Posted on 05/24/2003 10:37:31 AM PDT by anymouse
BASELICE & ASSOCIATES, INC.
Opinion Research for Decision Making in Politics and Public Affairs
131 Spicewood Springs Road Suite O-2 Austin, TX 78759 Office: 512-345-9720 Fax: 512-345-9740 email: mail@baselice.com
TEXAS VOTER SURVEY SUMMARY
Over five out of six voters (86%) are aware Democrat representatives left Texas to avoid voting on certain pieces of legislation. By a two and a half to one ratio, Texas voters share the viewpoint that the Democrat state representatives did the wrong thing by leaving the state. Moreover, a majority of voters (53%) strongly think the Democrat representatives did the wrong thing, with 83% of Republicans and 51% of ticket-splitters sharing these intense opinions.
Have you seen, read, or heard anything recently about Democrat state representatives leaving the State of Texas and going to Oklahoma to avoid voting on certain pieces of legislation pending in the state house?
- 86% Yes
- 13% No
Regardless of what you may have seen or heard, 53 Democrat state representatives submitted a letter on Monday morning to the speaker of the state house indicating they would not be present and would remain out of state indefinitely. Do you think these state representatives did the (Version A: right thing or wrong thing) / (Version B: wrong thing or right thing) by leaving the state?
If choice made, ask: Do you feel strongly about that?
- 19% Right thing / Strongly
- 4% Right thing / Somewhat
- 23% TOTAL RIGHT THING
- 6% Wrong thing / Somewhat
- 53% Wrong thing / Strongly
- 59% TOTAL WRONG THING
- 18% Unsure/ refused (vol)
After hearing arguments about this issue from opposing sides, approximately six out of ten voters (59%) continue to share the viewpoint that the Democrat state representatives did the wrong thing. The table shows responses to this question among partisan subgroups.
Please listen to the following two viewpoints regarding the 53 state representatives who left Texas and then tell me which one comes closest to your own. Rotate statements
Some/Other people say the 53 Democrat state representatives did the right thing because they are legitimately using the rules of the legislature designed to protect against the tyranny of the majority; because they are fighting against a partisan power grab on congressional redistricting; and because they have been ignored by the state house leadership one too many times this legislative session.
Other/Some people say the 53 Democrat state representatives did the wrong thing because they were elected to be in Austin during the legislative session representing their constituents, not running away to Oklahoma; and because they have caused all business in the state house to come to a halt, including important legislation to fund schools and health care programs.
Now, which of these viewpoints comes closest to your own?
If choice made, ask: Do you feel strongly about that?
- 25% Right thing / Strongly
- 7% Right thing / Somewhat
- 33% TOTAL RIGHT THING
- 8% Wrong thing / Somewhat
- 50% Wrong thing / Strongly
- 59% TOTAL WRONG THING
- 9% Unsure/ refused (vol)
Baselice & Associates, Inc. conducted a statewide survey on May 15, 2003 among N=504 registered voters in Texas. This survey has a margin of error of + 4.5% at the .95 test level.
We have been told by the Democrats that it is not a priority to anyone but U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land, and the rabid Republicans to redistrict Texas. But let us all note that the Democrats have not abandoned their duties over any other item that has come before them this session.
It was most telling that after offering no discussion during the process to bring the new redistricting maps out of committee, this "unimportant" piece of legislation should have caused such a reaction.
The last election showed that at least 57 percent of Texans know that this is an important issue. (I suspect that number is now larger.)
As to whether or not Rep. DeLay should be involved in state redistricting, again, just look at the situation: Tom DeLay [is majority leader of] the U.S. House of Representatives, in which the representatives are elected from districts drawn by state legislatures.
Since the current maps were drawn in 1991 [with the participation of] U.S. Rep. Martin Frost, a Dallas-area Democrat, isn't that just a bit hypocritical?
The districts were not redrawn by the Legislature in 2001 as required by the U.S. Constitution. Why not? Could it be that the Texas Senate had gone to a Republican majority?
Democrat Speaker of the House Pete Laney killed redistricting in 2001, thus forcing U.S. courts to certify our maps just so we can hold elections.
Dan Harris, Houston
State Rep. Garnet F. Coleman made a good attempt to justify the recent Democratic exodus to Oklahoma in his May 20 Outlook article, "There was no `price tag' on Democrats' walkout," but the only people who are likely to be convinced are Democratic loyalists. Coleman wanted us to believe that the blame lies with U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land, Republicans, Gov. Rick Perry and corporations.
Unfortunately for him and other Democrats, after a decade of government growth and state spending that increased faster than the rate of inflation and population growth, it now seems that a majority of Texans are rejecting the Democrats' basic philosophy. The Democrats seem to think the solution to almost any problem is more government, with the continual increases in taxes that more government requires.
But they just cannot convince a majority of Texans that their basic philosophy is right. The simple reality here is that a majority of the democratically elected Texas House of Representatives was prepared to take action that the minority did not like, and rather than accept the will of the majority, the minority Democrats subverted the democratic process. Contrary to Coleman's assertion, apparently you can put a price on democracy: losing. For the Democrats, this was a price too high to pay.
Michael White, Baytown
I watched last week with concern and disgust at the flight of the chicken "D's." It wasn't pleasant. Later I heard it was all Rep. Tom DeLay's fault; or maybe it was the governor's fault. But don't you think it might have had something to do with trying to hang on to seats in the House of Representatives?
C.E. Wulf, Beaumont
All your base are belong to lice. :^)
Yes there IS A PRICE TAG the comptroller figures is costs $375,00.00 a day for the legislature to be in session.
With them being out 4 days I figure it to be 1.5 million and that doesn't take into account bringing the Texas Rangers off of vacation and their overtime.
Apparently there is a bill House Bill 2 that was a government reform bill to streamline gov. that had duplication of services. I guess the Dems wouldn't like that to happen. If this reform doesn't happen then the Reps. might have to raise taxes again. The Dems would love that!!!
I don't know, there was someone who sent a grevience to the State Bar to have the 21 lawyers disbarred and keep anyone who wanted to be a lawyer (there is one planning that) to not get his pass from the Bar for not upholding the Texas and Federal Constitution.
Don't know if that will come to pass but it sure sounds great. WE could use 22 less lawyers!!!
Not likely. The trial lawyers are in bed with the Democrats. The bar association will let this die. On the other hand, the Travis County DA is Ronnie Earle, a Democrat who is known for politically-motivated prosecutions (or avoiding them for political reasons).
As we speak, Earle is holding a grand jury investigation of the DPS for destroying records associated with the missing Democrats. Someone might have made a request for them under the Open Records Act, prohibiting their destruction. But, the DPS destroyed them in accordance with federal law because they didn't pertain to a criminal investigation.
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