Eighty-six percent of those answering the state House of Representatives’ State Fair poll say criminal background checks should be required on all gun sales in Minnesota. By nearly a two-to-one margin, respondents to the non-scientific survey support increasing the gas tax at least 10 cents a gallon to pay for highway and bridge projects. A similar margin support sick leave for employees in workplaces with six or more workers. By a margin of three-to-one, those answering the state House survey support so-called “right to die” legislation that would allow those with terminal illness to obtain life-ending medication they could administer to themselves. And 52 percent say it should be illegal to use a cell phone while driving but 40 percent disagree.
Here are the actual percentage results from the poll:
1. Do you support an increase in the metro area sales tax to fund mass transit, including bus and light rail projects?
Yes…………………………………………….59.6%……………….(3,843)
No……………………………………………..32.2%……………….(2,075)
Undecided/No Opinion………………..8.1%……………………(525)
2. Should criminal background checks be required on all gun sales, including private transactions and at gun shows?
Yes…………………………………………….86.2%……………….(5,556)
No……………………………………………..11.5%………………….(739)
Undecided/No Opinion………………..2.3%……………………(150)
3. Should schools and businesses be able to require individuals to use restroom and locker room facilities based on biological sex, as defined at birth?
Yes…………………………………………….30.6%……………….(1,962)
No……………………………………………..59.2%……………….(3,796)
Undecided/No Opinion………………..10.2%………………….(655)
4. Should government agencies and institutions be required to obtain parental consent before disclosing personally identifiable data on students to a third party, other than law enforcement?
Yes…………………………………………….82.5%……………….(5,294)
No……………………………………………..8.1%……………………(523)
Undecided/No Opinion………………..9.4%……………………(603)
5. Would you support increasing the state’s 28.5 cents-per-gallon gas tax by at least 10 cents to help fund highway and bridge needs across the state?
Yes…………………………………………….60.6%……………….(3,902)
No……………………………………………..32.2%……………….(2,077)
Undecided/No Opinion………………..7.2%……………………(462)
6. An ignition interlock device requires users to blow into a breathalyzer device on their vehicle’s dashboard; if the device detects the presence of alcohol the vehicle will not start. Should everyone convicted of DWI be required to use such a device for a prescribed period of time before they can retain full driving privileges?
Yes…………………………………………….74.6%……………….(4,802)
No……………………………………………..16.5%……………….(1,064)
Undecided/No Opinion………………..8.9%……………………(574)
7. Should it be mandatory that employees in workplaces with six or more workers accumulate one hour of sick leave for every 30 hours worked, with a maximum of 40 hours of accrual each year?
Yes…………………………………………….58.9%……………….(3,724)
No……………………………………………..28.4%……………….(1,799)
Undecided/No Opinion………………..12.7%………………….(802)
8. When a mentally capable adult is dying from a terminal illness, do you think this adult should be allowed to receive a prescription for life-ending medication they may self-administer?
Yes…………………………………………….66.8%……………….(4,226)
No……………………………………………..22.8%……………….(1,441)
Undecided/No Opinion………………..10.5%………………….(664)
9. Should it be illegal to talk on a wireless communication device while driving?
Yes…………………………………………….51.6%……………….(3,236)
No……………………………………………..39.7%……………….(2,487)
Undecided/No Opinion………………..8.7%……………………(547)
10. Should the state provide an individual income tax credit of up to $5,000 for principal and interest payments on student loans?
Yes…………………………………………….67.5%……………….(4,269)
No……………………………………………..20.6%……………….(1,302)
Undecided/No Opinion………………..11.9%………………….(751)
11. From 1913 until 1973, Minnesota legislators were elected on nonpartisan ballots, meaning there was no political party designation for individual members. Should legislators be elected without political party designation?
Yes…………………………………………….37.6%……………….(2,377)
No……………………………………………..46.4%……………….(2,932)
Undecided/No Opinion………………..15.9%……………….(1,006)
12. State legislators currently earn $31,140 annually, and they are eligible for per diem and other expenses. Should an independent, citizens-only council be created to set salaries for legislators? This question will be on the November 2016 ballot as a proposed constitutional amendment.
Yes…………………………………………….64.4%……………….(4,063)
No……………………………………………..19.5%……………….(1,232)
Undecided/No Opinion………………..16.1%……………….(1,018)