13. BUILD MORE SCHOOLS AND CLASSROOMS:
26% -- HIGH PRIORITY
48% -- MODERATE PRIORITY
20% -- LOW PRIORITY
6% -- NO OPINION
14. INCREASE TEACHERS' SALARIES AND BENEFITS:
41% -- HIGH PRIORITY
35% -- MODERATE PRIORITY
17% -- LOW PRIORITY
7% -- NO OPINION
15. INCREASE HOPE (LOTTERY) SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS:
35% -- HIGH PRIORITY
29% -- MODERATE PRIORITY
24% -- LOW PRIORITY
12% -- NO OPINION
16. PURCHASE MORE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES:
25% -- HIGH PRIORITY
43% -- MODERATE PRIORITY
26% -- LOW PRIORITY
6% -- NO OPINION
17. MODERNIZE AND IMPROVE SCHOOL SECURITY:
31% -- HIGH PRIORITY
34% -- MODERATE PRIORITY
24% -- LOW PRIORITY
11% -- NO OPINION
18. MAKE PRE-K AVAILABLE FOR ALL CHILDREN:
31% -- HIGH PRIORITY
18% -- MODERATE PRIORITY
44% -- LOW PRIORITY
7% -- NO OPINION
19. UTILIZE SCHOOLS (CLASSES) YEAR-ROUND:
48% -- HIGH PRIORITY
20% -- MODERATE PRIORITY
25% -- LOW PRIORITY
7% -- NO OPINION
ENVIRONMENT, CONSERVATION, AND TOURISM:
20. LAND (OTHER THAN MOUNTAIN TOP AND RIDGE TOP LAND) IS:
75% -- OVER-DEVELOPED; RESTRICT MORE DEVELOPMENT
17% -- APPROPRIATELY DEVELOPED; LEAVE DEVELOPMENT AS IT IS
1% -- UNDERDEVELOPED; ENCOURAGE MORE DEVELOPMENT
7% -- NO OPINION
21. MOUNTAIN AND RIDGE TOP LAND IS:
86% -- OVER-DEVELOPED; RESTRICT MORE DEVELOPMENT
5% -- APPROPRIATELY DEVELOPED; LEAVE DEVELOPMENT AS IT IS
3% -- UNDERDEVELOPED; ENCOURAGE MORE DEVELOPMENT
6% -- NO OPINION
22. BEVERAGE CONTAINER DEPOSIT:
Should a small deposit (refundable, upon return of the container) be charged for every beverage can or bottle sold in Tennessee?
50% -- YES
48% -- NO
2% -- NO OPINION
TOURISM:
Tourism is vitally important to Sevier and Blount County economies. What priority should be given to increase tourism in these counties?
23. REDUCE OR ELIMINATE BILLBOARDS:
40% -- HIGH PRIORITY
24% -- MODERATE PRIORITY
31% -- LOW PRIORITY
5% -- NO OPINION
24. REDUCE ROADSIDE LITTER:
73% -- HIGH PRIORITY
17% -- MODERATE PRIORITY
7% -- LOW PRIORITY
3% -- NO OPINION
25. PROVIDE MORE ATTRACTIONS:
11% -- HIGH PRIORITY
34% -- MODERATE PRIORITY
50% -- LOW PRIORITY
5% -- NO OPINION
26. IMPROVE QUALITY OF ATTRACTIONS:
26% -- HIGH PRIORITY
42% -- MODERATE PRIORITY
25% -- LOW PRIORITY
7% -- NO OPINION
27. IMPROVE TRAFFIC VOLUME AND FLOW:
71% -- HIGH PRIORITY
19% -- MODERATE PRIORITY
9% -- LOW PRIORITY
1% -- NO OPINION
28. ENOUGH TOURISM; DISCOURAGE TOURIST VISITS:
11% -- HIGH PRIORITY
31% -- MODERATE PRIORITY
51% -- LOW PRIORITY
7% -- NO OPINION
OTHER ISSUES:
29. HIGHWAY PATROL AND ILLEGAL ALIENS:
Should Highway Patrol troopers be trained to arrest for deportation illegal aliens found driving on Tennessee roadways?
96% -- YES
2% -- NO
2% -- NO OPINION
30. DRUNK DRIVERS:
What should be done about the DUI penalty?
87% -- INCREASE IT
6% -- LEAVE IT AS IT IS
1% -- DECREASE IT
6% -- NO OPINION
31. CONFISCATION OF GUNS AND AMMUNITION DURING A DECLARED EMERGENCY:
Should the governor be prohibited from confiscating guns and ammunition during a declared emergency?
68% -- YES
10% -- NO
22% -- NO OPINION
SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS:
Should a person who holds a gun carry permit be allowed to take a gun into the following places?
(32) RESTAURANTS (if he or she does not drink alcohol):
61% -- YES
20% -- NO
19% -- NO OPINION
(33) NATIONAL (STATE) FORESTS (provided he or she does not engage in poaching or unlicensed hunting):
79% -- YES
10% -- NO
11% -- NO OPINION
34. MEDICAL MALPRACTICE LAWSUIT REFORM:
Tennessee is nearing a crisis because of unrestrained medical malpractice suits and judgments. Should certain reforms (such as, limits on attorney fees and awards for emotional distress) be placed into law?
71% -- YES
19% -- NO
10% -- NO OPINION
35. PRE-KINDERGARTEN (PRE-K) EDUCATION:
Should pre-K classes be universal for all four-year old children in Tennessee?
40% -- YES
47% -- NO
13% -- NO OPINION
SURPLUS REVENUES:
When excess tax revenues are collected during a fiscal year, how should Tennessee use the surplus?
36. DECREASE SALES TAX RATE:
62% -- YES
18% -- NO
20% -- NO OPINION
37. IMPLEMENT MORE SALES TAX HOLIDAYS:
51% -- YES
39% -- NO
10% -- NO OPINION
38. INCREASE "RAINY DAY" (EMERGENCY USE) RESERVES:
61% -- YES
30% -- NO
9% -- NO OPINION
39. SPEND ON ADDITIONAL, OTHERWISE UNFUNDED PROGRAMS:
18% -- YES
69% -- NO
13% -- NO OPINION
41. SERVICES FOR AGING POPULATION:
As Tennessee's population ages, more senior citizen care services will be required. Should some state and federal tax dollars be shifted from traditional long-term care facilities to community home-based care?
65% -- YES
29% -- NO
6% -- NO OPINION
I presented a series of questions, asking participants to assign a letter grade-- A (excellent) through F (failure) to evaluate the performance of persons in state government or state government programs.
Participants' evaluations ranged from A through F for all persons or programs.
After subtracting the "No Opinion" responses, I determined the grade point average (GPA) for each person or program, using the standard school grading system (A = 4 points, B = 3 points, C = 2 points, D = 1 point, and F = 0 points).
HOW AM I DOING?
Assign a letter grade for your opinion of my service.
42. MY GRADE FOR THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF SERVICE AS YOUR SENATOR:
3.5 -- Grade Point Average (out of 4.0)
12% -- NO OPINION
COMMENT: Thank you! I am most appreciative of this high score.
HOW IS STATE GOVERNMENT DOING?
Assign a letter grade for your opinion of state government operation:
43. CHILD PROTECTION:
1.8 -- Grade Point Average (out of 4.0)
9% -- NO OPINION
44. CRIME PREVENTION, CRIMINAL PUNISHMENT:
1.7 -- Grade Point Average (out of 4.0)
10% -- NO OPINION
45. EDUCATION... KINDERGARTEN - GRADE 12 (K-12):
2.4 -- Grade Point Average (out of 4.0)
19% -- NO OPINION
46. EDUCATION... HIGHER (POST-SECONDARY):
3.1 -- Grade Point Average (out of 4.0)
9% -- NO OPINION
47. ENVIRONMENT, CONSERVATION, POLLUTION CONTROL:
1.2 -- Grade Point Average (out of 4.0)
17% -- NO OPINION
48. HEALTH CARE... affordable and accessible for all Tennesseans:
1.4 -- Grade Point Average (out of 4.0)
7% -- NO OPINION
49. ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION CONTROL:
2.1 -- Grade Point Average (out of 4.0)
15% -- NO OPINION
50. JOB CREATION, WORKER PROTECTION:
1.6 -- Grade Point Average (out of 4.0)
10% -- NO OPINION
51. SPENDING (CONTROL OF WASTE, FRAUD):
1.9 -- Grade Point Average (out of 4.0)
10% -- NO OPINION
52. TAXATION (KEEPING TAXES UNDER CONTROL):
2.3 -- Grade Point Average (out of 4.0)
15% -- NO OPINION
53. TRANSPORTATION, ROADS, TRAFFIC SAFETY:
2.7 -- Grade Point Average (out of 4.0)
7% -- NO OPINION
SEND me an email message, if you have comments.
