O'Neil Associates

“Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act”

According to a just-released survey, Valley business and community leaders are divided in their support of the "Arizona Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act."  The Valley Influentials Poll, which surveys members of Valley Leadership, East Valley Partnership, Greater Phoenix Leadership, and Westmarc, asked members how they plan to vote on the initiative called, "Arizona Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act." If this initiative passes, every person will be required to present proof of United States Citizenship in order to vote.  In addition, the initiative would require all government employees to report immigration law violations by those applying for public benefits.  

At this point, support for the initiative among Valley leaders is divided, with roughly equal proportions intending to support and oppose the initiative.  A full 45% of respondents intend to vote in favor of this initiative; this figure is matched by the proportion intending to vote against the initiative (47%).  The poll’s director Dr. Michael O’Neil commented on these results, "This is an issue that has not been widely discussed in the general public, so the results can largely be taken of a reflection of first impressionistic responses to the act’s title.  What taxpayer would not want to be 'protected'?  These figures are not necessarily reflective of the more considered responses that would come up if and when this issue is more widely and deeply discussed."

Democrats Strongly Oppose

With 64% intending to vote against the initiative, Democrats are the strongest opponents to the “Arizona Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act.”  A much smaller proportion of Republicans oppose the initiative (32%).  In fact, Republicans at this early stage are more apt to favor the initiative, with 59% favoring.  Dr. Michael O’Neil commented on the results saying, “Although Republicans are more likely than Democrats to favor the ‘Arizona Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act,’ the level of support we are seeing from even this core group remains tepid.  Fifty-nine percent of Republicans intending to vote favorably is still only lukewarm support.”    

 Support from Conservatives

Conservatives are considerably more likely than liberals to favor the ‘Arizona Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act.’  In fact, over three-quarters (78%) of self-described ‘conservatives’ intend to vote in favor of this act.  By comparison, only 26% of liberals intend to vote in favor of this act. 

Organizations Do Not Differ

Although we typically observe differences between the four groups polled, regarding this particular act, members of Greater Phoenix Leadership, Westmarc, Valley Leadership and East Valley Partnership do not hold significantly differing opinions.  Support is highest among Westmarc members, 51% of whom intend to vote for the ‘Arizona Citizen and Taxpayer Protection Act.’  But Westmarc support is only slightly larger than support found within each of the other organizations polled (Greater Phoenix Leadership 43%, East Valley Partnership 43%, East Valley Partnership 41%).   
About the Poll. The O’Neil Associates Valley Influentials Poll is a web-based survey that was sent to all members of Greater Phoenix Leadership, Valley Leadership, East Valley Partnership, and Westmarc. As such, this survey does not purport to be a random or representative sampling of the general population of the Phoenix metropolitan area. It would be difficult, however, to conceive of a more comprehensive representation from which to draw inferences about the opinions and sensibilities of business and community leaders than the combined membership of these organizations, although, inevitably, any definition of influentials is somewhat subjective. The persons surveyed are likely to exert disproportionate influence on and be an early indicator of community opinion by virtue of their position, community involvement, and political participation. The O’Neil Associates Valley Influentials Poll was not sponsored or paid for by any outside organization. 308 participants completed the survey between July 15 and August 2, 2004, yielding a margin of error of ±5.7%.  O’Neil Associates, Inc. is a Tempe-based public opinion research firm specializing in client-focused attitude and awareness studies for a wide variety of industries and organizations.
FOR RELEASE: Wednesday, September 8, 2004                      (VIP 036-2004-05)
FURTHER INFORMATION: Michael O'Neil, Ph.D., 480-967-4441 ext. 221 These results may be reported freely provided that they are identified as the “O’Neil Associates Valley Influentials Poll” including identification on any graphic material.
O’Neil Associates has tracked public opinion across the Valley, Arizona, and the Nation since 1981. To be healthy, public debate must be informed—this is why we commit our resources to measuring opinions on the political and social issues people care about and talk about. O’Neil Associates, however, is much more than that. While the Valley Influentials Poll and Valley Monitor may be our most publicly visible activities, we do most of our work for private businesses and organizations as well as state and other public agencies. As a full-service research firm, we assist our clients with a broad range of research efforts to measure customer satisfaction, improve customer service, fine-tune public images, focus marketing campaigns, engineer products, increase market shares, strengthen employee relations, and plan, refine, and assess business strategies.
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