More than eight in 10 (85%) legislators say cuts in social services are at least somewhat likely, and close to half (45%) say they are very likely. Other targets of the budget-cutting axe include health care (71% very/somewhat likely); prisons and correction (62%); and transportation (61%).
On the tax side, most legislators are only willing to consider the least painful kinds of tax increases. The most popular options include raising "sin" taxes on alcohol and tobacco (71%) and increasing tolls or user fees (66%). Various broad-based tax hikes are deemed acceptable by fewer than half of state legislators, including raising state taxes on gasoline (43%); higher state corporate income taxes (40%); and increasing state sales taxes (39%).
Lawmakers in the nation's largest states -- those with populations above 6 million -- paint the darkest picture of recent economic conditions and budget shortfalls. Seventy-five percent of large state legislators say their state has lost ground on the economy and jobs in the past two years, compared with 66 percent of those in medium-sized states and 52 percent of those in small states.
The survey also profiles the "typical" state legislator. As a group, legislators are older, mostly male, and predominately white. Close to two-thirds (64%) of those interviewed are 50 years of age or older, including about one-fifth (19%) who are age 65 and older. The number of women in state legislatures has grown over the last 30 years, but men still outnumber women by a wide margin (78% vs. 22% of the survey sample). Women who serve in the legislature are somewhat older than their male counterparts-- 70% of women, compared with 62% of men are age 50 or older.
In terms of racial and ethnic diversity--ninety percent are white, seven percent African-American, and three percent Hispanic or Latino. In the South, African-Americans account for a significantly higher share of state legislators (13%).
To view the entire survey--visit Stateline.org, and click on "Survey of State Legislators".
News provided courtesy of PriorityWatch, a service of the Center for Digital Government
The Center for Digital Government is a national research and advisory institute providing industry, government, and education leaders with decision support, research and services to help them effectively incorporate new technologies in the 21st century.
PriorityWatch offers in-depth alerts, digests, and analysis on legislative and budgetary trends related to information technology in the public sector, providing an aggregated view of legislative, policy and administrative developments throughout the United States.
