The Chelgren Report by Sen. Mark Chelgren

During the 2013 Iowa Legislative session, Sen. Mark Chelgren mailed a survey to all Republican, Democrat and Independent voters in Senate District 41.

Chelgren represents most of Wapello, Jefferson, Van Buren and Davis counties.

The survey addressed a variety of issues regarding Iowa?s future. Nearly 1,000 surveys were completed.

?I wanted to learn firsthand my constituents? priorities,? Chelgren said.

?Keeping political affiliation out of the survey, it allowed me to completely comprehend what people in my district want for Iowa, instead of just reading political talking points from one party or another.?

Chelgren thanks all those participating in the survey and encouraged constituents to contact him anytime he can be of service.

The survey shows:

? Of the following choices, which one do you believe should be the top priority of the State of Iowa throughout the next 18 months?

Balancing the state budget ? 32 percent

Creating jobs ? 28 percent

Reducing taxes ? 25 percent

Fixing roads and bridges ­? 10 percent

Improving schools ? 2 percent

Stopping gun violence ? 2 percent

? Would you say the amount you pay in taxes to the state government is too high, too low, or about right?

Too high ? 54 percent

About right ? 46 percent

Too low ? 0.2 percent

? Would you tell your legislator to vote for or to vote against a proposed 5-cent gas tax increase, if you knew the money would be used to fix Iowa?s roads and bridges?

Vote against ? 48 percent

Vote for ? 41 percent

Undecided ? 11 percent

? If the state legislature voted to cut taxes this year, would you prefer they reduce corporate property taxes, personal income taxes, or residential/personal property taxes?

Residential/personal property taxes ? 52 percent

Corporate property taxes ? 28 percent

Personal income tax ? 20 percent

Undecided ? 6 percent

? Would you say that the bargaining power of government work unions, which represent state workers, teachers and public safety officers, is too strong, about right or too weak?

Too strong ? 64 percent

About right ? 16 percent

Unsure ? 14 percent

Too weak ? 5 percent

? How would you describe the Iowa roads you travel on a daily basis?

Average ? 51 percent

Below average ? 25 percent

Poor ? 14 percent

Excellent ? 5 percent

? Do you support requiring Iowa voters to show a state-issued photo ID before voting?

Yes ? 88 percent

No ? 12 percent

? Do you support ending the ability of voters to vote ?straight ticket,? allowing voters to select an option at the top of the ballot vote for all candidates in a specific party, on their ballots?

Yes ? 51 percent

No ? 49 percent

? Should high school students be given workplace readiness tests before they graduate in order to measure their ability to understand technical manuals, do basic math and write well?

Yes ? 87 percent

No ? 13 percent

? Of the following reforms to our K-12 public education system, which measure would improve the education our children receive the most? (Many answered more than once)

End teacher tenure: Give local principals and superintendents the ability to release teachers who are not performing in the classroom ? 39 percent

Empower teachers to regain control of their classrooms ? 32 percent

Require all third grade students to read at grade level before they can be passed to the next grade ? 21 percent

Merit Pay: Reward our best teachers with higher pay ? 8 percent