Georgia's State of the State Poll - 2015

GeorGia’S

State of the State Poll

Costas Spirou, Ph.D. and Min Kim, Ph.D. Department of Government and Sociology Georgia College

Contents 1 3 5 9 11 17 21 25 25 26 27 29

Introduction Executive Summary Overall Direction and Key Issues Economy Government Education Health Care Immigration Gun Control Same-Sex Marriage Senate Bill 365 Survey Methodology

TALLULAH GORGE

2015 Georgia’s

State of the State Poll Georgia’s State of the State Poll (GSSP) is a statewide general survey of adults, age 18 and over, who are residents of the State of Georgia. The GSSP survey was conducted for the second time in the spring of 2015 and included a combination of community, governmental, economic and special topical issue questions. Demographic data — age, location, gender, race, education, political ideology and income — offer additional information. A central aspect of public policymaking is the need for relevant, timely and accurate information. The GSSP will continue to make a significant contribution to effective planning by engaging the state’s citizenry and increasing the understanding of various issues among policymakers and their constituents. The goals of the GSSP are to: • Gain a better understanding of resident attitudes and perceptions on key social, economic and political issues; • Educate Georgians about various issues facing the state; • Contribute to a statewide conversation; and • Inform current policy debates in order to improve the socioeconomic well-being of the state’s residents.

We would like to thank the Office of the Provost and the Office of the College of Arts and Sciences Dean for their support of this project. A number of students assisted with this effort including Lauren Crapo, Sophia Markowitz, graduate students in the Master in Public Administration program. Lea Dickinson and Erin Sims, undergraduate students in the Political Science program, contributed to data analysis. Jon Scott was invaluable in helping us prepare the 2015 report.

Costas Spirou, Ph.D and Min Kim, Ph.D Department of Government and Sociology Georgia College

2015 Georgia’s State of the State Poll | 1

TOWN SQUARE IN DALLAS

2015 Georgia’s State of the State Poll | 2

2015 Georgia’s

State of the State Poll executive Summary The Department of Government and Sociology at Georgia College & State University has conducted its second Georgia’s State of the State Poll to find out about key issues facing the state and information about our political leaders. The survey was conducted from February 9-16, 2015 by Survey Sampling International (SSI), a leading national firm.

The margin of error for the weighted sample is +/- 4.4 percentage points. among the respondents, the key highlights are: • Georgians continue to be optimistic about the direction of the state.

• Education and jobs are the two most important issues facing the state.

Transportation and taxes also emerged as important concerns this year. For Hispanic residents, the issue of immigration is an additional concern.

• Georgians are more optimistic than last year about the economy.

While they are still dissatisfied with the economic development efforts, they report slightly higher rates of satisfaction compared to last year.

• The Federal and County governments are the most trusted levels of government.

• The majority of Georgians continue to be dissatisfied with public education and, like last year, they would be willing to invest more money to improve the system.

• Georgians favor the creation of charter schools and support the Common Core Standards Initiative.

• Opposition to ObamaCare: Affordable Care Act continues from last year.

• Georgians are evenly split on the “Safe Carry Protection Act-guns everywhere.”

• Georgians strongly favor legalizing medical marijuana but strongly oppose legalizing same-sex marriage.

• Georgians also favor legislation that would help rehabilitated offenders re-enter society by removing barriers to employment, housing and education.

2015 Georgia’s State of the State Poll | 3

TYBEE ISLAND

2015 Georgia’s State of the State Poll | 4

overall Direction and Key issues

State’s Direction…

57.7

60 50

More than half (57.7%) of Georgians think that the state is moving in the Right Direction, with 25.7% indicating that the state is moving in the Wrong Direction.

40 30

25.7 16.6

20 10 0

Right Direction

Wrong Direction

Did Not Know/ Did Not Respond

Most important issue…

The most important issues facing the state are Education (21.3%), Jobs (19.8%), Health Care (5%) and Immigration (5%). Among Other Issues, Transportation (16.9%) and Taxation (12.8%) are the most important to Georgians.

Residents from the middle part of the state report the highest concern with Jobs (24.5%). Women report great concern with Education (24.4%), African-Americans with Jobs (31.6%) and Hispanics with Immigration (42.2%).

35

32.1

30 25 19.8

21.3

20 15 10 5 5

5 3.2 0.9

0

2015 Georgia’s State of the State Poll | 5

Most important issue…

24.5

25

23.1

22.2 19.1

20

22.3

18.9 18.8

15.5

15

13.4

10 7.1

7.7

4.6

5

4.1

3.7

4.2

3.1 3.5

2.7

1.4

0.8

0.5

3.4 0

0.9

0

24.4

25

Women

21.1 20

18.5

17.9

Men

15

10

7.5 6.2

5

2.4

3.9

3

3.4

1.4

0.4

0 Jobs

Education

Health Care

Immigration

Crime

Racism White

50 42.2

African-American 40 Hispanic

31.6 30 21.4

18.2

19.6 19.1

20 9.2

10

4.3

0 0

Jobs

Education

0

Health Care

1.7 0.5 Immigration

2015 Georgia’s State of the State Poll | 6

3.7

0.5

Crime

0

0.4

0.6

Racism

0

THE PERGOLA, GEORGIA COLLEGE

2015 Georgia’s State of the State Poll | 7

SAVANNAH

2015 Georgia’s State of the State Poll | 8

economy

economy a year from now…

50

Georgians believe that a year from now the state’s economy will be in about the Same Condition (42.1%); will be Better (37.4%); will get Worse (14.4%).

42.1 37.4

40

30

Almost a fifth (19.3%), express Strong Dissatisfaction with the economic development efforts taking place in their area. Just 11.7% express Strong Satisfaction. Among residents of Middle Georgia, 49.6% are either Somewhat Dissatisfied (23.8%) or Very Dissatisfied (25.8%).

20

14.4

10

6.1

0

economic Development efforts…

50 42.7 40

30 20.9

19.3

20 11.7 10

5.4

0 Very Satisfied

Somewhat Satisfied

Somewhat Dissatified

Very Dissatisfied

2015 Georgia’s State of the State Poll | 9

Did Not Know/ Did Not Respond

economic Development efforts…

North Middle 60 South

50.2 50 42.9

Metro Atlanta

41.5 36.6

40 30

23.8

23.1

19.4 16.5

20 8.7 10 0

25.8 26.4 23.1

13.8

13.7

6.1 5.8

Very Satisfied

5.8

Somewhat Satisfied

Somewhat Dissatisfied

Very Dissatisfied

HISTORIC MILL AND WATERFALL IN MARIETTA

2015 Georgia’s State of the State Poll | 10

7.7

3.9 5.2

Did Not Know/ Did Not Respond

Government Most Trusted level of Government…

Georgians trust the various levels of government, Federal (21.6%), County (21.9%), City (17.5%) and State (14.8%). The level of trust toward the Federal government is highest among African Americans (36.7%), among those residing in the Atlanta metropolitan area (27.2%), among Liberals (35.3%), while for Conservatives the level of trust is at just 12.8%. Hispanics (30.5%), Conservatives (27%) and South Georgians (36.6%) report the highest levels of satisfaction with the County Government.

24.2

25 21.9

21.6 20

17.5 14.8

15

10

5

0

Federal

State

County

City

Did Not Know/ Did Not Respond

Most Trusted level of Government…

Liberal 40 35.3

Moderate

35 30

25.2

24.1

24.1

25

22.1 18.4

20 15

Conservative

27

26.9

15.8 12.8

12.8

18.4

17.8

14.1

10 5.2 5 0

Federal

State

County

2015 Georgia’s State of the State Poll | 11

City

Did Not Know/ Did Not Respond

Most Trusted level of Government…

White AfricanAmerican

50

42.5

Hispanic 36.7

40

30

30.5

27.2

27.1

23.2 20.8

19.6

19.2 16.5

20 13.3

13.4 10.2

10 0

0

0 Federal

State

County

City

Did Not Know/ Did Not Respond

Most Trusted level of Government…

North Middle South 40

36.6

Metro Atlanta

35 29.9 27.2

30 25

23

21.1 19.6

20 13.7

28.1

25.6

14.8

15

14.3

17.6 14.613.7

19.7

19

16.5 13.6

15 16.5

10 5 0

Federal

State

County

2015 Georgia’s State of the State Poll | 12

City

Did Not Know/ Did Not Respond

Georgians report that the Federal government (42.9%) provides them with the greatest return on their tax investment, followed by County/City with 27.6% and State government with 18.9%. African Americans (66.1%), Asians (50.8%) and Hispanics (45.4%) report the highest satisfaction with the Federal government when it comes to return on their tax investment.

Greatest return on Tax investment…

50 42.9 40

27.6

30 18.9 20

10.6 10

0 Federal

State

County/City

Did Not Know/ Did Not Respond

Greatest return on Tax investment…

White AfricanAmerican

80

Hispanic

66.1

70

Asian

60

50.8

40

49.2

45.4

50

36.6

34.1

31.8

30

23.5

20.8 16.4

20 8.9

10

8.1

0

4.2

0

4.2

0 Federal

State

County/City

2015 Georgia’s State of the State Poll | 13

Did Not Know/ Did Not Respond

impact of State Cuts A significant percentage of Hispanics (72.9%) have had their household impacted by cuts in state programs and services. Overall, 64.4% report that their household has not been impacted by cuts in state programs and services. African-Americans (30.5%) and Hispanics (72.9%) report that their households have been impacted by these cuts.

impact of State Cuts…

80 70

64.4

60 50 40

31.4

30 20 10

4.2

0 Yes

No

Did Not Know/ Did Not Respond

impact of State Cuts…

White AfricanAmerican

100

89.2 Hispanic

80

72.9

70.3

Asian 61.3

60

40

27.5

30.5

27.1

20

8.3

0

2.3

10.8 0

0 Yes

No

2015 Georgia’s State of the State Poll | 14

Did Not Know/ Did Not Respond

CAMPUS THEATRE IN MILLEDGEVILLE

2015 Georgia’s State of the State Poll | 15

UPPER DESOTO FALLS IN THE CHATTAHOOCHEE NATIONAL FOREST

2015 Georgia’s State of the State Poll | 16

education Only 11.1% of Georgians report Strong Satisfaction with public education, with 31.2% indicating Strong Dissatisfaction. About a third (29.8%), report being Somewhat Satisfied.

Whites (34.9%), African Americans (26.2%), Hispanic (23.2%) and Middle Georgians (34.5%) and residents of the Metro Atlanta (30.9%) report Strong Dissatisfaction with public education.

Public education Satisfaction…

35

31.2

29.8 30 23.7

25 20 15

11.1

10 4.3 5 0

Very Satisfied

Somewhat Satisfied

Somewhat Dissatisfied

Very Dissatisfied

Did Not Know/ Did Not Respond

Public education Satisfaction…

North Middle South 40

36.6 Metro Atlanta

34.5

35 28.6

30

30.3

30.6

29

30.4 30.9

26.7

24.4

24

25 20 14 15 10

11.6 9.1

11

10.5

6.3 4.2

5 0

Very Satisfied

Somewhat Satisfied

Somewhat Dissatisfied

2015 Georgia’s State of the State Poll | 17

Very Dissatisfied

2.8 4.2

Did Not Know/ Did Not Respond

Public education Satisfaction…

White AfricanAmerican

80 65.2

70

Hispanic

64.6

Asian

60 50 36.1

40 27.5

30 20 10 0

34.9 21.3

11

15.4

26.2 18.9

23.2

12.9

10.8

11.1

8

0 Very Satisfied

Somewhat Satisfied

5.3 3.4 4.2 Somewhat Dissatisfied

Very Dissatisfied

Did Not Know/ Did Not Respond

When asked to consider paying more taxes to provide better education opportunities for children, 54.8% indicate willingness to do so, while 41.5% would not pay more taxes. Women (64.1%) are more willing than men (45%) to pay more taxes for public education.

Pay More to improve Public Schools…

60

54.8

50 41.5 40 30 20 10

3.7

0 Yes

No

Did Not Know/ Did Not Respond

2015 Georgia’s State of the State Poll | 18

0

Pay More to improve Public Schools‌ 80 Women 70

64.1 Men

60 51.1 50

45

40

32.4

30 20 10 0

3.6 Yes

No

3.8

Did Not Know/ Did Not Respond

More than half of respondents (55.5%) are in favor of creating charter schools, with 30.5% Strongly in Favor and 25% Somewhat in Favor. Only 10.5% Strongly Oppose the creation of charter schools.

Creating Charter Schools...

35 30.5 30 25 25 19.5 20 14.6 15

10.5

10 5 0

Strongly Favor

Somewhat Favor

Somewhat Oppose

Strongly Oppose

2015 Georgia’s State of the State Poll | 19

Did Not Know/ Did Not Respond

When asked about the Common Core State Standards Initiative, 29.7% of Georgians are Strongly in Favor of establishing consistent educational standards across the state, with 25.2% Strongly Opposing it. Women (56.4%) were more likely to support the Common Core State Standards Initiative.

Common Core State Standards 29.7 30 25.2 23.7

25

20

15

12.1 9.2

10

5

0

Strongly Favor

Somewhat Favor

Somewhat Oppose

Strongly Oppose

Did Not Know/ Did Not Respond

Common Core State Standards 35 30

29.2

Women

30.2 27.2

27.2

Men

23.3

25 20 20

13.4

15 10.9 9.3

10

9.1

5 0

Strongly Favor

Somewhat Favor

Somewhat Oppose

Strongly Oppose

2015 Georgia’s State of the State Poll | 20

Did Not Know/ Did Not Respond

Health Care Georgians strongly oppose (46.7%) the ObamaCare: Affordable Care Act with 27.1% Srongly in Favor. African Americans (58.4%) Strongly Favor and Whites (63.7%) Strongly Oppose the Act.

obamaCare: affordable Care act approval...

46.7

50

40

27.1

30

20 10.5

8.8

6.9

Somewhat Favor

Somewhat Oppose

10

0

Strongly Favor

Strongly Oppose

Did Not Know/ Did Not Respond

obamaCare: affordable Care act approval...

White AfricanAmerican

80 68.7 70

Hispanic

63.7 58.4

60 50 40 30 20

13

12.1 4.2

10 0

Strongly Favor

12.2 8.3

7.5 0

Somewhat Favor

11.5

4.2

Somewhat Oppose

2015 Georgia’s State of the State Poll | 21

Strongly Oppose

12.9

14.9

8.3

Did Not Know/ Did Not Respond

Just under half (46.3%) of Georgian’s Favor legalizing medical marijuana with 22.1% Strongly Opposing it. Hispanics (53.4%) and South Georgians (45.9%) Strongly Oppose the legalization of medical marijuana.

legalizing Medical Marijuana...

50

46.3

40

30 22.1 17.9

20

8.4 10

5.4

0

Strongly Favor

Somewhat Favor

Somewhat Oppose

Strongly Oppose

Did Not Know/ Did Not Respond

legalizing Medical Marijuana...

White AfricanAmerican

60 50

53.4 46.4

Hispanic

45.8 46.6

40 30

24.9

23.5

17.8

20

13.2 9.3

9.5

6.5

10 0

0 0

Strongly Favor

Somewhat Favor

3.1

Somewhat Oppose

2015 Georgia’s State of the State Poll | 22

Strongly Oppose

0

Did Not Know/ Did Not Respond

legalizing Medical Marijuana...

North Middle South 60

53.4

52.2

Metro Atlanta

50

45.9 39.6

40 30

27.5 24.2

23.2 19.4

20

15.6 10

10 0

16.4

15.1 14.6

12.4

10.8 3.5

Strongly Favor

Somewhat Favor

8.5

5.5

Somewhat Oppose

APPALACHIAN SCENE IN NORTH GEORGIA

2015 Georgia’s State of the State Poll | 23

0.1

Strongly Oppose

2.1

Did Not Know/ Did Not Respond

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CHAMBER

2015 Georgia’s State of the State Poll | 24

immigration Obama’s executive action on immigration is opposed by 54.6% of Georgians with 17.4% Somewhat Opposing and 37.2% Strongly Opposing the action.

obama’s executive action on immigration...

37.2

40 35 30 25 20 17.4

20 15.2 15

10.3 10 5 0

Strongly Favor

Somewhat Favor

Somewhat Oppose

Strongly Oppose

Did Not Know/ Did Not Respond

Gun Control Georgians favor (46.5%) the state’s “Safe Carry Protection Act – guns everywhere.”

A smaller percentage (37.4%) oppose it.

Safe Carry Protection act - Guns everywhere 35 30.4 30

27

25 20

16.1

15

16 10.4

10 5 0

Strongly Favor

Somewhat Favor

Somewhat Oppose

Strongly Oppose

2015 Georgia’s State of the State Poll | 25

Did Not Know/ Did Not Respond

Same-Sex Marriage When asked about legalizing same-sex marriage in Georgia, 48.8% of Georgians oppose, with 42.4% expressing support of this eort. Strong Opposition (40.6%) and Strong Support (25.3%) varied by region with the Atlanta metro (30.6%) residents strongly favoring this direction.

Residents from the South (53.6%) strongly oppose legalizing same sex marriage.

legalizing Same-Sex Marriage 50 40.6 40

30

25.3

17.1

20

0

8.8

8.2

10

Strongly Favor

Somewhat Favor

Somewhat Oppose

Strongly Oppose

Did Not Know/ Did Not Respond

legalizing Same-Sex Marriage North Middle South 60

52 53.6

Metro Atlanta

50 38.5

40

33.7 30.6

30.5 30 20

22.8 19 14.8 13.6

10.6

13.8

11.6 7.5

7.7

10 0

13.5

7

3.4

Strongly Favor

Somewhat Favor

Somewhat Oppose

2015 Georgia’s State of the State Poll | 26

Strongly Oppose

6.7

9.6

Did Not Know/ Did Not Respond

Senate Bill 365 The majority of Georgians are in favor of Senate Bill 365, legislation that removes barriers to employment, housing and education to help rehabilitate offenders so they can successfully re-enter society. 28.6% Strongly Favor the bill and 34.2% Somewhat Favor the legislation.

The State’s Senate Bill 365 34.2

35 30

28.6

25 20 12.7

15

13.7

10.7

10 5 0

Strongly Favor

Somewhat Favor

Somewhat Oppose

Strongly Oppose

2015 Georgia’s State of the State Poll | 27

Did Not Know/ Did Not Respond

JEKYLL ISLAND

2015 Georgia’s State of the State Poll | 28

Survey Methodology The 2015 Georgia’s State of the State Poll was a telephone survey of randomly selected adults in the state of Georgia. Five hundred (500) Georgia adults were interviewed by landline and cellular telephone between February 9 and February 16, 2015. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 4.4%. This survey was conducted through the use of Random Digit Dialing (RDD). A sample of households in the area was selected via random digit dialing.

The random sample used in the 2015 Georgia’s State of the State Poll was provided

by Survey Sampling International (SSI). SSI screens each selected telephone number to eliminate non-working numbers, disconnected numbers, and business numbers to improve the efficiency of the sample, thus reducing the amount of time interviewers spend calling non-usable numbers. Each of these randomly generated telephone numbers is contacted by an SSI interviewer. This selection process ensures that every adult (18 years of age or older) in the household has an equally likely chance of being included in the survey. Interviews were completed with 500 randomly selected adults in Georgia from a sample of 55,790 randomly selected telephone numbers.

The data has been weighted to account for known biases of telephone surveys. The results presented here have been weighted to reflect the current population demographics as reflected in the most recent available Census data. The data in the 2015 Georgia’s State of the State Poll are weighted by the number of adults to equalize the chances that any one adult would be selected for inclusion.

The data was also weighted by respondent's sex, age and race.

In addition to providing results for the state as a whole, some findings also are broken down by the four major regions of the state: North, Middle, South and Atlanta metropolitan area.

The maps below illustrate the counties in each region.

2015 Georgia’s State of the State Poll | 29

GEORGIA’S

State of the State POLL

For more information about Georgia’s State of the State Poll (GSSP) please contact: Costas Spirou, Ph.D. Professor and Chair Department of Government and Sociology Georgia College Milledgeville, GA 31061 478-445-4562 costas.spirou@gcsu.edu

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