Statewide Survey PPIC Statewide Survey: Special Survey on the California State Budget By Mark Baldassare Jun 12, 2003 This survey – the first in a series of special surveys on the California state budget, conducted in collaboration with The James Irvine Foundation – is a special edition of the PPIC Statewide Survey. The intent of this series is to raise public awareness, inform decisionmakers, and stimulate public discussion about the current state budget and the underlying state and local finance system. Some findings of the current survey Nearly all Californians (94%) say that the state's budget deficit is a big problem (73%) or somewhat of a problem (21%). Most Californians are opposed to spending cuts in public programs as well as to increases in taxes or fees. Only 34% of all adults say that they trust the government in Sacramento to do what is right just about always or most of the time. 75% of likely voters disapprove of the way Governor Davis is handling his job, and 57% of the state's residents disapprove of the way the legislature is handling budget issues. Nearly six in 10 respondents believe that the better way to improve the national economy is to reduce the deficit rather than cut tax (58% to 34%).
At Issue, Report Legislative Reform By Eric McGhee Dec 3, 2007 PPIC's At Issue series focuses on issues important for California now and in the future. In this issue, PPIC research fellow Eric McGhee discusses three charges often brought against the California Legislature—loss of competence, increasing partisan gridlock, and declining efficiency—and three types of reform aimed at addressing those shortcomings: relaxing term limits, transferring redistricting from the legislature to an independent commission, and reducing the supermajority requirement for the budget. He also offers some recommendations for policy design and briefly discusses alternative reforms.
Statewide Survey Facing Facts: Public Attitudes and Fiscal Realities in Five Stressed States Oct 7, 2010 A survey in five of the nation’s most fiscally stressed states reveals a disconnect between what the public wants from state government and budget realities. Residents in Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, and New York believe their states could spend less without cutting services. They want to protect K-12 education and Medicaid funding—by far the biggest portions of state budgets. They prefer charging someone else— wealthy corporations, smokers, drinkers, and gamblers—to ensure essential government services. But even these increases would likely be insufficient to close severe budget gaps. This survey was co-published by the Pew Center on the States and Public Policy Institute of California. Any text or graphics taken from the multistate survey should jointly credit the Pew Center on the States and Public Policy Institute of California, 2010.
blog post California’s Immigrants and the 2018 Election Context By Mark Baldassare Mar 30, 2018 With immigration playing a lead role in today’s polarized political discussions, will California’s immigrants have an impact in the 2018 election?
blog post Video: Californians and Education By Mary Severance Apr 29, 2019 In PPIC’s latest statewide survey, most Californians say they want Governor Newsom to prioritize K-12 education, while public opinion is mixed on charter schools.
blog post Video: A High-Interest Election By Linda Strean Sep 28, 2016 This is an unusual election year, as the findings from the September PPIC Statewide Survey show.
At Issue, Report California’s Post-Partisan Future By Mark Baldassare Jan 16, 2008 PPIC's At Issue series focuses on issues important for California now and in the future. In this issue, PPIC president and CEO Mark Baldassare offers a straightforward, nonpartisan assessment of California’s partisan divide—detailing the demographic and ideological differences between Democratic and Republican voters. He also takes a closer look at the growing numbers of “decline to state” or independent voters and assesses their increased importance in California elections. Finally, he considers the consequences of the state’s partisan divide and offers suggestions for engaging more independent voters in the future.
Statewide Survey PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government By Mark Baldassare, Jennifer Paluch, Dean Bonner, Sonja Petek Jun 7, 2007 Some findings of the current survey: Residents (72%) and likely voters (65%) strongly support Governor Schwarzenegger’s health insurance proposal. A majority of Californians (74%) say illegal immigrants who have lived in the U.S. for more than two years should have a chance to keep their jobs and apply for legal status. Hillary Clinton leads Barack Obama (35% to 20%) among likely Democratic primary voters; Rudy Guiliani leads John McCain (29% to 15%) among likely Republican primary voters. This is the 78th PPIC Statewide Survey and the 24th in PPIC’s Californians and Their Government series, conducted periodically to examine the social, economic, and political trends that influence public policy preferences and ballot choices in the state. It is supported by funding from The James Irvine Foundation.
Statewide Survey PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government By Mark Baldassare, Lunna Lopes, Dean Bonner, David Kordus Mar 22, 2017 A majority of Californians disapprove of President Trump’s order banning travel to the US by people from six majority Muslim countries. And most support providing a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Crosstabs: All Adults [PDF] Likely Voters [PDF] Time Trends: All Adults [PDF] Likely Voters [PDF] This research was supported with funding from the James Irvine Foundation, the California Endowment, and the PPIC Donor Circle.
