Akron Buckeye Poll
Spring 2005 Survey
Term Limits and Confidence in Ohio Government
Methodology
These results are based on a state survey conducted by the Ray C. Bliss Institute of
Applied Politics and Center for Policy Studies of the University of Akron in March and
April 2005. The overall sample size was 1517 respondents, comprised of a statewide
random sample and several regional over-samples. The dataset was weighted to produce
a representative sample of the entire state with an error rate of less than +/- 3 % in 95
samples out of a hundred.
I. View on Legislative Term Limits
1. Ohio limits the terms of state legislators to a maximum of eight consecutive years.
Overall, do you approve or disapprove of the eight-year term limit for state legislators,
or do you not have an opinion on that?
Frequency
Valid
Missing
Strongly
Approve
Somewhat
Approve
No opinion
Valid Percent
Cumulative
Percent
410
27.3
27.4
27.4
300
20.0
20.1
47.5
375
25.0
25.1
72.6
153
10.2
10.2
82.9
100.0
Somewhat
Disapprove
Strongly
Disapprove
Total
256
17.1
17.1
1494
99.6
100.0
REFUSED*
1
.1
4
.3
DON T
KNOW/REMEM
BER*
Total
Total
Percent
6
.4
1500
100.0
2. Now I'm going to read you some statements about the effect of term
limits in Ohio, that is restricting legislators to a limited number of
years in office. For each statement I would like you to tell me whether
you strongly agree, agree, have no opinion, disagree or strongly
disagree with a statement. (Following items were rotated.)
2a. Term limits have reduced wisdom and experience in the Ohio state
legislature
Valid
Frequency
74
Percent
4.9
Valid Percent
5.0
Cumulative
Percent
5.0
Agree
407
27.2
27.7
32.8
No opinion
239
16.0
16.3
49.1
Disagree
666
44.4
45.3
94.4
82
5.5
5.6
100.0
1468
97.9
100.0
3
.2
28
1.9
Strongly agree
Strongly
Disagree
Total
Missing
REFUSED*
DON T
KNOW/REMEM
BER*
Total
Total
31
2.1
1500
100.0
2b. Term limits have brought fresh ideas and perspectives to the Ohio
state legislature.
Valid
Frequency
108
Percent
7.2
Valid Percent
7.3
Cumulative
Percent
7.3
Agree
749
50.0
50.7
58.0
No opinion
233
15.5
15.8
73.7
Disagree
335
22.3
22.7
96.4
54
3.6
3.6
100.0
1478
98.6
100.0
3
.2
18
1.2
Strongly agree
Strongly
Disagree
Total
Missing
REFUSED*
DON T
KNOW/REMEM
BER*
Total
Total
21
1.4
1500
100.0
2c. Term limits have brought fresh ideas and perspectives to the Ohio
state legislature.
Valid
Frequency
108
Percent
7.2
Valid Percent
7.3
Cumulative
Percent
7.3
Agree
749
50.0
50.7
58.0
No opinion
233
15.5
15.8
73.7
Disagree
335
22.3
22.7
96.4
54
3.6
3.6
100.0
1478
98.6
100.0
3
.2
18
1.2
21
1.4
1500
100.0
Strongly agree
Strongly
Disagree
Total
Missing
REFUSED*
DON T
KNOW/REMEM
BER*
Total
Total
2d. Term limits have reduced the effectiveness of the Ohio state
legislature in solving problems.
Frequency
Valid
Strongly agree
Cumulative
Percent
65
4.3
4.4
4.4
386
25.8
26.2
30.6
No opinion
235
15.6
15.9
46.5
Disagree
703
46.9
47.7
94.2
85
5.7
5.8
100.0
1474
98.3
100.0
3
.2
DON T
KNOW/REMEMBER*
23
1.5
Total
26
1.7
1500
100.0
Total
Total
Valid Percent
Agree
Strongly Disagree
Missing
Percent
REFUSED*
2e. Term limits have made the Ohio state legislature more responsive to
the people.
Frequency
Valid
Strongly agree
Valid Percent
Cumulative
Percent
86
5.8
5.8
5.8
Agree
682
45.5
46.1
51.9
No opinion
239
16.0
16.2
68.1
Disagree
397
26.5
26.8
94.9
75
5.0
5.1
100.0
1479
98.7
100.0
3
.2
DON T
KNOW/REMEMBER*
17
1.1
Total
20
1.3
1500
100.0
Strongly Disagree
Total
Missing
Percent
REFUSED*
Total
2f. Term limits have replaced career politicians with citizen legislators
in Ohio.
Frequency
Valid
Cumulative
Percent
100
6.7
6.9
6.9
Agree
623
41.5
43.0
49.9
No opinion
339
22.6
23.4
73.3
Disagree
346
23.1
23.8
97.1
100.0
Total
Total
Valid Percent
Strongly agree
Strongly Disagree
Missing
Percent
REFUSED*
42
2.8
2.9
1450
96.7
100.0
4
.3
DON T
KNOW/REMEMBER*
45
3.0
Total
50
3.3
1500
100.0
2g. Term limits have made special interests more powerful in the Ohio
state legislature.
Frequency
Valid
Strongly agree
Valid Percent
Cumulative
Percent
81
5.4
5.5
5.5
Agree
475
31.7
32.5
38.0
No opinion
348
23.2
23.7
61.7
Disagree
505
33.7
34.5
96.2
56
3.7
3.8
100.0
1465
97.7
100.0
3
.2
31
2.1
Strongly Disagree
Total
Missing
Percent
REFUSED*
DON T
KNOW/REMEMBER*
Total
Total
35
2.3
1500
100.0
3. Some people say that term limits have produced poor government in
Ohio that has hurt the state. Other people say that term limits have
produced good government in Ohio and helped the state. Which position
comes closest to your view…have term limits helped or hurt the state?
Frequency
Valid
Cumulative
Percent
443
29.5
33.2
33.2
Good government,
helped the state
892
59.5
66.8
100.0
1335
89.0
100.0
35
2.3
129
8.6
REFUSED*
DON T
KNOW/REMEMBER*
Total
Total
Valid Percent
Poor government,
hurt the state
Total
Missing
Percent
164
11.0
1500
100.0
4. Which of the following comes CLOSEST to your view of what should be
done about legislative term limits in Ohio? (The order of response
options rotated.)
Frequency
Valid
Kept as is
Allow twelve years
Allow unlimited years
1073
71.6
76.4
76.4
157
10.5
11.2
87.6
100.0
174
11.6
12.4
93.7
100.0
REFUSED*
36
2.4
DON T
KNOW/REMEMBER*
59
3.9
Total
Total
Cumulative
Percent
Valid Percent
1405
Total
Missing
Percent
95
6.3
1500
100.0
4b. Would a term limit of twelve years be acceptable to you?
Frequency
Valid
Valid Percent
Cumulative
Percent
Yes
430
28.7
32.9
32.9
No
877
58.5
67.1
100.0
1307
87.2
100.0
157
10.5
7
.4
28
1.9
Total
Missing
Percent
Not Asked (Allow 12
year limit)
REFUSED*
DON T
KNOW/REMEMBER*
Total
Total
192
12.8
1500
100.0
II. Evaluation of Current Situation in Ohio
1. Overall, would you say the state of Ohio is on the right track or the
wrong track?
Frequency
Valid
Right track
Wrong track
Total
Missing
REFUSED*
DON T
KNOW/REMEMBER
*
Total
Total
Percent
Valid Percent
593
39.5
Cumulative
Percent
44.3
44.3
100.0
745
49.7
55.7
1338
89.2
100.0
21
1.4
140
9.3
162
10.8
1500
100.0
2. What about the Ohio ECONOMY, is it on the right track or the wrong
track?
Frequency
Valid
Right track
Wrong track
Total
Missing
REFUSED*
DON T
KNOW/REMEMBER
*
Total
Total
Percent
Cumulative
Percent
Valid Percent
487
32.5
35.6
35.6
100.0
881
58.8
64.4
1368
91.2
100.0
15
1.0
116
7.8
132
8.8
1500
100.0
3. What about the MORAL CLIMATE in Ohio, is it on the right track or the
wrong track?
Frequency
Valid
Cumulative
Percent
Valid Percent
Right track
761
50.8
55.7
55.7
Wrong track
605
40.3
44.3
100.0
1366
91.1
100.0
29
2.0
104
6.9
Total
Missing
Percent
REFUSED*
DON T
KNOW/REMEMBER
*
Total
Total
133
8.9
1500
100.0
4. Overall, how would you rate Ohio as a place to live... Excellent,
Good, Fair, Poor, Very Poor, or do you not have an opinion on that?
Frequency
Valid
Cumulative
Percent
252
16.8
16.8
16.8
Good
758
50.5
50.6
67.5
Fair
325
21.7
21.7
89.2
Poor
75
5.0
5.0
94.2
Very Poor
38
2.6
2.6
96.8
No opinion
48
3.2
3.2
100.0
100.0
1496
99.8
REFUSED*
2
.2
DON T
KNOW/REMEMBER*
1
.1
Total
Total
Valid Percent
Excellent
Total
Missing
Percent
4
.2
1500
100.0
III. Evaluation of Ohio Government Institutions
1. How would you rate the job Governor Taft is doing as governor ...
Excellent, Good, Fair, Poor, Very Poor, or do you not have an opinion
on that?
Frequency
Valid
Excellent
Valid Percent
Cumulative
Percent
19
1.3
1.3
1.3
Good
256
17.0
17.1
18.3
Fair
434
29.0
29.0
47.4
Poor
302
20.1
20.2
67.5
Very Poor
240
16.0
16.0
83.5
No opinion
246
16.4
16.5
100.0
100.0
Total
Missing
Percent
1497
99.8
REFUSED*
2
.1
DON T
KNOW/REMEMBER*
1
.0
Total
Total
3
.2
1500
100.0
2. How would you rate the job the Ohio state legislature is doing in
handling the problems facing the state these days ... Excellent, Good,
Fair, Poor, Very Poor, or do you not have an opinion on that?
Frequency
Valid
Excellent
8
.5
.5
.5
186
12.4
12.5
13.0
Fair
550
36.6
37.0
50.0
Poor
299
19.9
20.1
70.1
Very Poor
115
7.7
7.7
77.9
No opinion
329
22.0
22.1
100.0
1486
99.1
100.0
1
.0
12
.8
REFUSED*
DON T KNOW /
REMEMBER*
Total
Total
Cumulative
Percent
Valid Percent
Good
Total
Missing
Percent
13
.9
1500
100.0
3. How would you rate the job your state representative is doing in
representing your area ... Excellent, Good, Fair, Poor, Very Poor, or
do you not have an opinion on that?
Frequency
Valid
Excellent
Cumulative
Percent
Valid Percent
80
5.3
5.4
5.4
Good
461
30.8
31.1
36.5
Fair
381
25.4
25.7
62.2
Poor
148
9.8
9.9
72.1
Very Poor
57
3.8
3.9
76.0
No opinion
357
23.8
24.0
100.0
1485
99.0
100.0
1
.1
14
.9
Total
Missing
Percent
REFUSED*
DON T
KNOW/REMEMBER*
Total
Total
15
1.0
1500
100.0
4. How would you rate the job your state senator is doing in
representing your area ... Excellent, Good, Fair, Poor, Very Poor, or
do you not have an opinion on that?
Frequency
Valid
Excellent
Cumulative
Percent
41
2.7
2.8
2.8
475
31.6
31.9
34.7
Fair
427
28.5
28.7
63.4
Poor
149
9.9
10.0
73.4
Very Poor
51
3.4
3.5
76.9
No opinion
344
22.9
23.1
100.0
1487
99.1
100.0
1
.1
12
.8
REFUSED*
DON T
KNOW/REMEMBER
*
Total
Total
Valid Percent
Good
Total
Missing
Percent
13
.9
1500
100.0
5. How would you rate the job the Ohio supreme court is doing in
handling the problems facing the state these days ... Excellent, Good,
Fair, Poor, Very Poor, or do you not have an opinion on that?
Frequency
Valid
Excellent
Valid Percent
Cumulative
Percent
26
1.7
1.8
1.8
Good
304
20.3
20.5
22.3
Fair
406
27.1
27.4
49.6
Poor
175
11.7
11.8
61.4
Very Poor
78
5.2
5.2
66.6
No opinion
495
33.0
33.4
100.0
1483
98.9
100.0
3
.2
14
.9
Total
Missing
Percent
REFUSED*
DON T
KNOW/REMEMBER*
Total
Total
16
1.1
1500
100.0
6. Thinking about Ohio politics in general...the quality of our elected
officials, the way our election campaigns are run and so on... On a
scale where 10 is very satisfied...and 1 is really disgusted ... how
would you rate your feeling about Ohio politics?
Frequency
Valid
Really Disgusted
Cumulative
Percent
219
14.6
15.0
15.0
78
5.2
5.3
20.3
3.00
117
7.8
8.0
28.3
4.00
156
10.4
10.6
38.9
5.00
394
26.3
26.9
65.8
6.00
156
10.4
10.7
76.5
7.00
155
10.3
10.5
87.0
8.00
125
8.4
8.6
95.6
9.00
19
1.3
1.3
96.9
100.0
Total
Total
Valid Percent
2.00
Very Satisfied
Missing
Percent
DON T
KNOW/REMEMBER*
46
3.1
3.1
1466
97.8
100.0
34
2.2
1500
100.0
IV. Confidence in Solving Problems
1. On a scale of 1 to 10, where one means not at all confident and ten
means very confident ... how confident are you that Ohio government
will be successful in dealing with the problems facing education in
Ohio?
Frequency
Valid
Not at all confident
Cumulative
Percent
Valid Percent
202
13.5
13.6
13.6
2.00
93
6.2
6.3
19.9
3.00
200
13.3
13.5
33.4
4.00
183
12.2
12.4
45.8
5.00
369
24.6
24.9
70.7
6.00
162
10.8
10.9
81.6
7.00
133
8.8
9.0
90.6
8.00
94
6.2
6.3
96.9
9.00
11
.7
.7
97.6
Very Confident
35
2.3
2.4
100.0
1482
98.9
100.0
17
1.1
1500
100.0
Total
Missing
Percent
DON T
KNOW/REMEMBER*
Total
2. On a scale of 1 to 10, where one means not at all confident and ten
means very confident ... how confident are you that Ohio government
will be successful in reforming Ohio's tax code so that it is fair and
effective?
Frequency
Valid
Not at all confident
212
14.2
14.5
14.5
98
6.5
6.7
21.2
3.00
191
12.7
13.0
34.2
4.00
191
12.7
13.0
47.2
5.00
419
27.9
28.6
75.8
6.00
134
8.9
9.1
84.9
7.00
123
8.2
8.4
93.3
8.00
60
4.0
4.1
97.4
9.00
9
.6
.6
98.0
29
1.9
2.0
100.0
1465
97.7
100.0
34
2.3
1500
100.0
Total
Total
Cumulative
Percent
Valid Percent
2.00
Very Confident
Missing
Percent
DON T
KNOW/REMEMBER*
3. On a scale of 1 to 10, where one means not at all confident and ten
means very confident ... how confident are you that Ohio government
will be successful in helping create more good jobs in Ohio?
Frequency
Valid
Cumulative
Percent
Valid Percent
Not at all confident
191
12.8
12.9
12.9
2.00
116
7.8
7.8
20.7
3.00
194
13.0
13.1
33.8
4.00
198
13.2
13.3
47.1
5.00
328
21.9
22.0
69.1
6.00
173
11.5
11.6
80.7
7.00
136
9.1
9.2
89.9
8.00
93
6.2
6.2
96.1
9.00
21
1.4
1.4
97.5
Very Confident
37
2.4
2.5
100.0
1487
99.2
100.0
12
.8
1500
100.0
Total
Missing
Percent
DON T
KNOW/REMEMBER*
Total
4. On a scale of 1 to 10, where one means not at all confident and ten
means very confident ... how confident are you that Ohio government
will be successful in reforming the Medicaid program so that it is fair
and effective?
Frequency
Valid
Not at all confident
236
2.00
136
3.00
218
4.00
195
5.00
16.2
9.1
9.3
25.5
14.6
14.9
40.4
13.0
13.4
53.8
340
22.7
23.3
77.1
6.00
123
8.2
8.4
85.5
7.00
106
7.1
7.2
92.7
8.00
67
4.5
4.6
97.3
9.00
10
.7
.7
98.0
100.0
Total
Total
Cumulative
Percent
Valid Percent
16.2
Very Confident
Missing
Percent
DON T
KNOW/REMEMBER*
15.8
30
2.0
2.0
1461
97.4
100.0
39
2.6
1500
100.0
5. On a scale of 1 to 10, where one means not at all confident and ten
means very confident ... how confident are you that Ohio government
will be successful in handling moral issues such as marriage and
gambling?
Frequency
Valid
Total
Valid Percent
Cumulative
Percent
Not at all confident
177
11.8
12.1
12.1
2.00
102
6.8
7.0
19.1
3.00
158
10.5
10.8
29.9
4.00
142
9.5
9.7
39.6
5.00
349
23.3
23.8
63.4
6.00
152
10.1
10.4
73.8
7.00
186
12.4
12.7
86.5
8.00
122
8.1
8.4
94.9
9.00
23
1.6
1.6
96.5
Very Confident
52
3.5
3.5
100.0
1463
97.5
100.0
37
2.5
1500
100.0
Total
Missing
Percent
DON T
KNOW/REMEMBER*