Statewide Survey PPIC Statewide Survey: Special Survey on the California State Budget By Mark Baldassare Jun 12, 2003 This survey – the first in a series of special surveys on the California state budget, conducted in collaboration with The James Irvine Foundation – is a special edition of the PPIC Statewide Survey. The intent of this series is to raise public awareness, inform decisionmakers, and stimulate public discussion about the current state budget and the underlying state and local finance system. Some findings of the current survey Nearly all Californians (94%) say that the state's budget deficit is a big problem (73%) or somewhat of a problem (21%). Most Californians are opposed to spending cuts in public programs as well as to increases in taxes or fees. Only 34% of all adults say that they trust the government in Sacramento to do what is right just about always or most of the time. 75% of likely voters disapprove of the way Governor Davis is handling his job, and 57% of the state's residents disapprove of the way the legislature is handling budget issues. Nearly six in 10 respondents believe that the better way to improve the national economy is to reduce the deficit rather than cut tax (58% to 34%).
At Issue, Report Reforming California’s Initiative Process By Mark Baldassare Oct 8, 2013 Californians are highly supportive of the initiative process but see room for improvement. Three steps to improve the process—connecting the legislative and initiative processes, increasing disclosure of initiative funders, and reengaging citizens in the initiative process—reflect Californians’ critiques and their desire to continue making laws at the ballot box. These reforms could have far-reaching consequences, with considerable promise for increasing citizen engagement, encouraging voter participation, and building trust in state government. This research was supported with funding from the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation.
Statewide Survey PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government By Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Lauren Mora, Deja Thomas Jun 13, 2024 The latest PPIC Statewide Survey finds that Biden and Schiff both continue to hold wide leads in their November races, while a solid majority prefer the Democratic candidate across California's ten competitive US House districts.
blog post Testimony: California’s Exclusive Electorate & the 2016 Election By Mark Baldassare May 13, 2016 As California's population continues to expand and change, the voting rolls are not keeping pace, and the state’s voters remain unrepresentative of its population.
interactive California’s Exclusive Electorate Sep 16, 2019 Voters in California are unrepresentative of the state as a whole. But the decisions they make at the ballot box affect the future of all Californians.
press release Priorities For State Government Among Residents of Five Fiscally Stressed States Are Similar – But Conflict with Budget Reality Oct 6, 2010
Statewide Survey PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and the Environment By Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Rachel Lawler, Deja Thomas Jul 12, 2023 Key findings of the survey include: Most Californians think it is very important that the state take steps now to respond to climate change, though views vary across party lines. An overwhelming majority say that extreme weather events are a problem in their part of the state. A majority believe the use of electric vehicles helps address climate change; half have seriously considered getting one, and nearly one in ten have already done so.
blog post Video: Countdown to Census 2020 By Stephanie Barton Feb 12, 2020 Secretary of state Alex Padilla and other leaders discuss why the upcoming census is so important for California and assess the state’s readiness for the count.
