Legislative Report 3/14/2013 - Doyle Poll Results

One of the highlights of Town Meeting across Vermont is the opportunity Vermonters have of registering their opinions on a variety of issues in the Doyle Poll.  This survey has been conducted for many decades by Senator Bill Doyle, and this year 139 Charlotters filled out the survey, 55 more than last year.  Here for your consideration is a tally of the responses.

 
Q#
 
Question
 
Yes
 
No
Not Sure
 
%Yes
 
%No
%Not Sure
1
Should Vermont continue efforts to close Vermont Yankee?
80
45
14
58%
32%
10%
2
Should drivers be prohibited from using cell phones while driving?
92
31
16
66%
22%
12%
3
Should Vermont decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana?
92
39
8
66%
28%
6%
4
Should a 3 year moratorium be placed on development of ridgeline wind?
35
91
13
25%
66%
9%
5
Do you believe VT’s bottle deposit law should be expanded to include all bottled beverages?
111
19
9
80%
14%
6%
6
Should the gas tax be increased to pay for roads and bridges?
57
73
9
41%
53%
6%
7
Should sugar sweetened beverages be taxed?
75
56
8
54%
40%
6%
8
Should we reduce the VT prison population via alternatives for nonviolent offenders?
100
15
24
72%
11%
17%
9
Do you believe that locally grown food is an important part of Vermont’s economic future?
124
7
8
89%
5%
6%
10
Should Vermont trained law enforcement personnel be permitted to use Tasers?
71
37
31
51%
27%
22%
11
Do you believe growing hemp would be an asset to Vermont’s economy?
69
33
37
50%
24%
26%
12
Are statewide cell service and broadband important to the future of Vermont’s economy?
127
4
8
91%
3%
6%
13
Should natural gas be an important part of Vermont’s economy?
63
36
40
45%
26%
29%
14
Do you think Governor  Peter Shumlin is doing a good job?
67
41
31
48%
30%
22%

Most of the questions differed from last year’s poll, but questions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 14 were similar if not the same.  Charlotters continue to strongly support efforts to close Vermont Yankee, prohibit use of cell phones while driving, expand the bottle deposit law, and decriminalize small amounts of marijuana.  Many commented that hands-free cell phone use should be allowed, however.  A large majority does not want a moratorium on ridgeline wind development. Governor Shumlin, while receiving a good report card from a plurality of respondents, dropped below 50% in the survey. 

Respondents were split on two questions relating to taxation.  While most disapproved of raising taxes on gasoline, most did approve of taxing sugar sweetened beverages.  Gasoline tax revenues have fallen in recent years because of a reduction in driving and an increase in the efficiency of vehicles on the road, and the state risks losing federal highway dollars if state revenues can’t be restored.  Sugar sweetened beverages are considered to be major contributors to obesity, diabetes and other health problems, and the tax has been proposed to discourage consumers from buying them.  I’m grateful to everyone who took the time to fill out the poll this year. 

You can contact me by phone at 425-3960 or email me at myantachka.dfa@gmail.com.