News Release
Campaign and Drug Reforms, Elimination of Food and Medical Service Taxes Are Top Issues in Feldman Constituent Poll
(January 14, 2002) Sen. Dede Feldman (D-Bernalillo) today released the results of a survey that she sent to 5,000 of her constituents earlier this month. Feldman represents District 13, which covers the near North Valley of Albuquerque, including Old Town and parts of the Westside and near Heights. "Representing the concerns of my district is my first priority," said Sen. Feldman, "and while this survey is not strictly scientific, it gives a strong indication of where my constituents want me to go."
Approximately 450 of her constituents returned the nine-question survey, with results still coming in.
Among the results:
Public education was a strong first priority for state funding, followed by health care in second place. Drug treatment and prevention and higher education were in distant third and fourth positions. Respondents favored increasing taxes on alcohol and tobacco as their first priority among strategies to balance the state budget, followed by their second choice to divert money from the permanent fund and third choice of across-the-board cuts.
Regarding potential tax measures before the 2002 Legislature, the survey showed strong support for eliminating gross receipts tax on food and medical care as first and second priorities, with increasing alcohol and tobacco taxes as third priority. Cutting state income taxes across the board ranked far below eliminating the tax on food and medical services.
72% oppose a constitutional amendment to allow citizens to carry concealed weapons.
59% favored repealing the death penalty outright or replacing it with life imprisonment without parole.
79% favor authorizing marijuana for medical purposes; 69% favor decriminalizing marijuana; and 73% favor mandatory treatment instead of prison time for drug offenses. However, 72% oppose reducing penalties for cocaine possession, and 75% oppose reducing penalties for heroin possession.
Respondents spoke out strongly for campaign reform, with 98% in favor of requiring telephone solicitors to identify the group or candidate sponsoring the call; 89% favoring limits on campaign contributions; 85% favoring posting campaign contributions and spending on the internet; 84% favoring runoff elections for the Albuquerque’s mayoral race; and 66% in favor of a voluntary system of public financing for campaigns.
On health care issues, the top concern was rising costs of health insurance premiums, closely followed by concern for the large number of people who work yet lack health insurance. Concerns for high prescription drug costs and health care providers leaving the state ranked third and fourth.
Questions? Contact Senator Dede Feldman