Muhlenberg College/Morning Call

ANNUAL PENNSYLVANIA QUALITY OF LIFE SURVEY

ELECTION/POLITICAL QUESTIONS

MAY 2011
Frequency Report

Number of Interviews: 459 Adults in Lehigh and Northampton Counties

Number of Interviews for Gracedale Questions: n= 203
Margin of Error: +/- 5.5% at a 95% level of confidence for total sample
+/- 7% at a 95% level of confidence for Gracedale Questions
Fielding Dates – April 18 – May 9, 2011
Method Of Interviewing: Telephone
Method of Sampling: Random Digit Dialing (RDD) Including Cell Phones
Data Weighted by Gender, Race and Educational Attainment
Total May Exceed 100% due to Rounding at .5 level.
Response Rate: 37% AAPOR RR1 Calculation

Q: Intro
Hello, my name is ________. I'm a student at Muhlenberg College conducting a research project
regarding current issues facing the Lehigh Valley. Would you be willing to help us by answering a few
questions?

Q1: Thank you. What is your current age? _____

Recoded into categories

1. 18-29 9%
2. 30-49 33%
3. 50-65 32%
4. Over 65 25%
5. Refused 1%

Q2: How many years have you lived in the Lehigh Valley? _____

Recoded into categories

1. 1-9 15%
2. 10-19 16%
3. 20-29 12%
4. 30-39 10%
5. 40 or more 47%
Q3: Overall, how would you rate the Lehigh Valley as a place to live? Would you say it's an excellent,
good, not so good, or poor place to live?

1. Excellent 30%
2. Good 61%
3. Not So Good 9%
4. Poor
5. Not Sure (Vol)
6. Refused (Vol)

Q4: Overall, how would you rate the Lehigh Valley as a place to raise a family? Would you say it's an
excellent, good, not so good, or poor place to raise a family?

1. Excellent 35%
2. Good 52%
3. Not So Good 7%
4. Poor 4%
5. Not Sure (Vol) 2%
6. Refused (Vol)

Q5: In general, would you say that life in the Lehigh Valley is getting better or getting worse?

1. Getting Better 26%

2. Getting Worse 51%
3. Staying the Same (Vol) 15%
4. Not Sure (Vol) 8%
5. Refused (Vol)

Q6: Next I would like you to rate the quality of various categories of life in the Lehigh Valley. For each
category that I mention, please rate it as either excellent, good, not so good, or poor as it pertains to life in
the Lehigh Valley.

First, health care services?

1. Excellent 39%
2. Good 49%
3. Not So Good 9%
4. Poor 1%
5. Not Sure (Vol) <1%
6. Refused (Vol) <1%

Q7: The Economy?

1. Excellent <1%
2. Good 40%
3. Not So Good 39%
4. Poor 20%
5. Not Sure (Vol) 1%
6. Refused (Vol)
Q8: Transportation?

1. Excellent 6%
2. Good 52%
3. Not So Good 28%
4. Poor 10%
5. Not Sure (Vol) 4%
6. Refused (Vol) 1%

Q9: Public Schools?

1. Excellent 11%
2. Good 49%
3. Not So Good 21%
4. Poor 8%
5. Not Sure (Vol) 10%
6. Refused (Vol) 1%

Q10: Law Enforcement?

1. Excellent 17%
2. Good 65%
3. Not So Good 14%
4. Poor <1%
5. Not Sure (Vol) 3%
6. Refused (Vol) 1%

Q11: Race Relations?

1. Excellent 5%
2. Good 58%
3. Not So Good 17%
4. Poor 8%
5. Not Sure (Vol) 11%
6. Refused (Vol) 2%

Q12: The Environment?

1. Excellent 10%
2. Good 74%
3. Not So Good 12%
4. Poor 2%
5. Not Sure (Vol) 3%
6. Refused (Vol)
Q13: Housing?

1. Excellent 10%
2. Good 56%
3. Not So Good 23%
4. Poor 8%
5. Not Sure (Vol) 4%
6. Refused (Vol) <1%

Q14: Government Services?

1. Excellent 8%
2. Good 58%
3. Not So Good 20%
4. Poor 6%
5. Not Sure (Vol) 6%
6. Refused (Vol) 1%

Q15: And Recreational Opportunities?

1. Excellent 22%
2. Good 59%
3. Not So Good 16%
4. Poor 2%
5. Not Sure (Vol) 2%
6. Refused (Vol)

Q16: Now I would like to ask you some questions regarding your satisfaction with various aspects of
your life. For each aspect that I mention please indicate if you are very satisfied, somewhat satisfied,
somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied.

First how satisfied are you with your current job?

1. Very Satisfied 29%

2. Somewhat Satisfied 18%
3. Somewhat Dissatisfied 6%
4. Very Dissatisfied 4%
5. Not Sure/Retired/Unemployed (Vol) 43%
6. Refused (Vol) 1%

Q17: Your Family Income?

1. Very Satisfied 22%

2. Somewhat Satisfied 49%
3. Somewhat Dissatisfied 15%
4. Very Dissatisfied 8%
5. Not Sure (Vol) 2%
6. Refused (Vol) 5%
Q18: And the amount of time it takes you to commute to work

1. Very Satisfied 29%

2. Somewhat Satisfied 19%
3. Somewhat Dissatisfied 2%
4. Very Dissatisfied 4%
5. Not Sure (Volunteered) 20%
6. Refused (Volunteered) 25%

Q19: Thinking about the next 12 months, would you say you feel optimistic or pessimistic about your
own family's financial situation?

1. Optimistic 59%
2. Pessimistic 32%
3. Not Sure (Vol) 7%
4. Refused (Vol) 3%

Q20: Have you been cutting back on your spending lately, spending at about your usual level, or spending
more than usual?

1. Cutting back on spending 57%

2. Sending at usual level 31%
3. Spending more than usual 9%
4. Not Sure (Vol) 1%
5. Refused (Vol) 3%

Q21: Next, I have a few questions regarding your level of concern for a variety of issues. For each issue
that I mention please tell me if you are very concerned, somewhat concerned, not too concerned, or not at
all concerned?

First, how concerned are you that you will become unemployed in the next year?

1. Very Concerned 16%

2. Somewhat Concerned 8%
3. Not Too Concerned 12%
4. Not At All Concerned 25%
5. Not Sure (Vol) 14%
6. Refused (Vol) 25%

Q22: How concerned are you with the safety of drinking water in your community?

1. Very Concerned 20%

2. Somewhat Concerned 26%
3. Not Too Concerned 30%
4. Not At All Concerned 24%
5. Not Sure (Vol) <1%
6. Refused (Vol) <1%
Q23: How concerned are you with the air quality in your community?

1. Very Concerned 20%

2. Somewhat Concerned 27%
3. Not Too Concerned 31%
4. Not At All Concerned 23%
5. Not Sure (Vol)
6. Refused (Vol) <1%

Q24: How concerned are you with becoming a victim of a crime?

1. Very Concerned 23%

2. Somewhat Concerned 33%
3. Not Too Concerned 32%
4. Not At All Concerned 11%
5. Not Sure (Vol) 1%
6. Refused (Vol) <1%

Q25: How concerned are you with the loss of open spaces such as forests and farms in the Lehigh
Valley?

1. Very Concerned 44%

2. Somewhat Concerned 37%
3. Not Too Concerned 12%
4. Not At All Concerned 7%
5. Not Sure (Vol) <1%
6. Refused (Vol) <1%

Q26: And how concerned are you about not having enough money to pay your rent or mortgage?

1. Very concerned 26%

2. Somewhat concerned 18%
3. Not too concerned 23%
4. Not at all concerned 31%
5. Not Sure (Vol) 2%
6. Refused (Vol) 1%

Q27: Do you use natural gas in your home?

1. Yes 49%
2. No (SKIP to Q31) 49%
3. Not Sure (Vol) 2%
4. Refused (Vol) <1%
Q28: How concerned are you that the gas lines in your neighborhood could be leaking? Are you…
(READ LIST)

1. Very concerned 23%

2. Somewhat concerned 23%
3. Not too concerned 22%
4. Or not at all concerned 30%
5. Not Sure (Vol) 2%
6. Refused (Vol) 1%

Q29: In your current residence have you ever smelled natural gas that you believe was coming from a
leak?

1. Yes 18%
2. No 81%
3. Not Sure (Vol)
4. Refused (Vol) 1%

Q30: Would you be willing to pay an extra $1-$2 on your monthly gas bill in order to facilitate a quicker
replacement of gas lines in Pennsylvania?

1. Yes 79%
2. No 19%
3. Not Sure (Vol) 2%
4. Refused (Vol) 1%

Q31: Should the state require gas companies in Pennsylvania to replace old pipelines more quickly than
they have in the past?

1. Yes 83%
2. No 8%
3. Not Sure (Vol) 7%
4. Refused (Vol) 1%

Q32: What county do you currently reside in? (READ LIST)

1. Northampton 45%
2. Lehigh (SKIP to Q39) 55%
3. Other (SKIP to Q39)
4. Not Sure (Vol) (SKIP to Q39)
5. Refused (Vol) (SKIP to Q39) <1%

NOTE: QUESTIONS 33 to 38 WERE ONLY ANSWERED BY NORTHAMTON COUNTY

RESIDENTS: N = 203

Q33: Do you think that Northampton County should sell Gracedale nursing home to a private company?

1. Yes 18%
2. No 47%
3. Not Sure (Vol) 32%
 4. Refused (Vol) 3%

Q34: Do you agree or disagree that Gracedale’s current facilities and operations make it ill-equipped to
compete with private facilities?

1. Agree 27%
2. Disagree 33%
3. Not Sure (Vol) 36%
4. Refused (Vol) 4%

Q35: How comfortable would you feel with sending a loved one to Gracedale nursing home? Would you
feel… (READ LIST)

1. Very comfortable 24%

2. Somewhat comfortable 21%
3. Somewhat uncomfortable 12%
4. Very uncomfortable 20%
5. Not Sure (Vol) 20%
6. Refused (Vol) 3%

Q36: Do you believe that the quality of care for Gracedale residents would greatly increase, somewhat
increase, somewhat decrease, or greatly decrease under a private provider?

1. Greatly increase 8%
2. Somewhat increase 17%
3. Somewhat decrease 27%
4. Greatly decrease 10%
5. Not Sure (Vol) 35%
6. Refused (Vol) 3%

Q37: Would you be willing to pay higher taxes to keep Gracedale under county control?

1. Yes 32%
2. No 40%
3. Not Sure (Vol) 25%
4. Refused (Vol) 3%

Q38: Should Northampton County use the resources in its savings account to fund Gracedale for the next
five years?

1. Yes 32%
2. No 39%
3. Not Sure (Vol) 24%
4. Refused (Vol) 5%
Q39: Governor Tom Corbett has proposed to cut state funding for public universities in half as a way to
help balance the state’s budget? Do you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose or
strongly oppose the Governor’s budget proposal regarding funding to state universities?

1. Strongly support 8%
2. Somewhat support 14%
3. Somewhat oppose 24%
4. Strongly oppose 48%
5. Not Sure (Vol 3%
6. Refused (Vol) 2%

Q40: During recent years there has been an increased level of natural gas drilling in Pennsylvania's
Marcellus (MAR-cell-us) shale deposits. Currently there is no tax on the extraction of natural gas in the
state. Do you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose or strongly oppose the creation of a
tax on natural gas drilling in Pennsylvania?

1. Strongly support 36%

2. Somewhat support 21%
3. Somewhat oppose 14%
4. Strongly oppose 20%
5. Not Sure (Vol) 10%
6. Refused (Vol) 1%

Q41: Next, I would like for you to rate the performance of a few political officials. For each name that I
read, please tell me if you approve or disapprove of the way he is doing his job.

First, Governor Tom Corbett?

1. Approve 39%
2. Disapprove 31%
3. Not Sure (Vol) 29%
4. Refused (Vol) 1%

Q42: Senator Pat Toomey?

1. Approve 40%
2. Disapprove 30%
3. Not Sure (Vol) 29%
4. Refused (Vol) 2%

Q43: Senator Bob Casey Jr.?

1. Approve 41%
2. Disapprove 19%
3. Not Sure (Vol) 37%
4. Refused (Vol) 3%
Q44: And Congressman Charlie Dent?

1. Approve 54%
2. Disapprove 26%
3. Not Sure (Vol) 19%
4. Refused (Vol) 1%

Q45 Finally, I have a few questions about yourself. Which of the following categories best describes
your racial identity? Are you (READ LIST)

1. White/Caucasian 74%
2. African-American 7%
3. Hispanic 8%
4. Latino 5%
5. Asian 1%
6. Native American
7. Mixed race 1%
8. or other 1%
9. Not Sure (Vol) 2%
10. Refused (Volunteered) 3%

Q46Which of the following categories best describes your religious affiliation? Are you (READ LIST)

1. Catholic 26%
2. Protestant 33%
3. Jewish 2%
4. Muslim <1%
5. Hindu <1%
6. Other Religion (Including agnostic) 26%
7. or Atheist 7%
8. Not Sure (Volunteered) 2%
9. Refused (Volunteered) 4%

Q47Which of the following categories best describes your current voting status? Are you registered as a
(READ LIST)

1.
Democrat 41%
2.
Republican 27%
3.
Independent 14%
4.
Other Party <1%
5.
Not registered to vote in PA 15%
6. Not Sure (Volunteered)
7. Refused (Volunteered) 3%
Q48 What is your current marital status? Are you (READ LIST)

1. Single 11%
2. Married 66%
3. Separated 1%
4. Divorced 8%
5. Widowed 8%
6. Partnered 4%
7. Not sure (Volunteered)
8. Refused (Volunteered) 3%

Q49 What is your highest level of education? (READ LIST)

1. Less than High School 8%

2. High School Graduate 22%
3. Some college or technical school 30%
4. College graduate (4 yr only) 19%
5. Graduate or professional degree 18%
6. Not sure (Volunteered)
7. Refused (Volunteered) 2%

Q50 Which of the following categories best describes your family income? Is it (READ LIST)

1. Under $20,000 12%

2. $20,000-$40,000 18%
3. $40,000-$60,000 20%
4. $60,000-$80,000 10%
5. $80,000-$100,000 9%
6. Over $100,000 14%
7. Not Sure (Volunteered) 7%
8. Refused (Volunteered) 10%

Q51 How many children do you have under 18? ____

Recoded into categories

1. None 67%
2. 1-3 31%
3. 4+ <1%
4. Refused 3%

Q52 Finally, would you be willing to be contacted by a newspaper reporter for a follow up interview?

1. Yes 35%
2. No 61%
3. Not Sure (Volunteered) 2%
4. Refused (Volunteered) 2%
Q53 Thank you for your help with the survey. We appreciate your time.

(DO NOT ASK!)

1. Male 49%
2. Female 51%