Challenges to Lawmakers and Candidates in 2018:

Floridians’ Policy Evaluations Are All Over the Map

 

By Dr. Susan A. MacManus, USF

with the assistance of Amy N. Benner

 

Florida is one of the nation’s most demographically, socioeconomically, and politically diverse states. In 2018, lawmakers and candidates for public office at all levels will attempt to discern “the will of the people of Florida.” The reality is that the task is easier said than done.

 

Results of the 2017 USF-Nielsen Sunshine State Survey vividly show that on some important policies under consideration or already in place, Floridians are united. On many others, they are quite divided, and on some, a sizable share simply is not informed enough to express a preference. Here is a brief overview of their wide-ranging opinions. (For more detailed breakdowns by race/ethnicity, gender, age, income, education, and regional location, go to sunshinestatesurvey.org, 2017 results.)

 

high levels of consensus

 

Floridians are more likely to be on the same page when it comes to their evaluations of programs and policies that affect vulnerable populations and impact the safety and security of the populace.

 

Policies that if adopted/implemented by the State of Florida would be going in “Right Direction”:

 

• Provide after-school programs to reduce juvenile crime: 88%
• Provide more help for domestic violence victims: 84%
• Require devices on vehicles owned by DUI offenders that prevent people who have consumed alcohol from starting vehicle: 79%
• Require owners of motorcycles to purchase vehicle insurance: 77%
• Spend more money on efforts to reduce heroin and other opioid drug overdoses: 72%
• Increase minimum age to operate a motor boat in Fla. from 14 to 16 years of age: 71%
• Require employers to check the immigration status of new hires: 67%
• Provide funding to protect religious facilities and schools from attacks by hate groups, 66%
• Automatically register Florida residents to vote when they turn 18 years of age: 60%

 

State policies/programs that are performing well (“good” or “excellent”):

• Quality of higher education in Florida’s state colleges and universities: 72%
• Informing people about public health dangers like Zika and other epidemics:   68%

 

State policies/programs that are not performing well (only “fair” or “poor”):

• Rehabilitating criminal offenders: 73%
• Improving race relations: 67%
• Assisting the mentally disabled: 65%
• Assisting veterans: 63%
• Managing the state’s finances: 63%
• Protecting the environment: 60%

 

Local Level Inadequacies (“somewhat” or “big” problem):

“Some community leaders are worried about having enough people to live and fill job openings in their communities. If someone you knew was considering a move, would any of the following keep them from choosing to move into your community?” 

Community deterrent (“somewhat” or “big” problem):

• • Traffic congestion: 72%
  • Cost of buying a home: 70%
  • Cost of rental housing: 69%
  • Availability of public transportation: 67%
  • Availability of affordable long-term care: 60%

 

Individual Financial Worry

How concerned are you about the cost of nursing home care for a family member, a friend or for yourself? 

• “Somewhat” or “very”: 73%

 

Divided opinions (less consensus)

 

It is the most difficult to generate consensus on economic, environmental, educational, and individual rights-related problems and policies.

 

• The most important issue facing the State of Florida today? Economy/jobs (14%), environment (13%), education (10%), health care (10%), crime/policing (10%), population growth (8%).

 

• The single biggest threat to Florida’s economy? Lack of well-paying jobs (30%), government waste, taxes, regulations (23%), illegal immigration (15%), inadequate education system (11%).

 

• Preferred approach Florida Legislature should take when drawing up its annual state budget? Keep taxes and services the same (28%), raise taxes to improve critical services and infrastructure (27%), create new revenue source and earmark it to a specific service/project (20%), cut taxes and reduce less critical services (19%). Summary: Opposed to new/higher taxes or service expansion (47%) vs. open to new/higher taxes and service expansion (47%).

 

• Reduce the amount of State money used to promote Florida tourism? Wrong direction (38%), right direction (34%), no opinion (28%). [Combining “no opinion” and DK/NA]

 

• Restrictiveness of Florida’s current gun laws? About right as is (49%), not restrictive enough (40%), too restrictive (8%).

 

• The biggest environmental problem facing Florida today? Loss of natural lands for wildlife (20%); invasive species (17%); water-related problems (16%); rising sea levels (15%).

 

• The biggest threat to student safety on college and university campuses? Alcohol abuse (26%), drug abuse (21%), sexual assault (19%), non-students coming on campus (8%), gun violence (8%), all equally (12%).

 

• The most serious situation facing Florida’s college and university graduates today? Debt at graduation (35%), graduating without job skills required by employers (22%), lack of well-paying jobs in their field (21%), employers worry that young workers’ work ethic is inferior to that of older workers (12%), graduating without foreign language skills (3%).

 

• State of Florida giving more rights and assistance to undocumented (illegal) immigrants? Wrong direction (52%), right direction (24%), no opinion (25%).

 

• The quality of education in your local public schools?  Excellent (15%), good (35%), fair (32%), poor (14%); Summary; 50% positive v. 46% negative.

 

• Access to quality health care would keep someone from moving into your community? Not a problem (49%), somewhat or a big problem (48%).

 

 

sizable share of “no opinion” responses

 

When large shares of the population express no opinion on a key policy, it signals to lawmakers, advocacy, and adversarial groups alike that they have a big educational task ahead of them. Lack of knowledge levels are generally highest among younger Floridians and newcomers to the state.

 

• If the State of Florida were to pass stricter growth management regulations? Would be the right direction (40%), the wrong direction (12%), no opinion (47%).

 

• Statement best reflecting your feelings about wind turbines in Florida? A good source of renewable energy (46%), are undesirable near residences (5%), kill too many birds (4%), don’t know enough about issue (42%).

 

• Florida drivers’ awareness of the State’s “Move Over” law [for stopped law enforcement, emergency, sanitation, utility service vehicles, tow trucks and wreckers]?  Very aware (12%), somewhat aware (29%), not too aware (28%), don’t know what law is (29%).

 

A FINAL OBSERVATION

 

The breadth of opinions among adult Floridians about key problems, programs, and policies makes it one of the most difficult states in which to generate consensus. While its population diversity is clearly one of the Sunshine State’s major assets, it also makes public policy-making considerably more challenging. Simply put, Florida is not a “one size fits all” state. Successful policy-making efforts require coalition-building and that is the challenge each lawmaker and candidate will face in 2018.

 

The 2017 USF-Nielsen Sunshine State Survey of 1,215 adult Floridians was conducted by The Nielsen Company by telephone July 24-August 14, 2017. The margin of error is +/- 2.8%. See the full methodology here. The annual Sunshine State Survey is a public policy-focused survey designed to provide civic, business, nonprofit, and government leaders and citizens with objective data to help make informed decisions.