Raleigh, N.C. – Support is with the General Assembly who passed the Protect Healthcare Freedom Act. More voters agreed with the lawmakers who passed the legislation than those who supported Gov. Bev Perdue’s veto of the bill, according to a new poll released today by the Civitas Institute.
Voters were asked whether they agreed with the Legislature passing the bill or the Governor vetoing the measure. Forty-seven percent of voters agreed with the Legislature and 40 percent with the Governor. Twelve percent said they did not know.
Unaffiliated voters agreed with the legislature by a 53 percent – 38 percent margin. Republican voters agreed more with the Legislature 59 percent to 26 percent), while Democratic voters largely agreed with Governor Perdue’s veto of the measure by a 59 percent to 26 percent margin.
Of those voters who said they agreed more with lawmakers who passed the bill or did not know, 60 percent said that Governor Perdue’s veto of the Protect Health Care Freedom Act made them less likely to vote for her in 2012. Just 7 percent said it made them more likely to cast a vote for her.
“The health care issue remains a polarizing one with voters and Governor Perdue risks alienating swing voters when she vetoes a bill that is not unpopular with voters,” said Civitas Institute President Francis De Luca.
While House Republicans did not muster the votes to override the veto, they did manage a parliamentary maneuver to keep the issue alive. Democratic leaders went along with a motion to reconsider the original vote at a time when many Democrats had left the floor. Now the veto override vote could be brought up by Republicans at any time.
The Civitas Poll is the only regular live-caller poll of critical issues facing North Carolina. For more information on Civitas polling see http://www.nccivitas.org/category/poll/.
Full text of question:
“The Protect Health Care Freedom Act would have made it illegal to require any North Carolinian to purchase health insurance, or punish anyone for not buying it. It also would have required the Attorney General to defend any state citizen against federal lawsuits stemming from the mandate. Governor Perdue has vetoed this Act. With that in mind, are you more in agreement with…”
The Legislature who passed this bill – 47%
Governor Perdue who vetoed this bill – 40%
Don’t Know/Refused – 12%
“Does Governor Perdue’s veto of the Protect Health Care Freedom Act make you more or less likely to vote for her in 2010 for re-election?” (Of those who answered Legislature or do not know above)
Total More Likely – 7%
Total Less Likely – 60%
Much More Likely – 3%
Somewhat More Likely – 4%
Somewhat Less Likely – 16%
Much Less Likely – 44%
No Difference – 28%
Don’t Know/Refused – 6%
Click here for full results and crosstabs.
For previous polling on the issue, click here and here.
This poll of 600 registered general election voters in North Carolina was conducted March 14-16 by National Research, Inc. of Holmdel, NJ. All respondents were part of a fully representative sample of registered voters in North Carolina. For purposes of this study, voters interviewed had to have voted in two of the past four general elections or were newly registered to vote since 2008.
The confidence interval associated with a sample of this size is such that: 95 percent of the time, results from 600 interviews (registered voters) will be within +-4% of the “True Values.” True Values refer to the results obtained if it were possible to interview every person in North Carolina who had voted in two of the past four general elections or were newly registered to vote since 2008.
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