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News Release
January 18, 2007
Annual Boise State
Survey Shows Idahoans Place the Most Trust in Local Government
Education, economy and growth are tapped as most important issues facing the
state
Idahoans once again have the most faith in their local branch of government,
according to the annual public policy survey conducted by the Social Science
Research Center at Boise State University. From an already low 27 percent last
year, only 18 percent of this year’s respondents said they had the most trust in
state government, while 43 percent felt most comfortable with their local
governments. Local governments were also perceived as being the most responsive
of all levels of government, with a 44 percent rating.
Once again, education was chosen as the top priority for most of the state’s
residents. Twenty-seven percent of those polled listed it as their top concern,
followed by 22 percent who listed the economy, and 21 percent who said they were
concerned about growth.
The Social Science Research Center, housed in the College of Social Sciences and
Public Affairs, administered the 18th annual Idaho Public Policy Survey in an
attempt to identify issues of public policy concern among Idaho citizens. The
yearly report is a significant source of information on public policy concerns
for Idaho policymakers, state agency personnel and the public at large. There
were 513 randomly selected respondents to this year’s survey, representing
Idahoans at the state and regional levels. The survey has an error rate of plus
or minus 4 percent statewide.
As in the past several years, most respondents (60 percent) feel the state is
headed in the right direction, although that number is down 4 percentage points
from last year and 10 points from the year before. And respondents were almost
equally split on whether or not city and county services are keeping pace with
growth (about 45 percent on each side).
On the subject of mass transit, 54 percent of those polled said they support
development of mass transit where they live, while 36 percent said they saw no
need. Idaho citizen opinion was split on the idea of implementing a statewide
vehicle emissions test, with 47 percent in support and 41 percent opposing.
When asked if public funds should be used to help provide health insurance to
people who can’t afford it, 62 percent agreed. And 48 percent of those polled
thought requiring people to carry health insurance was a good idea, while 42
percent were not favorable.
Almost two-thirds of this year’s respondents agreed that the use of the Idaho
National Guard outside the region is appropriate. In last year’s poll, 60
percent said they approved of using Idaho National Guard units to fight in
overseas wars such as Iraq,
The 2007 study includes regional and trend analyses, as well as a wide range of
topics. To receive a copy of the survey highlights, contact Richard Rivera at
(208) 426-3181 or
richardrivera@boisestate.edu, or call Carole Nemnich at (208) 426-1835
or carolenemnic@boisestate.edu.
Highlights of the report are also available for download from the Social Science
Research Center Web site at
http://sspa.boisestate.edu/ssrc.
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Contact: Carole Nemnich, Social Science Research Center project director,
(208) 426-1835,
carolenemnic@boisestate.edu
Media Contact: Kathleen Craven, University Communications, (208)
426-3275, kcraven@boisestate.edu
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Boise Idaho 83725-1030
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email
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Last reviewed on
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
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