State Senator Don Harmon’s 2015 legislative survey

JavaScript isn't enabled in your browser, so this file can't be opened. Enable and reload.

As we head into a new year at the state Capitol, I want to hear your opinion on some of the major issues we may face. Thank you for taking a few minutes to complete this survey.

First name: *

Last name: *

Email address: *

ZIP code: *

1. What areas do you consider a priority for state government? (Check all that apply)

Balancing the budget

Protecting funding for K-12 education

Preventing increased tuition costs at public universities and cuts to need-based financial aid

Protecting children, seniors and people with disabilities

Protecting the environment

Repairing roads, bridges and other infrastructure

Increasing ethical standards and improving the transparency of state government

Public safety

Other:

2. One issue I’ve spent a great deal of time working on over the past few years is making our tax code fairer. What system do you believe is fairer? (Pick one.)

A flat income tax

An income tax that applies lower rates to lower income levels and higher rates to higher income levels

Other:

Clear selection

3. Of course, the income tax is only one part of Illinois’ tax code. Which of the following sales tax plans do you believe can be part of a fair tax system? (Pick one.)

A sales tax that encompasses all goods and services

A sales tax that encompasses only goods and no services

A sales tax that encompasses goods and services, but provides exemptions for basic necessities like essential foods, prescription medication and services such as basic haircuts

Other:

Clear selection

4. Are there any other revenue options you’d be willing to support to help balance the budget? (Check all that apply.)

Expanded gambling opportunities, including a Chicago casino

A tax on miles traveled to support roads and bridges

Higher “sin taxes” on goods like tobacco and alcohol

A tax on sugary beverages

A tax on retirement income in excess of $50,000 per year

Other:

5. Balancing the budget will likely be difficult this year, and we can probably expect spending cuts in many areas. If you could protect one area of the budget from cuts, what would it be? (Note that the following list does not include constitutionally and legally required expenses like pension and debt payments, which make up 29% of the budget.) (Pick one.)

Health care (including Medicaid) – 24% of the budget, $8.8 billion in 2014

Preschool -12th grade education – 19% of the budget, $6.8 billion in 2014

Human services, such as programs for children, the poor and the elderly – 14% of the budget, $5.2 billion in 2014

Public universities, community colleges and financial aid – 6% of the budget, $2.0 billion in 2014

Public safety – 5% of the budget, $1.7 billion in 2014

All other government services – 3% of the budget, $1.1 billion in 2014

Option 7

Clear selection

6. One of the issues that has already come up this year is the idea of government consolidation, which could help save state and local governments money. Which of the following would you support? (Check all that apply.)

Eliminating the office of the comptroller and merging its duties with another statewide elected office

Making it easier to eliminate township governments and distribute their duties to counties and municipalities

Merging elementary school districts with the high school districts they feed into

Eliminating units of government like park districts and library districts and assigning their duties to municipalities

Other:

7. Another issue I’ve been working on for the past several years is reforming the way our court system sentences minors to life in prison. Which of the following statements best matches your view? (Pick one.)

Minors should be able to receive life sentences for crimes that also result in life sentences for adults.

Teenagers should be able to receive life sentences for crimes that also result in life sentences for adults, but sentences for younger children should be limited.

Minors should be able to receive life sentences for certain heinous crimes, but there should be a parole review process that begins after a set number of years.

Minors should never receive life sentences.

Other:

Clear selection

8. Another issue that could help improve people’s lives and save the state money would be reforming sentencing for minor crimes. Which of the following statements best matches your point of view? (Pick one.)

Our current criminal justice system is appropriate.

Minor drug offenses (for example, possessing a small amount of marijuana) should never result in jail time.

First-time, non-violent offenses (for example, embezzlement or petty theft) should only result in jail time for extreme violations.

Non-violent offenses should only result in jail time in extreme circumstances (though house arrest would still be a possibility).

Other:

Clear selection

Do you have any additional questions, comments or ideas you’d like to share?

Submit

Clear form

Never submit passwords through Google Forms.

This content is neither created nor endorsed by Google. - Terms of Service - Privacy Policy

Does this form look suspicious? Report

Forms