Note: Questions 35 was removed and the following questions were not renumbered. Several items on this questionnaire are not included in the initial public release SPSS dataset, including questions related to the quality of public education in Florida (M1-2), community growth and development (C1-5 & A1-12), public transit (B1-5), and legislative term limits (W1-10). These data are available for release upon request. Please contact Mary Stutzman at mstutzma@mailer.fsu.edu for more details.

PROBLEMS & FUNDING LEVELS

Q1.     
To begin with, what do you think is the most important problem facing the state of Florida?

Please be as specific as possible; record responses verbatim.
PROBE GENERAL RESPONSES such as environment, education, population growth, etc.
FINANCIAL PRIORITIES FOR STATE

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Q2.     
Now I'm going to ask you some questions about spending by the state government in Tallahassee. Please bear in mind that eventually all government spending comes out of the taxes you and other Floridians pay.

As I mention each program area, tell me whether you think the amount now being spent should be increased, kept at the present level, or decreased. If you don't have any feelings about a program, let me know and I will go on.

State highways and road systems

Do you think these programs should be:

1. Increased ?
2. Kept at the present level ?
3. or Decreased ?

8. Don't know/No opinion
9. Refused

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Q3.           
Programs for the elderly

Do you think these programs should be:
1. Increased?
2. Kept at the present level?
3. or Decreased ?

8. Don't know/No opinion
9. Refused

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Q4.            
Programs for public schools (K-12)

Should they be:

1. Increased ?
2. Kept at the present level ?
3. or Decreased ?

8. Don't know/No opinion
9. Refused

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Q5.           
Programs for state colleges and universities

Should they be:
1. Increased ?
2. Kept at the present level ?
3. or Decreased ?

8. Don't know/No opinion
9. Refused

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Q6.           
Programs to protect the environment

Should they be:
1. Increased ?
2. Kept at the present level ?
3. or Decreased ?

8. Don't know/No opinion
9. Refused

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Q7.           
Programs for low-income families with children

Should they be:
1. Increased ?
2. Kept at the present level ?
3. or Decreased ?

8. Don't know/No opinion
9. Refused

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Q8.           
Programs to combat crime

Should they be:
1. Increased ?
2. Kept at the present level ?
3. or Decreased ?

8. Don't know/No opinion
9. Refused

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Q9.           
Programs for state prisons and correctional facilities

Should they be:
1. Increased ?
2. Kept at the present level ?
3. or Decreased ?

8. Don't know/No opinion
9. Refused

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Q10.           
Programs for health care services

Should they be:
1. Increased ?
2. Kept at the present level ?
3. or Decreased ?

8. Don't know/No opinion
9. Refused

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Q11.           
Programs to promote tourism

Should they be:
1. Increased ?
2. Kept at the present level ?
3. or Decreased ?

8. Don't know/No opinion
9. Refused

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TAXES

Q12.   
Now think about the taxes you pay. From your personal standpoint, please tell me for each tax I read off to you if you feel it is too high, too low, or about right.

The Florida state sales tax

Do you think it is too high, too low, or about right?
1. Much too high
2. Somewhat too high
3. About right
4. Too low
5. Don't pay this tax

8. Don't know
9. Refused

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Q13.   
The local property tax

Do you think it is too high, too low, or about right?
1. Much too high
2. Somewhat too high
3. About right
4. Too low
5. Don't pay this tax

8. Don't know
9. Refused

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Q14.   
The state gasoline tax

Do you think it is too high, too low, or about right?
1. Much too high
2. Somewhat too high
3. About right
4. Too low
5. Don't pay this tax

8. Don't know
9. Refused

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FAMILY FINANCES

Q15.   
We are also interested in how people are getting along financially these days.

Would you say that you (and your family) are better off or worse off financially than you were a year ago?

1. Better
2. Same
3. Worse

8. Don't know
9. Refused

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Q16.   
Now turning to business conditions in the country as a whole-do you think that DURING THE NEXT 12 MONTHS we'll have good times financially, bad times financially or what?

1. Good times
2. Both good & bad times
3. Bad times

8. Don't know
9. Refused

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RATING GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

Q17.   
Now I'm going to ask you to assess the performance of various public officials. 

Overall, how would you rate the job that President George W. Bush is doing? 

Would you say excellent, good, fair or poor?
1. Excellent
2. Good
3. Fair
4. Poor

8. Don't know
9. Refused

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Q18. How would you rate the job the United States Congress in Washington D.C. is doing?

Would you say excellent, good, fair or poor?
1. Excellent
2. Good
3. Fair
4. Poor

8. Don't know
9. Refused

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Q19.    How would you rate the job that Florida Governor Jeb Bush is doing?

Would you say excellent, good, fair or poor?
1. Excellent
2. Good
3. Fair
4. Poor

8. Don't know
9. Refused

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Q20.    How would you rate the job that the Florida legislature in Tallahassee is doing?

Would you say excellent, good, fair or poor?
1. Excellent
2. Good
3. Fair
4. Poor

8. Don't know
9. Refused

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Q21.    How would you rate the job that your county government is doing?

Would you say excellent, good, fair or poor?

1. Excellent
2. Good
3. Fair
4. Poor

8. Don't know
9. Refused

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Q22.    How would you rate the job that your city government is doing?

Would you say excellent, good, fair or poor?

1. Excellent
2. Good
3. Fair
4. Poor

8. Don't know
9. Refused

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TRUST IN GOVERNMENT

Now I'd like to get your opinions on political issues. First of all,...

Q23.   
How interested are you in the national government in Washington, and national politics-- very interested, somewhat interested, a little interested, or not at all interested?

1. Very interested
2. Somewhat interested
3. A little interested
4. Not at all interested

8. Don't know
9. Refused

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Q24.           
Thinking now of state government in Tallahassee...
How interested are you in the state government in Tallahassee, and state politics-- very interested, somewhat interested, a little interested, or not at all interested?

1. Very interested
2. Somewhat interested
3. A little interested
4. Not at all interested

8. Don't know
9. Refused

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Q25.   
How much of the time do you think you can trust the Federal government to do what is right?

READ RESPONSES
1. Just about always
2. Most of the time
3. Only some of the time

7. VOLUNTEERED: Never
8. Don't know
9. Refused

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Q26.   
How much of the time do you think you can trust Florida state government to do what is right?

READ RESPONSES
1. Just about always
2. Most of the time
3. Only some of the time

7. VOLUNTEERED: Never
8. Don't know
9. Refused

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Q27.   
How well represented in the FEDERAL government are you and people like you? Are you well represented or poorly represented?

1. Very well represented
2. Somewhat well represented
3. Somewhat poorly represented
4. Very poorly represented

8. Don't know
9. Refused

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Q28.   
How well represented in the STATE government are you and people like you? Are you well represented or poorly represented?

1. Very well represented
2. Somewhat well represented
3. Somewhat poorly represented
4. Very poorly represented

8. Don't know
9. Refused

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PARTY ID, POLITICAL IDEOLOGY, & POL. PARTICIPATION

Q29.   
Do you think there are major differences between what the Republican and Democratic parties stand for, minor differences, or no differences at all?

1. Major differences
2. Minor differences
3. No differences

8. Don't know
9. Refused

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Q30.           
Generally speaking, do you usually think of yourself as a Republican, a Democrat, an Independent, or what?

REPUBLICAN- Would you call yourself a strong Republican or a not so strong Republican?
1. Strong Republican
2. Not so strong Republican

INDEPENDENT- Do you think of yourself as close to the Republicans or closer to the Democrats?
3. Closer to the Republicans
4. Independent/neither
5. Closer to the Democrats         

DEMOCRAT- Would you call yourself a strong Democrat or a not so strong Democrat?
6. Not so strong Democrat
7. Strong Democrat

8. Don’t know
9. Refused

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Q31.   
In politics today, do you think of yourself as a conservative, as middle of the road, as a liberal, or do you not think of yourself in these terms?

1. Conservative
2. Middle of the road
3. Liberal
4. Don't think in these terms

8. Don't know
9. Refused

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Q32.   
At present, are you registered to vote in the state of Florida?

1. Yes
2. No
3. No, registered in another state

8. Don't know
9. Refused

if (ans > 1) skp Q89

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Q33.   
Are you registered as a:

1. Republican?
2. Independent? or
3. Democrat?

8. Don’t know
9. Refused

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DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS

Q34.   
Finally, to be sure we have a representative sample of Floridians, we need to know a few things about your background.

What is your current marital status?

1. Never Married
2. Married
3. Separated
4. Divorced
5. Widowed
6. Cohabiting
7. Other

8. Don’t know
9. Refused

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Q36.   
How many children under 18 do you have?

ENTER NUMBER:

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Q37.
In what year were you born?

ENTER BIRTH YEAR (1900-1983)   

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Q38.   
Have you lived in Florida all your life?

1. Yes
2. No

8. Don't know
9. Refused

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Q39.   
What was the highest grade or year of school you completed?

1. Eight years or less
2. 9-11 years
3. Completed high school
4. Business or technical school
5. Some college
6. Completed college
7. Graduate or professional school

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Q40.   
What race do you consider yourself?

DO NOT READ RESPONSES
1. White
2. Black
3. Asian
4. Native American
5. Hispanic
6. Other (specify)

8. Don’t know
9. Refused

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Q41.   
Are you of Spanish or Hispanic origin?

1. No
2. Yes, Cuban
3. Yes, Mexican
4. Yes, Puerto Rican
5. Yes, Other (specify)

8. Don’t know
9. Refused

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Q42.   
What is your religious affiliation?

1. Protestant
2. Catholic
3. Jewish
4. None
5. Other (specify)

8. Don’t know
9. Refused

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Q43.   
Do you own or rent your home?

1. Own
2. Rent
3. Other

8. Don't know
9. Refused

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Q44. Do you have more than one telephone line in your household,
not including cell phones?

1. Yes
2. No

8. Don't know
9. Refused

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Q45. How many total phone lines do you have in your house?

ENTER NUMBER (1-20):

98. Don't know
99. Refused

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Q46. How many of these are reserved only for computers or FAX machines?

ENTER NUMBER (0-20):

98. Don't know
99. Refused

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Q47. How many cell phones do you have in your household?

ENTER NUMBER (0-20):
98. Don't know
99. Refused

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Q48.   
Finally, consider all sources of income for everyone living with you in 2002, before taxes. Please stop me when I get to your household income level.

1. Under $5000
2. $5,000 to 10,000            
3. $10,000 to 15,000            
4. $15,000 to 20,000            
5. $20,000 to 25,000            
6. $25,000 to 30,000
7. $30,000 to 40,000            
8.  $40,000 to 50,000
9.  $50,000 to 60,000
10. $60,000 to 70,000
11. $70,000 to 80,000
12. $80,000 to 90,000
13. $90,000 to 100,000
14. Over $100,000

98. Don’t know
99. Refused

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Sex.    
Sex of the respondent

1. Male
2. Female

9. Refused

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END