Ending hand-held cell phone use while driving and death with dignity received broad support in a new poll released today. The Vermont Business Magazine, WCAX TV, WDEV Radio poll also found that Vermonters support requiring immunization of children. However, in some other hot-button topics, a plurality of respondents to the poll support a single-payer health plan, but were split on using payroll taxes to pay for health care.
The â death with dignity’(also called assisted suicide) bill failed to generate enough support in the Legislature this past session, but it likely will come up again. In the VBM/WCAX/WDEV poll, 72.2 percent of Vermonters support the idea of allowing someone who is terminally ill to take prescribed medicine to end his life. Another 20.3 percent are against it and only 6.9 percent said they are unsure.
As far as health care reform is concerned, Vermonters seem to be unsure as to how to proceed. For the question, â Do you favor or oppose a single-payer health care system for Vermont, where health care is publicly financed?’Just less than half of respondents, 47.8 percent, favor a single-payer system; 35.7 percent are opposed and 16 percent are unsure.
Likewise, paying for health care through a payroll deduction, instead of the traditional premium method, generated 38.1 percent support, exactly the same as those who oppose it; 22.6 percent were unsure.
On the other hand, Vermonters were pretty sure they want mandatory immunization of children. The Legislature, again, punted on this issue also this past session, even though most legislators supported it. A vocal opposition questioned both immunization in general on medical grounds, and mandating it, thus taking decision making about their children away from parents. In the poll, 56.2 percent of respondents support the requirement, 35.1 percent oppose it and only 8.2 percent are unsure.
Using a hand-held cell phone while driving a vehicle always elicits strong opinions, especially directed to the person who just cut you off in traffic. This poll was no different. Only 3.6 percent of respondents had no opinion in the matter. A whopping 79.2 percent indicated that talking on a hand-held cell phone while driving should be made illegal; just 16.5 percent oppose it. This is another issue in which the Legislature has debated, but not come to a definitive conclusion. Two years ago the Legislature did pass a bill to ban texting while driving. Governor Douglas signed the bill into law in June 2010.
This survey was conducted for WCAX, WDEV and Vermont Business Magazine by the Castleton Polling Institute at Castleton College.A total of 607 likely voters were interviewed statewide by telephone between May 7th to May 16th.
Those interviewed were selected from a random sample of registered voters in Vermont.The margin for error, according to standards customarily used by statisticians, is no more than plus or minus 4 percentage points.
Thursday's poll to first run at 11 am onvermontbiz.comwill feature questions on the economy and business, and the polling will conclude Friday with a report on WCAX at noon on health care, cell phone use while driving and death with dignity.
Monday:Sorrell outpaces Donovan, Illuzzi in new Vermont Attorney General poll
Tuesday:Poll: Shumlin approval rating high
Wednesday:POLL: Vermonters split on Vermont Yankee and GMP-CVPS merger, support renewables
Thursday:POLL: Vermonters concerned about the economy, young adults leaving the state
Would you support legislation allowing someone who is terminally ill to take prescribed medicine to end his or her life?
Frequency
Percent
Support such legislation
438
72.2
Oppose such legislation
123
20.3
Not sure/it depends
42
6.9
Refused
3
.5
Total
606
99.8
System
1/2
.5
Total
607
100.0
Do you favor or oppose a single-payer health care system for Vermont, where health care is publicly financed?
Frequency
Percent
Favor single-payer system
290
47.8
Oppose single-payer system
217
35.7
Not/Sure/It depends
97
16.0
Refused
1
.2
Total
605
99.7
System
2
.3
Total
607
100.0
Would you favor or oppose using payroll taxes to pay for health care?
Frequency
Percent
Favor
231
38.1
Oppose
232
38.1
Not sure/it depends
137
22.6
Total
605
99.7
System
2
.3
Total
607
100.0
Do you think immunization should be required, or should parents have the right to opt out?
Frequency
Percent
Immunization should be required
341
56.2
Parents should have the right to opt out
213
35.1
Not/Sure/It depends
50
8.2
Refused
1
.2
Total
605
99.7
Missing System
2
.3
Total
607
100.0
Would you favor or oppose making it illegal to talk on a cell phone while driving in
Vermont?
Frequency
Percent
Favor cell phone while driving ban
481
79.2
Opposed cell phone while driving ban
100
16.5
Not/Sure/It depends
22
3.6
Refused
2
.3
Total
605
99.7
Missing System
2
.3
Total
607
100.0