Brown University News Bureau

The Brown University News Bureau

1995-1996 index

Distributed March 18, 1996
Contact: Tracie Sweeney

Statewide survey March 10-14

Voters support electric power deregulation, oppose compensation for utilities

In a Brown University survey, respondents said they support legislation that would deregulate the power-generating component of the electric power industry in Rhode Island; are unhappy with cuts in the cash assistance provided to those on public assistance; favor a 24-hour waiting period for abortions; and favor Congressman Jack Reed over State Treasurer Nancy Mayer in the race for the U.S. Senate.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - A plurality of Rhode Island voters support legislation proposed by House Majority Leader George Caruolo that would deregulate the power-generating component of the electric power industry in Rhode Island, but voters oppose compensation for electric power companies, according to a recent statewide survey. Voters also are unhappy with cuts in the cash assistance provided to those on public assistance, but support a five-year lifetime limit on receiving public assistance. A majority favor a 24-hour waiting period for abortions. In the race for U.S. Senate, they prefer Congressman Jack Reed over State Treasurer Nancy Mayer by 46 to 30 percent.

The survey was conducted March 10 to 14, 1996, at Brown University by Darrell M. West, professor of political science and director of the John Hazen White, Sr. Public Opinion Laboratory; Thomas J. Anton, director of the A. Alfred Taubman Center for Public Policy and American Institutions; and Jack Combs, the Center's research administrator. It was based on a statewide random sample of 311 registered voters in Rhode Island. Overall, it had a margin of error of about plus or minus six percentage points.

By a 41-to-27 percent margin, voters support legislation that would deregulate the power-generating component of the electric power industry in Rhode Island (32 percent are undecided). When asked if as part of the move into a more competitive market, they would be willing to compensate major electric power companies in Rhode Island for their past investments in power-generating plants, 52 percent say no, 23 percent think yes, and 25 percent are undecided.

Sixty-eight percent of voters oppose a proposal by Governor Lincoln Almond to reduce the cash benefit to a family of three on public assistance from $6,648 to $5,651, 16 percent support, and 16 percent have no opinion. Sixty-five percent support a lifetime five-year limit on the time people can collect public assistance and 88 percent think those on public assistance should be required to get a job or do community work in order to receive cash benefits.

A majority of 52 to 34 percent favor legislation requiring a 24-hour waiting period between the scheduling of an abortion and the actual procedure, during which time the pregnant women would be required to undergo counseling on abortion alternatives. Voters are closely divided on legislation that would allow Medicaid recipients to pay for an abortion with their subsidized benefits. Forty-five percent oppose this legislation, 37 percent support it, and 18 percent are undecided.

In the race for U.S. Senate, voters prefer Reed over Mayer by 46 to 30 percent, with 24 percent being unsure. In our last survey in September, voters favored Reed over Mayer by 48 to 26 percent, with 26 percent being unsure.

Governor Almond's job performance is about the same as our previous survey. Thirty-seven percent give him excellent or good ratings, 30 percent rate him only fair, 24 percent rate him poor, and 9 percent have no opinion. In September, 1995, 34 percent felt his performance had been excellent or good, 35 percent believed it had been only fair, 17 percent rated him poor, and 14 percent had no opinion.

Sixty-two percent believe Atty. Gen. Jeff Pine is doing an excellent or good job, compared to 54 percent for Treasurer Mayer, 30 percent for Secretary of State Jim Langevin, and 26 percent for Lt. Gov. Robert Weygand.

Among federal officials, 54 percent feel President Bill Clinton is doing an excellent or good job (up from 38 percent in September 1995), 57 percent feel that way about Sen. Claiborne Pell, 53 percent believe it about Sen. John Chafee, 44 percent think Rep. Patrick Kennedy is doing an excellent or good job, and 54 percent believe that of Representative Reed.

Jobs and the economy continue to dominate voter views about the most important problem facing the state. Thirty-three percent cite jobs and unemployment, followed by 18 percent for the economy, 7 percent the budget, 6 percent taxes, 5 percent politicians and government performance, 4 percent ethics and corruption, 4 percent education, and 4 percent the business climate.

For more information, contact Darrell M. West at (401) 863-1163.

Survey Questions and Responses

If the election for U.S. Senate were held today and the candidates were Republican Nancy Mayer and Democrat Jack Reed, would you vote for: 30% Mayer, 46% Reed, 24% don't know or no answer

Would you say that over the past year, Rhode Island's economy has gotten better, stayed about the same, or gotten worse? 11% gotten better, 39% stayed about the same, 47% gotten worse, 3% don't know or no answer

What about the next 12 months or so? Do you expect the Rhode Island economy to get better, stay about the same, or get worse? 20% get better, 46% stay the same, 29% get worse, 5% don't know or no answer

We are interested in how people are getting along financially these days. Would you say that you (and your family living there) are: 35% better off, 35% worse off financially than you were a year ago, 30% don't know or no answer

Now looking ahead - do you think that a year from now you (and your family living there) will be: 33% better off financially, 11% worse off, 49% just about the same as now, 7% don't know or no answer

Now turning to business conditions in the state as a whole - do you think that during the next 12 months we'll have: 34% good times financially, 47% bad times, 19% don't know or no answer

Looking ahead, which would you say is more likely - that in the state as a whole: 23% we'll have continuous good times during the next five years or so, 59% that we will have periods of widespread unemployment or depression, or what, 18% don't know or no answer

About the big things people buy for their homes - such as furniture, a refrigerator, stove, television, and things like that. Generally speaking, do you think now is a: 52% good, 23% bad time for people to buy major household items, 25% don't know or no answer

How would you rate the job Bill Clinton is doing as president? 8% excellent, 46% good, 33% only fair, 12% poor, 1% don't know or no answer

How would you rate the job Claiborne Pell is doing as U.S. senator? 15% excellent, 42% good, 26% only fair, 7% poor, 10% don't know or no answer

How would you rate the job John Chafee is doing as U.S. senator? 8% excellent, 45% good, 29% only fair, 7% poor, 11% don't know or no answer

How would you rate the job Patrick Kennedy is doing as U.S. representative? 9% excellent, 35% good, 20% only fair, 14% poor, 22% don't know or no answer (first district only)

How would you rate the job Jack Reed is doing as U.S. representative? 14% excellent, 40% good, 26% only fair, 5% poor, 15% don't know or no answer (second district only)

How would you rate the job Lincoln Almond is doing as governor? 5% excellent, 32% good, 30% only fair, 24% poor, 9% don't know or no answer

How would you rate the job Robert Weygand is doing as lieutenant governor? 4% excellent, 22% good, 22% only fair, 4% poor, 48% don't know or no answer

How would you rate the job Jeff Pine is doing as attorney general? 19% excellent, 43% good, 18% only fair, 4% poor, 16% don't know or no answer

How would you rate the job Jim Langevin is doing as secretary of state? 3% excellent, 27% good, 20% only fair, 1% poor, 49% don't know or no answer

How would you rate the job Nancy Mayer is doing as general treasurer? 15% excellent, 39% good, 17% only fair, 6% poor, 23% don't know or no answer

Generally speaking, would you say things in Rhode Island are going in the right direction, or have they gotten off on the wrong track? 37% right direction, 55% wrong track, 8% don't know or no answer

As far as you are concerned, what is the most important problem facing the state of Rhode Island today? Open-ended responses coded as 33% jobs and unemployment, 18% the economy, 7% the budget, 6% taxes, 5% politicians and government performance, 4% ethics and corruption, 4% education, 4% the business climate, 2% the environment, 2% roads and potholes, 2% crime, 2% welfare

Do you support legislation that would deregulate the power-generating component of the electric power industry in Rhode Island? 41% support, 27% oppose, 32% don't know or no answer

As part of this move into a more competitive market, would you be willing to compensate major electric power companies in Rhode Island for their past investments in power generating plants? 23% yes, 52% no, 25% don't know or no answer

How much would you be willing to compensate them for over the next 25 years? 52% none, 5% $100 million, 2% $250 million, 2% $500 million, 0% $750 million, 0% $1 billion, 39% don't know or no answer

Do you support legislation requiring a 24-hour waiting period between the scheduling of an abortion and the actual procedure, during which the pregnant woman would be required to undergo counseling on abortion alternatives? 52% support, 34% oppose, 14% don't know or no answer

Do you support legislation that would allow Medicaid recipients to pay for an abortion with their subsidized benefits? 37% support, 45% oppose, 18% don't know or no answer

Do you believe that those on public assistance should be required to get a job or do community work in order receive cash benefits? 88% yes, 9% no, 3% don't know or no answer

Do you support a lifetime five-year limit on the time people can collect public assistance? 65% support, 26% oppose, 9% don't know or no answer

Should the cash benefit to a family of three on public assistance be lowered from $6,648 to $5,651 a year? 16% support, 68% oppose, 16% don't know or no answer

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