August 12, 2010
TALLAHASSEE – Concern for job creation and overall disappointment in various policies supported by President Obama were top sentiments expressed in a recent poll released by the Associated Industries of Florida. More than half of Florida voters (53 percent) oppose President Obama’s health care plan and an overwhelming 75 percent fear a rise in taxes and an increase in national debt as a result of the federal health care reform proposal and stimulus packages.
Almost two years since the election of President Obama, the number of respondents who prefer Republican Congressional representation to provide a check and balance on the President rose to more than half (52 percent), increasing four percentage points from last year. Among the groups responding, 55 percent of Independents prefer Republican representation, as well as 53 percent of Ticketsplitters.
“The numbers clearly confirm that Floridians want real change, not the type of change the President has implemented,” said Barney Bishop III, president and CEO of AIF. “Not only is Obama’s signature health care legislation disliked by a majority of Florida voters, but results show Floridians believe electing Republicans to Congress will halt rising taxes and bulging deficits resulting from the President’s policies. The President’s dwindling popularity will surely hinder the Democratic candidates running this year.”
Additional poll results on federal legislation found a strong majority (64 percent) oppose the Federal Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), known as Card Check legislation. This anti-business legislation, which Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) and President Obama also support, would replace a federally supervised, private ballot election and require workers organizing a union to sign an authorization card where their names would be public to their employer. This legislation would also allow unionization of any company with 10 or more employees.
“The poll results are clear, Floridians strongly oppose this legislation across all political parties, including surprisingly a strong majority of Democrats. AIF asks Senator Nelson to drop his sponsorship of this unfair legislation that will hurt both Floridians looking for employment and small businesses that are the backbone of our economy. With more than 90 percent of Florida’s businesses comprised of less than 20 employees, this legislation will have severe consequences on our small business community. Florida simply cannot afford more Federal legislation that tramples on our state’s rights,” continued Bishop.
Among the groups responding, 58 percent of Democrats oppose Card Check legislation, 58 percent of Independents oppose Card Check legislation, 60 percent of Ticketsplitters oppose Card Check legislation and 74 percent of Republicans oppose Card Check legislation.
“At 37 percent, the poll results show job creation tops the list as Floridian’s number one concern. Instead of Congress trying to pass legislation that provides no foreseeable benefits to Florida’s workers, focus should be on smart policies that stimulate our economy and spur growth in the private sector by cutting taxes and regulations. Florida needs to cut the size and cost of government at all levels, review the costs of future government employee pensions and reprioritize the state budget,” concluded Bishop.
The poll was conducted by McLaughlin & Associates between July 31 and August 1, 2010. It surveyed 600 randomly-selected, likely general election voters through Florida by telephone. The survey has a margin of error of +/- four percent and a 95 percent confidence interval.
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