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December 4, 2009 · Most polls call landline phones, but Representative Lamar Smith’s poll used technology that targeted cell phone users. Smith said it’s a new way to interact with his constituents.
“In the past, we’ve used technology that calls people in their homes, and we miss a lot of people,” said Smith.
If you got one of the calls, you would hear Smith’s voice phrasing statements such as this:
“I voted no on the Democrat Health Care Plan and will do so again if given the chance. I do not support government regulated health insurance in American. Do you want me to continue to oppose the government regulated health insurance plan?"
According to Smith, 71 percent of the people who responded said “yes.”
“My constituents are overwhelming opposed to the government taking over of the private health care system which will mean higher cost, higher taxes and higher premiums and less quality care,” said Smith.
Dr. Mansour El-Kikhia the chair of the UTSA political science department said he isn’t surprised that Smith got results that supported the Republican position.
“These are false results,” El-Kikhia said. “He wants you to answer in one way only.”
El-Kikhia received the Smith cell phone poll. He said he’s bothered that federal government dollars paid for a poll that appears to be engineered to solely affirm a point of view.
“If the purpose was to get a true and honest opinion from your constituents, then you don’t ask those types of questions – not in that way at least,” said El Kikhia.
Smith said the questions were straight and to the point.
Smith said, “We asked the question: Do you think the government spending is out of control? I don’t think that one was particularly slanted one way or the other. 90% said yes.”
Smith said the poll is a success and he plans to use this technology to reach cell phone users again.
64,000 people participated in the survey. Here are the questions and results as posted on Lamar Smith's website:
- I voted “NO” on the Democrat health care plan and will do so again if given the chance. I do not support government regulated health insurance in America. Do you want me to continue to oppose the government regulated health insurance plan? Yes: 71% No: 29%
- Under the health care plan that Democrats passed, if you do not buy the government prescribed health insurance you can be fined or put in jail for up to 5-years.* Do you want the government to have the power to make you buy health insurance? Yes: 15 % No: 85%
- The Democrat’s health insurance plan would require you to pay up to 12% of your income for health insurance every year.** I consider this a tax increase on working families. Would you be willing to pay 12% of your income to the government regulated health insurance fund? Yes: 14% No: 86%
- Do you support a national energy tax, also known as “cap and trade”, which could cost every family in Texas an additional $1,600 a year for energy consumption?*** Yes: 12% No: 88%
- Do you think that government spending is out of control? Yes: 90% No: 10%
- As your Congressman, I have always opposed tax increases. Having said that, I’d like to know if you agree with President Obama that the United States government should increase income taxes? Yes: 14% No: 86%
- On the matter of abortion, do you consider yourself to be pro-life? Yes: 73% No: 27%
- What about the second amendment, do you want to protect your right to own and use guns? Yes: 90% No: 10%
- Do you believe we need to provide a pathway to citizenship or amnesty for illegal immigrants? Yes: 25% No: 75%
Footnotes:
*The Joint Committee on Taxation addressed this issue in a letter to Rep. Camp
**A family making 400% of the poverty level (approx 88k in 2009) would pay 12% of their income in health insurance before receiving any subsidy.
Sec. 343 AFFORDABLE PREMIUM CREDITS, H.R. 3962
Confirmed by Congressional Research Service in “Private Health Insurance Premiums of H.R. 3962”, and Health Insurance Premium Credits Under H.R. 3962”
See Letter from the Congressional Budget Office to Senator Evan Bayh, November 20, 2009
***The Director of the CBO stated this in testimony before the Senate Finance Committee |
