Rainy Day Fund (February 2011)

• More Respondents were asked, "As you may know, the Rainy Day Fund contains money the state has set aside for emergency uses. Lawmakers are currently discussing whether to spend some of the $9.4 billion in the rainy day account to help address the budget shortfall in the next budget, which is at least $16 billion and perhaps as much as $27 billion. What is your opinion on whether to spend money in the Rainy Day fund?"
• More Respondents were asked, "As you may know, the Texas Legislature has been debating whether to address the state's budget shortfall by tapping into the Rainy Day Fund, which contains money that the state has set aside for emergency uses. Some people say that state should use some or all of the money in the Rainy Day Fund for the next two-year budget period in order to avoid potentially devastating cuts in spending. Other people say that the current budget deficit does not count as an emergency, and that using money from the Rainy Day Fund will eventually cause state government to grow in size. What is your opinion on whether to spend money in the Rainy Day fund for the next two-year budget period?" Measurement of Party ID for this figure is based on two questions. First, respondents were asked whether they consider themselves to be a Democrats, Republicans, independents, other, or not sure. Those who responded that they are independents or "other" were then asked if they lean toward either the Democrats or Republicans. If they indicated that they lean toward one party or the other, they are considered Democrats or Republicans for the purposes of this figure. Only "pure" independents or members of a third party who indicate that they have no preference for Democrats vis-a-vis Republicans are considered independents. Respondents who answered that they are "not sure" for either of the two aforementioned questions are not incorporated into this figure.
• More Respondents were asked, "As you may know, the Texas Legislature has been debating whether to address the state's budget shortfall by tapping into the Rainy Day Fund, which contains money that the state has set aside for emergency uses. Some people say that state should use some or all of the money in the Rainy Day Fund for the next two-year budget period in order to avoid potentially devastating cuts in spending. Other people say that the current budget deficit does not count as an emergency, and that using money from the Rainy Day Fund will eventually cause state government to grow in size. What is your opinion on whether to spend money in the Rainy Day fund for the next two-year budget period?" Party identification is calculated according to the PID7 variable, a seven point scale of party identification.
• More Respondents were asked, "As you may know, the Texas Legislature has been debating whether to address the state's budget shortfall by tapping into the Rainy Day Fund, which contains money that the state has set aside for emergency uses. Some people say that state should use some or all of the money in the Rainy Day Fund for the next two-year budget period in order to avoid potentially devastating cuts in spending. Other people say that the current budget deficit does not count as an emergency, and that using money from the Rainy Day Fund will eventually cause state government to grow in size. What is your opinion on whether to spend money in the Rainy Day fund for the next two-year budget period?" Party identification is calculated according to the PID7 variable, a seven point scale of party identification.
• More Respondents were asked, "As you may know, the Texas Legislature has been debating whether to address the state's budget shortfall by tapping into the Rainy Day Fund, which contains money that the state has set aside for emergency uses. Some people say that state should use some or all of the money in the Rainy Day Fund for the next two-year budget period in order to avoid potentially devastating cuts in spending. Other people say that the current budget deficit does not count as an emergency, and that using money from the Rainy Day Fund will eventually cause state government to grow in size. What is your opinion on whether to spend money in the Rainy Day fund for the next two-year budget period?" Ideology is measured on a scale of 1-7, with 1 corresponding to "extremely liberal", 7 corresponding to "extremely conservative, and 4 corresponding to "in the middle." For the purposes of this table, respondents who placed themselves at or between points 1 and 3 on the scale are considered "liberal," respondents who placed themselves at point 4 on the scale are considered "moderate," and respondents who placed themselves at or between points 5 and 7 on the scale are considered conservative.
• More Respondents were asked, "As you may know, the Texas Legislature has been debating whether to address the state's budget shortfall by tapping into the Rainy Day Fund, which contains money that the state has set aside for emergency uses. Some people say that state should use some or all of the money in the Rainy Day Fund for the next two-year budget period in order to avoid potentially devastating cuts in spending. Other people say that the current budget deficit does not count as an emergency, and that using money from the Rainy Day Fund will eventually cause state government to grow in size. What is your opinion on whether to spend money in the Rainy Day fund for the next two-year budget period?" The ideology measure is based on respondent self-placement in response to the following question: "On a scale from 1 to 7, where 1 is extremely liberal, 7 is extremely conservative, and 4 is exactly in the middle, where would you place yourself?" The placements are further classified such that 1 is extremely liberal, 2 is very liberal, 3 is somewhat liberal, 4 is moderate, 5 is somewhat conservative, 6 is very conservative, and 7 is extremely conservative.
• More Respondents were asked, "As you may know, the Texas Legislature has been debating whether to address the state's budget shortfall by tapping into the Rainy Day Fund, which contains money that the state has set aside for emergency uses. Some people say that state should use some or all of the money in the Rainy Day Fund for the next two-year budget period in order to avoid potentially devastating cuts in spending. Other people say that the current budget deficit does not count as an emergency, and that using money from the Rainy Day Fund will eventually cause state government to grow in size. What is your opinion on whether to spend money in the Rainy Day fund for the next two-year budget period?" The ideology measure is based on respondent self-placement in response to the following question: "On a scale from 1 to 7, where 1 is extremely liberal, 7 is extremely conservative, and 4 is exactly in the middle, where would you place yourself?" The placements are further classified such that 1 is extremely liberal, 2 is very liberal, 3 is somewhat liberal, 4 is moderate, 5 is somewhat conservative, 6 is very conservative, and 7 is extremely conservative.
• More Respondents were asked, "As you may know, the Texas Legislature has been debating whether to address the state's budget shortfall by tapping into the Rainy Day Fund, which contains money that the state has set aside for emergency uses. Some people say that state should use some or all of the money in the Rainy Day Fund for the next two-year budget period in order to avoid potentially devastating cuts in spending. Other people say that the current budget deficit does not count as an emergency, and that using money from the Rainy Day Fund will eventually cause state government to grow in size. What is your opinion on whether to spend money in the Rainy Day fund for the next two-year budget period?" Tea Party identification is based on the following question, also asked in the survey: "Suppose the Tea Party movement organized itself as a political party. When thinking about the next election for Congress, would you vote for the Republican candidate from your district, the Democratic candidate from your district, or the Tea Party candidate from your district?" Those who responded "Republican candidate" are considered Republicans (non-Tea Party movement) and those who responded "Tea Party candidate" are considered Tea Party Republicans.
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  Respondents were asked, "As you may know, the Texas Legislature has been debating whether to address the state's budget shortfall by tapping into the Rainy Day Fund, which contains money that the state has set aside for emergency uses. Some people say that state should use some or all of the money in the Rainy Day Fund for the next two-year budget period in order to avoid potentially devastating cuts in spending. Other people say that the current budget deficit does not count as an emergency, and that using money from the Rainy Day Fund will eventually cause state government to grow in size. What is your opinion on whether to spend money in the Rainy Day fund for the next two-year budget period?" Race is calculated according to the RACE variable.
• More Respondents were asked, "As you may know, the Texas Legislature has been debating whether to address the state's budget shortfall by tapping into the Rainy Day Fund, which contains money that the state has set aside for emergency uses. Some people say that state should use some or all of the money in the Rainy Day Fund for the next two-year budget period in order to avoid potentially devastating cuts in spending. Other people say that the current budget deficit does not count as an emergency, and that using money from the Rainy Day Fund will eventually cause state government to grow in size. What is your opinion on whether to spend money in the Rainy Day fund for the next two-year budget period?" Gender is calculated according to the GENDER variable.
• More Respondents were asked, "As you may know, the Texas Legislature has been debating whether to address the state's budget shortfall by tapping into the Rainy Day Fund, which contains money that the state has set aside for emergency uses. Some people say that state should use some or all of the money in the Rainy Day Fund for the next two-year budget period in order to avoid potentially devastating cuts in spending. Other people say that the current budget deficit does not count as an emergency, and that using money from the Rainy Day Fund will eventually cause state government to grow in size. What is your opinion on whether to spend money in the Rainy Day fund for the next two-year budget period?" Location is based on the following question, "Would you say that you live in an urban, suburban, or rural community?"
• More Respondents were asked, "As you may know, the Texas Legislature has been debating whether to address the state's budget shortfall by tapping into the Rainy Day Fund, which contains money that the state has set aside for emergency uses. Some people say that state should use some or all of the money in the Rainy Day Fund for the next two-year budget period in order to avoid potentially devastating cuts in spending. Other people say that the current budget deficit does not count as an emergency, and that using money from the Rainy Day Fund will eventually cause state government to grow in size. What is your opinion on whether to spend money in the Rainy Day fund for the next two-year budget period?" Education is calculated according to the EDUC variable.