KENTUCKY (2/22/12) – At least 75 percent of residents in the 15th Kentucky House District support both the death penalty and stem cell research, according to a recent survey by State Rep. Brent Yonts, D-Greenville.
Of 186 respondents to the survey, 144—or 77 percent—said they believe stem cell research should be allowed for its potential to find cures for diseases like cancer or spinal cord injuries, while 19 percent said they are opposed to stem cell research. Seventy five percent of respondents, or 140 people, said they support the death penalty, while 19 percent said they are opposed to capital punishment. Remaining survey respondents did not indicate a preference.
A large majority of respondents also favor increasing the school dropout age from 16 to 18. The survey shows that 72 percent, or 134, respondents want to raise Kentucky’s compulsory school age to 18. Twenty four percent said they are opposed, with seven providing no answer to the question.
Legislation is currently pending before the Kentucky Senate that would increase the school dropout age to 18 by 2017. That bill, House Bill 216, passed the House by a vote of 87-10 on Feb. 16.
Stricter government limits on purchases of over the counter (OTC) cold and allergy drugs like Sudafed that contain chemicals used to make methamphetamine in makeshift street labs also have strong support in the district. Nearly two-thirds of survey respondents—or 117 people—said they would support a system that blocks convicted meth offenders from OTC purchases of drugs used to make meth. A total of 48 respondents, or 26 percent, said they would support legislation to require a doctor’s prescription to buy the OTC drugs. Eleven percent of respondents did not indicate a preference.
Two bills now pending before the Kentucky General Assembly, including HB 80 sponsored by Yonts and HB 79 sponsored by Rep. Linda Belcher of Shepherdsville, would further limit access to the OTC drugs as indicated in the survey. Yonts’ legislation would block access to the medications by convicted meth offenders, while HB 79 would require a prescription for non-liquid forms of the drugs.
Other proposals pending before the General Assembly that are favored by a majority of residents in the districts, based on the survey results, include: Restoring the voting rights of convicted felons who have served their sentence (64 percent in favor, 33 percent opposed, 3 percent no answer), and; placing the issue of amending the state constitution to allow expanded gaming on statewide ballot for consideration of Kentucky voters (57 percent in favor, 41 percent opposed, two percent no answer).
Survey respondents also indicated that they favor banning mountaintop removal mining (52 percent in favor, 41 percent opposed, 7 percent no answer); allowing early voting in Kentucky elections (58 percent in favor, 39 percent opposed, three percent no answer); setting limits on awards for “pain and suffering” in medical malpractice cases (55 percent in favor, 42 percent opposed, three percent no answer), and; revamping the state tax code to create adequate revenue for state programs (68 percent in favor, 25 percent opposed, 7 percent no answer).
Proposals rejected by respondents to the survey include: Repealing the state’s individual and corporate income taxes and replacing that revenue with an increase in the sales tax (26 percent in favor, 68 percent opposed, six percent no answer), and; lowering sentences for persistent felons who do not commit violent crimes and who are not deemed a public safety threat (46 percent in favor, 49 percent opposed, five percent no answer).
SurfKY News
Information provided by Rebecca Hanchett
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