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Third Century Solutions
Poll Shows Clackamas County Voter Opposition to Healthcare Law and Traffic Impacts of CRC Bridge on I-205
A recent poll of Clackamas County voters taken by Elway Research in early January shows voter opposition to the Affordable Care Act and Cover Oregon has ramped up significantly. Only seven percent of voters think it is working well the way it is, while 30 percent think it should be totally eliminated, 26 percent think it needs major modifications and another 30 percent want minor modifications.
Twenty-three percent of voters think that President Obama knowingly lied about patients’ ability to keep their own plans and doctors; and 31 percent thought his promise was mostly untrue.
The president’s approval rating (45 percent approve; 52 percent disapprove) closely matches the low approval numbers nationally, even though Oregon is considered a “blue state.” The numbers are likely to foreshadow tough campaigns focused on this issue in the May Primary as well as in November.
Another burning issue in the region, the proposed Columbia River Crossing (CRC) bridge project roused voter interest due to the projected traffic increases that would be caused on I-205, which runs through the county.
When asked about increased traffic impacts from CRC construction on I-205, voters were overwhelming in their concern about negative impacts to the county. Only eight percent thought the impact would be positive; while 68 percent thought the impact would be negative. The CRC is being debated again in this legislative session, so voter opinion could impact the decisions of legislators up for re-election in the county.
Clackamas County residents appear to be wide open to the potential for alternatives to TriMet, with 67 percent of voters saying it is a good idea to explore independent bus service for parts of the county.
The poll questioned voters about the direction of the economy and their own sense of economic opportunity.
Some 63 percent of voters expressed concern that not all Oregonians have an equal opportunity for success, citing special interests and poor government policies. Nevertheless, 28 percent expect things to be better in the coming year; 48 percent expect it to be the same.
The poll had a four percent margin of error and sampled 603 Clackamas County voters.