Maine Election-Day Penny Poll
Concerning
Federal Expenditure Preferences
Statewide Press Release
(slightly reformatted for easier web reading)
Statewide Contacts: Larry Dansinger, 525-7776, rosc@psouth.net Lisa Savage, 399-7623, lsavage3@gmail.com Portland contacts: Rosalie Tyler Paul, 371-2077 Robin Farrin, 664-8209 PRESS RELEASE -- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 9, 2011 -- 3:00 PM Maine voters: More taxes for social programs, less for defense
"Penny Polls," held in eleven towns and cities throughout Maine on election day, November 8th, 2011, demonstrated that voters want more of their tax dollars to go for social programs and much less for defense. About 2,075 voters participated in the polls that were offered as those who had previously voted exited the polling station.
Participants for these "penny polls" were given ten pennies, each representing ten percent of the income taxes they pay to the federal government. They were then asked to put pennies in jars, representing the largest parts of the federal discretionary budget, where they wanted their tax dollars to be spent.
The biggest vote getter in the poll was "education," garnering 19.5% of all pennies, followed closely by "health care," with 17.5%. The third most popular category was "veterans benefits," with 13.2%, followed by "food/agriculture" at 9.8%, "environment/science" at 9.3%, "transportation" at 7.7%, and "interest on the national debt" at 7.5%. Bringing up the rear were "defense" at 6.5%, "housing/urban development" at 6.4%, and "general government" at 2.7%. Towns and cities represented included Portland, Lewiston, Bowdoinham, Belgrade, Wilton, Skowhegan, Belfast, Monroe, Old Town, Orland, and Southwest Harbor.
A previous series of polls, at post offices, events, and other public venues, took place in the late spring and summer in each Maine county. Over 1,500 people participated in those polls, at least one in every county in Maine. Those results were within two percent of those from the election day polls. The results were also fairly consistent in different parts of the state.
By far the biggest difference between what Maine voters want and how Congress spends taxpayer money is between the actual defense budget, which is about half of the federal discretionary budget, and its polling support of less than twenty percent. Two thirds of the pennies went to veterans benefits, although only 20-25% of allocations are for that part of the Pentagon budget. Education, health care, environment/science, and food/agriculture were all much more popular in Maine than the amount they actually receive from Congress
"Congress is out of touch with the priorities of most people in this country," said Lisa Savage, of Solon, who conducted one of the polls.
Press conferences to describe in more detail these differences are scheduled for Friday in Bangor and Portland.
For more information on these polls, contact Larry Dansinger, 525-7776, rosc@psouth.net or Lisa Savage, 399-7623.
RESULTS OF EACH POLL LISTED BELOW: PENNY POLL RESULTS—November 8th election, 2011 Total Penny Poll Results -- 11 Polls throughout Maine Defense: 1340 6.5% Education: 4050 19.5% Environment/Science: 1929 9.3% Food/Agriculture: 2026 9.8% General Government: 556 2.7% Health Care: 3622 17.5% Housing/Urban Development: 1322 6.4% Interest on National Debt: 1556 7.5% Transportation: 1597 7.7% Veterans Benefits: 2739 13.2% Total Pennies for all polls: 20,737 100% Portland (Reiche Elementary School), 10:30 AM to 1 PM Pollster: Robin Farrin Defense- 17 Education- 196 Environment/Science- 132 Food/Agriculture- 116 General Government- 28 Health Care- 213 Housing/Urban Development- 88 Interest on National Debt- 54 Transportation 88 Veterans Benefits- 66 Total Pennies- 998 Southwest Harbor (Fire Station), 8AM-8PM Pollsters: Dick Atlee, Pete Benedetti, assisted by Marsha Lyons, Kate Henry, Dean Henry Defense-- 212 Education-- 496 Environment/Science-- 289 Food/Agriculture-- 243 General Government-- 121 Health Care-- 491 Housing/Urban Development- 210 Interest on National Debt-- 201 Transportation-- 234 Veterans Benefits-- 458 Total Pennies 2955 Skowhegan (Town Hall), Noon to 8pm Pollsters: Lisa Savage, Mark Roman Defense 166 Education 351 Environment 157 Food/Ag. 239 Gen Govt. 59 Health Care 347 Housing 144 Interest on Debt 188 Transportation 137 Veterans Benefits 337 Total Pennies 2125 Belgrade (Center for All Seasons), 7.25 hours Pollster: Chris Buchanan Defense: 49 Education: 87 Environment/Science: 66 Food/Agriculture: 47 General Government: 15 Health Care: 88 Housing/Urban Development: 28 Interest on National Debt: 44 Transportation: 44 Veterans Benefits: 62 Total Pennies: 530 Bowdoinham (Town Hall), 8AM-6PM Pollster: Carl Smith Defense: 88 Education: 248 Environment/Science: 163 Food/Agriculture: 144 General Government: 55 Health Care: 195 Housing/Urban Development: 91 Interest on National Debt: 95 Transportation: 120 Veterans Benefits: 151 Total Pennies: 1350 Old Town (Knights of Columbus Hall), 7AM to 6:30 PM Pollsters: Katie Greenman, Sharen Wilson Defense 314 Education 1093 Environment/Science 392 Food/Agriculture 409 General Government 103 Health Care 757 Housing/Urban Develop. 206 Interest on National Debt 302 Transportation 367 Veterans Benefits 527 Total Pennies 4470 Orland (Town Hall), morning, afternoon, early evening totaling 5.5 hours Pollster: Sharon Thompson Defense 51 Education 227 Environment/Science 102 Food/Agriculture 78 General Government 33 Health Care 204 Housing/Urban Development 57 Interest on National Debt 72 Transportation 77 Veterans Benefits 181 Total Pennies 1082 Lewiston (Multi-Purpose Center), 5.5 hours Polsters: Ari Rosenberg, Peg Hoffman, Corbin Lichtinger Defense - 117 Education - 362 Environment/Science - 160 Food/Agriculture - 170 General Government - 37 Health Care - 423 Housing/Urban Development - 188 Interest on National Debt - 113 Transportation - 113 Veterans Benefits - 217 Total Pennies - 1900 Wilton (Town Office), 8 AM-5:30 PM Pollster: Eileen Liddy Defense 226 Education 603 Environment/Science 226 Food/Agriculture 341 General Government 48 Health Care 572 Housing/Urban Development 173 Interest on National Debt 356 Transportation 245 Veterans Benefits 515 Total Pennies 3305 Belfast (Boat House), 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM Pollster: Miriam Watkins Defense: 20 Education: 174 Environment/Science: 127 Food/Agriculture: 106 General Government: 35 Health Care: 184 Housing/Urban Development: 65 Interest on National Debt: 51 Transportation: 98 Veterans Benefits: 68 Total Pennies: 928 Monroe (Town Hall, 12:30-7 PM Pollsters: Larry Dansinger, Martha Goodale Defense: 80 Education: 213 Environment/Science: 115 Food/Agriculture: 133 General Government: 22 Health Care: 148 Housing/Urban Development: 72 Interest on National Debt: 80 Transportation: 74 Veterans Benefits: 157 Total Pennies: 1094