Opinions of Small Employers. NFIB Research Foundation Washington, DC

Transcription

1 Opinions of Small Employers NFIB Research Foundation Washington, DC 1

2 Susquehanna Polling and Research Sample Size: 500 small-business owners with employees, random sample from the Dun and Bradstreet files Telephone survey conducted from April 20-June 16,

3 Generally speaking, do you think things in the nation are generally headed in the right direction, or are they off on the wrong track? % Right Track Wrong Track Not Sure Refuse 11% 1% 3

4 Generally speaking, would you rate the overall business climate in the country today as excellent, good, fair or poor? % % 2 21% 1 Poor Fair Good Excellent Undecided 4% 1% 4

5 How concerned are you about the size and growth of the federal deficit? % % 7% 2% Not concerned Not too concerned Somewhat concerned Very concerned Undecided 5

6 Which of the following economic problems should be Washington s highest priority? Should it be: 3 33% % 18% 1 8% 11% 6% Slowing the rising cost of health insurance Getting the federal budget under control Reforming the federal tax code Reducing U.S. dependence on foreign oil Reducing the regulatory burdens on businesses Not Sure 6

7 Where would you put yourself on a scale of 1 (one) to 10 (ten), where one means you prefer little if any government interference in markets and private business, and 10 means you prefer strong government guidance of the economy including public ownership of the most important businesses? 3 33% % 1 12% 12% 7% 6% 4% 4% 3% 2% Undecided Little interference Strong guidance 7

8 How concerned are you about the Federal Reserve Bank raising interest rates? 4 37% % % 16% 4% Not concerned at all Not too concerned Somewhat concerned Very concerned Undecided 8

9 How concerned are you about your ability to access credit for your small business? 4 37% % 1 16% 18% Not concerned at all Not too concerned Somewhat concerned Very concerned Undecided 3% 9

10 Where would you put yourself on a scale of 1 (one) to 10 (ten) where one means the taxes you currently pay are much too low, and 10 means the taxes you currently pay are much too high? % 13% 12% 6% 3% 3% 2% 2% 1% 1% Undecided Too low Too high 10

11 Thinking more about the taxes you pay, which one of the following six taxes most hinder job creation and economic growth for you or your company gasoline taxes, personal income taxes, FICA taxes, sales and excise taxes or corporate taxes? % % 12% 16% 9% 7% Gasoline tax Personal income tax FICA taxes Sales and excise tax Corporate tax Not sure None 11

12 From this same list, which of these taxes would you LEAST OBJECT to being increased? 2 21% 18% 19% 1 1 9% 7% Gasoline tax Personal income tax FICA taxes Sales and excise tax Corporate tax Not sure None 12

13 Increase the top tax rate for long-term capital gains from 23.8 to 28 percent % 14% Strongly oppose Somewhat oppose Somewhat support Strongly support Undecided 13

14 Internet purchases should be subject to state and local sales taxes. 4 37% % 1 14% Strongly oppose Somewhat oppose Somewhat support Strongly support Undecided 14

15 On a scale of 1 (one) to 10 (ten), do labor unions make an overall positive or negative contribution to the economy overall, where the lowest possible score of 1 means they make an overall negative contribution while 10 means they make a positive contribution % 19% 1 13% 6% 7% 6% 6% 7% Undecided 1% Overall negative Overall Positive 15

16 Employees should have the right to use their work account for union organizing activities % % Strongly oppose Somewhat oppose Somewhat support Strongly support Undecided 16

17 How concerned are you about government abuse in the taking of private property for public purposes, the so-called eminent domain issue? % % 1 9% 16% 8% Not concerned at all Not too concerned Somewhat concerned Very concerned Undecided 17

18 Government should further restrict the ability of workers to be classified as independent contractors % 12% 8% 12% Strongly oppose Somewhat oppose Somewhat support Strongly support Undecided 18

19 In addressing the country s health insurance problem, is it more important for federal lawmakers to control the cost of health insurance, or to expand coverage to those uninsured? % % 13% 4% Controlling cost of health insurance Expanding health insurance Both equally Not sure Refuse 19

20 All employers should be required to offer health insurance to all their full-time employees and pay 60 percent of the premium % % 17% 17% Strongly disagree Somewhat disagree Somewhat agree Strongly agree Undecided 4% 20

21 All Americans should be required to have health insurance, whether it is employer provided or individually purchased % % 1 17% 19% Strongly disagree Somewhat disagree Somewhat agree Strongly agree Undecided 3% 21

22 Employers should be allowed to offer tax-deductible reimbursement or financial support to help employees pay for health insurance plans that the employee purchases on their own % % 6% 4% Strongly disagree Somewhat disagree Somewhat agree Strongly agree Undecided 22

23 Congress should increase federal personal income taxes to subsidize the purchase of health insurance for those who cannot afford it. 6 56% % 13% 11% 4% Strongly oppose Somewhat oppose Somewhat support Strongly support Undecided 23

24 In general, the United States benefits from free trade agreements with other countries. 4 37% % 1 Strongly disagree Somewhat disagree Somewhat agree Strongly agree Undecided 24

25 Break up businesses into smaller companies if those businesses are determined to be too big to fail, that is, a firm is so big or so important to the economy that the government cannot let it go bankrupt % 22% 26% 1 14% 8% Strongly oppose Somewhat oppose Somewhat support Strongly support Undecided 25

26 Where would you put yourself on a scale of 1 (one) to 10 (ten) where one means you are not interested in introducing the latest technology into your business, and 10 means you are intensely interested in introducing the latest technology into your business? 2 23% 1 13% 9% 8% 9% 6% 2% 4% 3% 2% Undecided Not Interested Very Interested 26

27 Implement measures to curb global warming even when there is a significant adverse economic effect % 18% 16% 8% Strongly oppose Somewhat oppose Somewhat support Strongly support Undecided 27

28 Increase taxes on gasoline, diesel and other vehicle fuels to finance the development of non-polluting sources of energy like solar or wind power % 1 13% Strongly oppose Somewhat oppose Somewhat support Strongly support Undecided 2% 28

29 Increase the age to collect Social Security retirement benefits. 6 53% % 16% 13% Strongly oppose Somewhat oppose Somewhat support Strongly support Undecided 2% 29

30 Increase FICA taxes to pay for Social Security and disability benefits % % 9% 9% Strongly oppose Somewhat oppose Somewhat support Strongly support Undecided 30

31 Reduce future Social Security benefits for relatively wealthy retirees. 3 32% 3 27% 2 23% 1 14% Strongly oppose Somewhat oppose Somewhat support Strongly support Undecided 3% 31

32 Remove the so-called wage base and pay FICA taxes on all earned income. 2 23% 19% 1 16% Strongly oppose Somewhat oppose Somewhat support Strongly support Undecided 32

33 Let current illegal immigrants remain and eventually become citizens % 21% 1 1 7% Strongly oppose Somewhat oppose Somewhat support Strongly support Undecided 33

34 Let current illegal immigrants remain, but they must learn English, work, pay a fine, and wait their turns to become citizens % % 1 17% 7% 2% Strongly oppose Somewhat oppose Somewhat support Strongly support Undecided 34

35 Deport current illegal immigrants when identified % 1 17% 13% Strongly oppose Somewhat oppose Somewhat support Strongly support Undecided 6% 35

36 Allow states to enforce federal immigration laws % % 4% 2% Strongly oppose Somewhat oppose Somewhat support Strongly support Undecided 36

37 Prosecute employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants % % 8% 3% Strongly oppose Somewhat oppose Somewhat support Strongly support Undecided 37

38 Where would you put yourself on a scale of 1 (one) to 10 (ten) where one means you identify strongly as a conservative and 10 means you identify strongly as a liberal % 19% 1 6% 4% 6% 8% 4% 6% 1% 38

39 Where would you put yourself on a scale of 1 (one) to 10 (ten) where one means completely uninterested in government, politics and public policy and 10 means completely absorbed in government, politics and public policy. 2 22% 19% 18% 1 8% 4% 3% 3% 3% 1% Undecided Uninterested Very Interested 39