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(The Center Square) – A new survey of registered voters in Pennsylvania found that nearly 60% believe the commonwealth is on the wrong track, with affordability dominating their concerns.
The results were discussed during a recent media call examining the issues driving voters’ concerns and their support for proposed policy reforms.
The poll, commissioned by the Commonwealth Foundation and conducted by Public Opinion Strategies, surveyed Pennsylvania voters to gauge support for reforms included in the foundation’s latest Better Pennsylvania Agenda, a 25-point policy plan focused on tax reform, energy affordability, educational choice, and other state policy issues.
Elizabeth Stelle, the foundation’s vice president of policy, said the organization has released three previous versions of its agenda. While many of the proposals are similar to those advocated in earlier years, the latest version includes a new slate of energy policies.
Stelle said the polling was intended to determine whether voters supported the proposed reforms, and the results showed broad bipartisan support for the vast majority of them. “And in many cases,” she said, “we’re looking at 80-20 issues here.”
She said support extended across political parties, geographic regions, and demographic groups, particularly for proposals addressing taxes, energy affordability, and educational options.
Affordability and energy
Affordability topped the list of voter concerns, with 39% identifying rising prices and inflation as the most important issue for the governor and the General Assembly to address. Another 19% cited the economy and jobs, bringing the combined total to 58%.
Reducing the tax burden on Pennsylvania families was considered important by 91% of respondents.
Energy costs and reliability also emerged as significant concerns. Sixty-one percent said energy in Pennsylvania is unaffordable, while nearly two-thirds expressed concerns about electricity reliability and possible blackouts.
Additionally, 86% supported eliminating Pennsylvania’s gross receipts tax on electricity.
Education
Education was another area where respondents expressed dissatisfaction with current conditions while supporting proposed reforms.
According to the poll, 61% graded Pennsylvania’s K-12 public school system a C, D, or F.
At the same time, 89% supported expanding tax-credit scholarships, which allow businesses to receive tax credits for donations to organizations that provide scholarships to low- and middle-income students. The foundation’s agenda also calls for expanding Pennsylvania’s existing scholarship programs and supporting the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit, or FSTC program.
Stelle said the results demonstrate continued demand for educational choice.
Public assistance and accountability
The survey also examined attitudes toward government assistance programs, finding that 85% of respondents believe state government should promote policies encouraging Pennsylvanians to become less dependent on government.
Work requirements for recipients of government assistance drew substantial support. According to the poll, 77% favored requiring able-bodied adults receiving Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits to work, seek employment, participate in job training, or volunteer in their communities to continue receiving benefits.
The proposal would exempt seniors, individuals with disabilities, and those with young children.
Support crossed party lines, with 89% of Republicans, 70% of Democrats, and 59% of independents favoring the proposal.
Stelle also discussed the importance of determining whether reductions in public assistance enrollment reflect increased household incomes or administrative problems that prevent eligible individuals from receiving benefits.
Other policy priorities
The foundation’s report identified health care, K-12 education, and reducing the tax burden as the most urgent priorities among respondents.
Restoring public-sector workers’ rights and increasing energy production ranked lowest among the priorities surveyed, although more than 60% still considered them important.
Proposals involving voter identification requirements and criminal justice reform also drew solid support.
Stelle said the foundation believes its proposals would help Pennsylvania attract workers and families, strengthen the economy, and reverse population decline.
“The policies that we believe will make Pennsylvania a more prosperous place, the policies that will attract workers and attract families, and the policies that will shift us from a shrinking state to a growing state.”
Stelle said she hopes its Better Pennsylvania Agenda will serve as a policy roadmap for lawmakers and the administration when the new legislative session begins in January.
The survey also found that 69% of respondents said they would be more likely to vote for a legislative candidate who supported the proposed reforms.
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