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(5/7/07)
In recent weeks newspapers, television reports and blogs have focused on both the state Legislature and the Georgia Public Service Commission and issues related to their conduct. An InsiderAdvantage/ Majority Opinion survey conducted May 3-4 asked voters in Georgia if they were following news or opinion stories concerning both entities and what, if anything, should be done to improve the quality of their performance.
The poll showed little interest in the Public Service Commission as a news or opinion issue, but suggested significant awareness of the Legislature. Only 27 percent of those surveyed said they were aware of any recent news story or editorial concerning the Georgia Public Service Commission.
And ironically, as the Commission considers rules related to so called “ex parte” communications, the public’s biggest choice for reform of the PSC was to “prohibit lawyers or those from industries the PSC regulates from holding office on the Public Service Commission.” Republicans were particularly strong on this potential reform measure, with 38 percent of GOP respondents favored restricting those who could serve as opposed to only 28 percent favoring the ban on third party private meetings and 23 percent supporting a two term limit for PSC members.
The survey showed that the Legislature has sustained a much higher level of public awareness. Fifty-seven percent of all Georgians said they were aware of recent news- or opinion-related stories concerning the state General Assembly. Their remedy for reform was overwhelming. Fifty-four percent want a ban on any gifts or expenditures by lobbyists on members of the legislature. Among Republicans, that percentage jumped to 60 percent. A two-term limit for both state representatives and senators received support from 23 percent of the respondents to the poll. Ironically the concept that the legislature should “meet only two months out of the year” received support from only five percent of respondents, with the rest saying they were undecided as to how to reform the legislature.
The survey follows last week’s rather dismal approval ratings for the state legislature and an apparent lack of understanding concerning the cause for the standoff over the state’s supplemental budget.
The poll sampled 500 registered voters in Georgia and was weighted for age, race, gender, and political affiliation. It has a margin of error of plus or minus four percent.
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