2009 - Del Jim Scott Legislative Survey

Delegate Jim Scott’s Annual Issues Survey - for 2008

Major Issues

Which of the following do you feel are the most important issues or problems facing our area today?
Please check two.

Property taxes
Traffic Congestion
Development
Education funding
Lack of affordable housing
Increased funding for mental health services

Budget and Taxation

Budget shortfalls at the state and local levels are likely to last for 2 years. Public schools, mental health services and other local programs and services will have to be cut unless more revenue is found. Local governments and local school systems expect deficits of more than $220 million. With the state revenue shortfall also limiting resources, what should the General Assembly do?
Choose only one.

Give localities the power to initiate an income tax of ¼%
Allow localities to raise the sales tax by ½%
Require local governments to solve the problem with existing resources
No opinion

Transportation

1. Would you favor increasing gas taxes dedicated to transportation?

Yes
No
No Opinion

2. Would you favor taking funds away from other services such as education, human services, and public safety to make those funds available for transportation?
Please choose one.

Yes
No
Need more information

Environment and Growth

1. Many Smart Growth advocates favor higherdensity, mixed residential and commercial development at Metro stations such as Tysons Corner and Dunn Loring because it will help mitigate congestion. Do you support transit oriented development?
Please choose one.

Support
Oppose
No Opinion

2. Should Virginia taxpayers subsidize alternative forms of energy production such as: Solar, Wind, Ethanol and/or Bio-diesel?
Please choose one.

Support
Oppose
No Opinion

3. Some people favor increasing nuclear power generation in the Commonwealth because it does not contribute to global warming. Others claim nuclear power is too dangerous. Which statement is closer to your opinion?
Please choose one.

I favor more nuclear power in Virginia to meet the state's energy needs
I oppose more nuclear power generation in Virginia
I need more information

4. The U.S. military opposes drilling for oil and natural gas within 20 or so miles of Virginia’s coastline for security reasons. Others say drilling will help cut reliance on foreign oil and gas suppliers and therefore increase security. What is your opinion?
Please choose one.

Virginia should allow drilling off-shore for natural gas and oil
Virginia should allow drilling for natural gas, but not allow drilling for oil
Virginia should oppose off-shore drilling for oil and natural gas

Education

Virginia should appropriate funds to pay for tax credits or vouchers to assist parents to send their children with disabilities to private or religious schools of their choice.
Please choose one.

Yes
No
Don't know

Immigration

The children of illegal immigrants born in the U.S. are citizens. If they live in Virginia, should they be able to attend public colleges and universities by paying in-state tuition?
Please choose one.

Yes
No
No opinion

Death Penalty

Please check one.

Virginia's death penalty laws are satisfactory
Virginia's death penalty laws are not tough enough
Virginia should ban the death penalty
Virginia should place a moratorium on imposing the death penalty until it is more fairly administered

Other Issues

1. Virginia should allow physician-assisted suicide.
Please choose one.

Yes
No
Don't know

2. Virginia law now bans discrimination in housing based on race, sex, ethnicity, etc. Should the state also ban housing discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation?
Please choose one.

Yes
No
Don't know

3. Localities should be allowed to ban weapons in public buildings.
Please choose one.

Yes
No
Don't know

Please provide the following information:

Prefix

First Name

Last Name

Street Address

City

Postal Zip Code

Telephone Number

Email Address