Nebraska Voters’ Outlook: Public Opinion on Policy Issues and Funding Priorities for the Nebraska Legislature
Nebraska Voters’ Outlook is commissioned by and conducted in partnership with Patinkin Research Strategies, LLC February 1-5, 2023, among approximately 600 registered voters across the state. Total results are available here. View the research memo here. View the press release here. Majority of Nebraskans Indicate that the State is Not Doing Enough for Working Families Our latest public opinion research indicates that a majority of Nebraskans believe the state government is not doing enough to help working families get ahead (58%). When asked open-endly what they would like the state to focus on regarding tax reform (47%), a combination of voters would like to see property tax be lowered and the tax burden reduced for the middle class while the wealthy/big corporations pay their fair share. Nebraskans believe it is either a “serious problem” or a “problem” that taxes favor the wealthy/big corporations over middle class families (68%) and two-thirds are concerned …
Nebraska Voters’ Outlook: Perceptions on Elected Officials and Public Opinion on Policy Issues
Nebraska Voters’ Outlook is commissioned by and conducted in partnership with Patinkin Research Strategies, LLC October 11-13, 2022, among approximately 400 registered voters across the state. Total results are available here. View the research memo here. View the press release here. Perceptions Indicate That the State is Off-track Just four-in-ten Nebraskans (41%) believe the state is moving in the “right direction,” while half believe Nebraska is headed in the “wrong direction” (50%) as noted in Figure 1 below. A majority of Nebraskan’s disagree with the assertion that Nebraska’s state’s government is doing enough to help hard working families get ahead (61% “no”). See Figure 2 below. Public Opinion on Policy Issues Nebraskans are eager to see the state fully fund public education (69% “favor”) and raise the minimum wage for service workers (66%). See Figure 3 below. A slim majority approve of plans to establish paid family and medical leave programs (53%) while two-thirds oppose public …
2022 Medicaid + Public Schools Report
Executive Summary Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) make it possible for low-income Americans, specifically children and families, to access free or low-cost health care. While some may not be familiar with the role of school-based Medicaid, others may be familiar with its primary role funding special education services to millions of students in need of individualized education plans (IEPs). A well-developed Medicaid in Public Schools (MIPS) program can bolster one of states’ largest expenditures, public education. Public schools are “among the most efficient systems to reach children and families” in terms of determining and enrolling Medicaid-eligible children and/or families. While use of Medicaid funds varies, a 2017 School Superintendents Association study found nearly 70 percent of schools use Medicaid reimbursement dollars for salaries of health care professionals; 45 percent to expand health services; and 39 percent to facilitate outreach and coordinate services for students. To qualify, an individual must …
Nebraska Voters’ Outlook: State Government and Nebraskans Split on Policy Priorities
Nebraska Voters’ Outlook is commissioned by and conducted in partnership with Patinkin Research Strategies, LLC March 16 – 21, 2022, among 620 registered voters across the state. Total results are available here. View the research memo here. View the press release here. State and Elected Official Performance Nebraskans lean narrowly “right direction” (47%) in terms of the direction of the state[1] with four-in-10 (42%) indicating that they believe things have gotten off on the “wrong track.” Majorities approve of both Governor Ricketts’ (54% approve; 40% disapprove) and the Nebraska state legislature’s (52% approve; 34% oppose) performance in office. Nebraska voters assess failing grades on state performance in all but the provision of high-quality public education. As noted in Figure 1 below, these include access to paid sick and family leave (53% negative), ensuring workers are paid reasonable wages (53% negative), access to affordable childcare (59% negative) and ensuring access to affordable college tuition …
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Nebraska Voters’ Outlook: State Leaders Fail to Deliver Policy Solutions for Working Families
Nebraska Voters’ Outlook is commissioned by the Institute and conducted in partnership with Patinkin Research Strategies, LLC July 26 – July 30, 2021 among 592 registered voters across the state. Full results are available here. View the research memo here. Press release available here. These results come just six months after a January 2021 Nebraska Voters’ Outlook survey spotlighted large shifts to majority disapproval for state government, leaders, and policy amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and rise of the delta variant. “Approval ratings remain comparatively low at this point. Perhaps, it’s because Nebraskans aren’t getting the social and economic policies they want. And what state lawmakers have offered them instead may not be working,” explained Hadley Richters – Holland Children’s Institute CEO. Results also reflect negative assessments of state performance on policy issues important to Nebraska children and families. National trends, including increased access to paid leave and spikes in child care costs show up here in state policy …
Nebraska Voters’ Outlook: Nebraskans Give State Government Failing Grades on Pandemic Response, Economic Policy
Nebraska Voters’ Outlook is commissioned by the Institute and conducted in partnership with Patinkin Research Strategies, LLC January 4 – January 7, 2021 among 616 registered Nebraska voters across the state. Full results are available here. View the research memo here. Press release available here. Respondents believing Nebraska was heading in “the right direction” fell sharply from 64 percent to 46 percent, since similar research was conducted in March of 2020. Respondents believing the state was on “the wrong track” increased from 29 percent to 43 percent over the past 10 months. Similarly, Governor and state Legislature approval ratings have also fallen, 63 percent (March 2020) v. 51 percent (January 2021), and 64 percent (March 2020) v. 53 percent (January 2021) respectively. The reasons for Nebraskan’s recent drop in approval of state government leaders become clear when comparing the broad support for policies they believe would best support families, and the perceptions of failure …
Nebraska Voters’ Outlook 2019
“Research Reveals Nebraskans’ Support on Policy Priorities, Investments vs. Tax Cuts; Dissatisfaction in Government Performance.” The Holland Children’s Institute, a Nebraska nonpartisan nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization released recent survey results of the “Nebraska Voters’ Outlook”, a statewide public opinion research initiative measuring Nebraskans’ opinions and views on the issues impacting children and families. “Nebraskans are in strong agreement on policies the state should prioritize, but show dissatisfaction with government’s performance and focus on those policies, especially when it comes to education ” said Hadley Richters, CEO of Holland Children’s Institute. “In addition, a clear majority of Nebraskans would rather state government focus on expanding middle-class opportunities, over cutting taxes for families and businesses,” said Richters. The results reveal overwhelming agreement—sometimes near-unanimity—about the policies that will support and grow the state’s middle class, while significantly divided on how much the state government is currently pursuing those priorities. With most Nebraskans (55 percent) …
Nebraska Values Project – Installment IV
The Nebraska Values Project is a public opinion research initiative of the Holland children’s Institute. In partnership with Myers Research & Strategic Services, a live telephone survey was conducted in early November 2017 to measure public opinion among Nebraska voters on public policy issues and demographic research affecting children and working families across Nebraska. Nebraskans overwhelmingly support more attention from the state toward building the middle class through investing in healthcare and education at every level, and providing better opportunities for good paying jobs, retirement and benefits. A broad agreement exists among Nebraska voters – state elected officials should give families the tools they need to succeed, instead of eliminating community programs and further cuts to spending. Across the board – Nebraskans believe state government’s priorities are not aligned with those of voters, and the majority say our elected officials are not looking out for average families in Nebraska, and …
Nebraska Values Project – Installment III
The Nebraska Values Project is a public opinion research initiative of the Holland children’s Institute. In partnership with Myers Research & Strategic Services, a live telephone survey was conducted in early November 2017 to measure public opinion among Nebraska voters on public policy issues and demographic research affecting children and working families across Nebraska. The third release of our public opinion research reveals how Nebraskans feel about the legislature and the Governor. There is a clear disconnect between the economic realities of Nebraska families and where they feel their government is focused. Nebraskans believe the Governor and the legislature have been focused on cutting taxes for corporations and the wealthy or doing little to help average families while at the same time a near majority report that they do not have enough savings to cover their bills for at least six months in the case of emergency. The Disconnect Between …
Investing in Possibilities: The 2017 Nebraska Children’s Budget
This report from Holland Children’s Institute provides background information and funding levels of state investments in programs impacting children and working families in Nebraska. Click Here to View