Respondents were asked, "The Texas legislature is currently discussing different ways to reduce state spending in order to address the state's budget shortfall. Please think about the following list of proposals for cutting the budget, and check all of the measures you think should be taken to reduce spending. (Check all that apply)" Response items included: Cut the state's share of primary and secondary education funding; Cut the state's share of higher education funding ; End funding for pre-kindergarten classes; Reduce funding of state grants to college students; Reduce state contributions to teacher and state employee retirement programs; End funding for the children's health insurance program; End state environmental regulation and leave it to the federal government; Cut payments to Medicaid providers like doctors and hospitals; Cut state funding for nursing home care; Close one or more prisons for adults; Close one or more prisons for juveniles; Reduce funding for new highway construction; Reduce funding for border security. 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.

Respondents were asked, "The Texas legislature is currently discussing different ways to reduce state spending in order to address the state's budget shortfall. Please think about the following list of proposals for cutting the budget, and check all of the measures you think should be taken to reduce spending. (Check all that apply)" Response items included: Cut the state's share of primary and secondary education funding; Cut the state's share of higher education funding ; End funding for pre-kindergarten classes; Reduce funding of state grants to college students; Reduce state contributions to teacher and state employee retirement programs; End funding for the children's health insurance program; End state environmental regulation and leave it to the federal government; Cut payments to Medicaid providers like doctors and hospitals; Cut state funding for nursing home care; Close one or more prisons for adults; Close one or more prisons for juveniles; Reduce funding for new highway construction; Reduce funding for border security. Party identification is calculated according to the PID7 variable, a seven point scale of party identification.

Respondents were asked, "The Texas legislature is currently discussing different ways to reduce state spending in order to address the state's budget shortfall. Please think about the following list of proposals for cutting the budget, and check all of the measures you think should be taken to reduce spending. (Check all that apply)" Response items included: Cut the state's share of primary and secondary education funding; Cut the state's share of higher education funding ; End funding for pre-kindergarten classes; Reduce funding of state grants to college students; Reduce state contributions to teacher and state employee retirement programs; End funding for the children's health insurance program; End state environmental regulation and leave it to the federal government; Cut payments to Medicaid providers like doctors and hospitals; Cut state funding for nursing home care; Close one or more prisons for adults; Close one or more prisons for juveniles; Reduce funding for new highway construction; Reduce funding for border security. 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.

Respondents were asked, "The Texas legislature is currently discussing different ways to reduce state spending in order to address the state's budget shortfall. Please think about the following list of proposals for cutting the budget, and check all of the measures you think should be taken to reduce spending. (Check all that apply)" Response items included: Cut the state's share of primary and secondary education funding; Cut the state's share of higher education funding ; End funding for pre-kindergarten classes; Reduce funding of state grants to college students; Reduce state contributions to teacher and state employee retirement programs; End funding for the children's health insurance program; End state environmental regulation and leave it to the federal government; Cut payments to Medicaid providers like doctors and hospitals; Cut state funding for nursing home care; Close one or more prisons for adults; Close one or more prisons for juveniles; Reduce funding for new highway construction; Reduce funding for border security. 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.

Respondents were asked, "The Texas legislature is currently discussing different ways to reduce state spending in order to address the state's budget shortfall. Please think about the following list of proposals for cutting the budget, and check all of the measures you think should be taken to reduce spending. (Check all that apply)" Response items included: Cut the state's share of primary and secondary education funding; Cut the state's share of higher education funding ; End funding for pre-kindergarten classes; Reduce funding of state grants to college students; Reduce state contributions to teacher and state employee retirement programs; End funding for the children's health insurance program; End state environmental regulation and leave it to the federal government; Cut payments to Medicaid providers like doctors and hospitals; Cut state funding for nursing home care; Close one or more prisons for adults; Close one or more prisons for juveniles; Reduce funding for new highway construction; Reduce funding for border security. Gender is calculated according to the GENDER variable.

Respondents were asked, "The Texas legislature is currently discussing different ways to reduce state spending in order to address the state's budget shortfall. Please think about the following list of proposals for cutting the budget, and check all of the measures you think should be taken to reduce spending. (Check all that apply)" Response items included: Cut the state's share of primary and secondary education funding; Cut the state's share of higher education funding ; End funding for pre-kindergarten classes; Reduce funding of state grants to college students; Reduce state contributions to teacher and state employee retirement programs; End funding for the children's health insurance program; End state environmental regulation and leave it to the federal government; Cut payments to Medicaid providers like doctors and hospitals; Cut state funding for nursing home care; Close one or more prisons for adults; Close one or more prisons for juveniles; Reduce funding for new highway construction; Reduce funding for border security. Education is calculated according to the EDUC variable.