Surveys say

When it comes to increasing the gas tax to support road repairs, District 33 survey respondents are split. On other issues, their wishes are clearer.
Indiana Rep. Greg Beumer (R-Modoc) discussed the early results of his legislative survey, which shows 43 percent of respondents both for and against a gas tax increase. Meanwhile on other key issues, District 33 residents were against both making LGBT a protected class in Indiana’s civil rights statute, 47 percent to 34 percent, and requiring a prescription for pseudoephedrine, 48-43.
Beumer, who represents Jay and Randolph counties and part of Delaware County, noted that the road funding responses stood out to him.
On the question of which source of revenue would be most preferred for increased road funding, a gas tax increase was the leader at 43 percent ahead of tolling (38) and vehicle registration fees and wheel taxes (19 percent). But when asked if a gas tax increase should be implemented, the vote was a 43.4-42.6 percent split with another 14 percent undecided.
“I was somewhat surprised that still a slight majority of the people are opposed to an increase in gas taxes,” said Beumer. “However, when I read the comments that are submitted with some of the surveys, it appears to me that it’s not so much that they’re against raising the gas tax as much as they are simply questioning whether that money really will eventually see its way to our roads, streets and bridges.”
All bills currently being considered specifically state that any new funding must be used for such infrastructure improvements, he said.
On the LGBT question — Would you support adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of protected classes in Indiana’s civil rights statue if it included additional protections for religious freedoms? — he also found the results surprising. He expected that including religious protections would have created closer to a 50-50 split as opposed to the 47-34 margin against with 19 percent undecided.
But he also pointed out that it seems, based on survey comments and the lack of any questions on the issue during Saturday’s town hall meeting in Randolph County, that some residents just want to get past the controversy.
“What I’m gathering is that people who are in the middle, who aren’t strong on one side or the other, they’re kind of getting tired of hearing about it and talking about it,” said Beumer. “They want us to move on.”
The prescription requirement for pseudoephedrine idea, which District 33 survey respondents were against, seemed to be dead, with legislators last week moving on to an idea that would allow pharmacists to deny such products to customers under certain circumstances. But Delaware County prosecutor Jeff Arnold and members of the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council on Wednesday were in Indianapolis to lobby for the prescription requirement to be put back on the table.
On the issues of changing Indiana law to allow the carryout sale of alcohol on Sundays, the legislative survey showed District 33 to be against by a 53-42 percent margin with 5 percent undecided.
That’s an issue Beumer says he has never had strong feelings on, and therefore will follow the wishes of the district if it comes to a vote.
“Personally, it doesn’t bother me either way,” he said. “But the constituents and the voters in the district have spoken.”
On other questions, the results, with more than 500 responses so far, were:
•Would you support legislation that would encourage local schools to reduce spending on school administration and increase funding to the classroom, even if that means that some school districts may elect to eliminate or combine school administrative positions?
Yes – 77 percent; No – 11 percent; Undecided – 12 percent.
•Should Hoosiers be automatically registered to vote when they obtain a driver’s license?
No – 49 percent; Yes – 46 percent; Undecided – 5 percent.
•Industrial hemp has many uses, and contains only a negligible amount of THC. Among hemp’s medicinal properties, cannabinoid (CBD) oil may help stop seizures for epileptic patients. Would you support the production of industrial hemp for its material and medicinal uses?
Yes – 71 percent; No – 17 percent; Undecided – 12 percent.
Beumer is continuing to accept surveys, which were mailed to residents within the district. It is also available at http://www.indianahouserepublicans.com/constituent-survey-hd-33/.