious none of them work for the MSM. :-P
I agree--sloppy reporting.
According to the chart, the 49% was all voters polled (not just Dems).
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