Selected Results from Puerto Rico Herald Public Opinion Survey
Of 900 U.S. Mainland Registered Voters
(By Opinion Dynamics, July 9-12, 2004)
1. How familiar are you with the Island
of Puerto Rico?
|
Very familiar
|
13%
|
|
Somewhat familiar
|
41%
|
|
Not very familiar
|
28%
|
|
Not at all familiar
|
18%
|
|
Not sure
|
1%
|
2. As far as you know, do you need a
passport to visit Puerto Rico?
|
Yes
|
18%
|
|
No
|
65%
|
|
Not sure
|
18%
|
3. Do Puerto Ricans need visas to come
to the U.S.?
|
Yes
|
22%
|
|
No
|
49%
|
|
Not sure
|
28%
|
4. Which of the following do you think
best describes the relationship between the U.S. and
Puerto Rico?
|
Puerto Rico is a state
|
4%
|
|
Puerto Rico is an independent
nation
|
8%
|
|
Puerto Rico is a territory owned
and governed by the US
|
42%
|
|
Puerto Rico has an association
with the US that gives its people some self-government,
but leaves important decisions to Congress?
|
29%
|
|
Not sure
|
17%
|
5. As far as you know, are Puerto Ricans
U.S. citizens or not?
|
They are
|
41%
|
|
They are not
|
41%
|
|
Not sure
|
19%
|
6. If a majority of the people of Puerto
Rico asked to be admitted to the Union as a state, would
you favor or oppose allowing them to become the 51st state?
|
Favor
|
68%
|
|
Oppose
|
16%
|
|
Not Sure
|
16%
|
7. Determining the status of
Puerto Rico involves both the people of Puerto Rico and
the
United states. For a process for the U.S. citizens of
the Island to resolve the status question, do you think:
|
The Federal Government and/or
the U.S Congress should provide the people of Puerto
Rico with clearly defined options which are valid
and acceptable to the united States before the
residents if the Island decide their future in
an informed process.
|
45%
|
|
The people of Puerto Rico should
hold their own internal process without knowing
what are the acceptable options to the Federal
Government and/or the U.S. Congress and wait for
the United States to decide if it accepts the results
or rejects the option chosen by voters.
|
32%
|
|
Not sure
|
23%
|
8. On another topic, the Puerto Rican
government has asked Congress to implement a plan whereby
U.S. corporations operating in Puerto Rico would not
have to pay Federal Income taxes. They say this would
encourage economic development and job growth on the
Island. Opponents say this program encourages tax evasion,
not economic growth. Would you favor or oppose Congress
granting special tax benefits to companies operating
in Puerto Rico?
|
Favor
|
17%
|
|
Oppose
|
74%
|
|
Not sure
|
9%
|
9. Puerto Rico currently receives more
Federal benefits that 24 of the 50 states, yet its citizens
pay no Federal Income Taxes. Knowing this, would you
favor or oppose Congress imposing Federal Income Taxes
on Puerto Rico?
|
Favor
|
67%
|
|
Oppose
|
23%
|
|
Not sure
|
10%
|
10. Since Puerto Ricans get Federal
Aide, they should pay Federal Income Taxes?
|
Agree
|
79%
|
|
Disagree
|
15%
|
|
Not sure
|
6%
|
11. Puerto Ricans canŐt have it both
ways; they canŐt have all the benefits of being American
citizens without the responsibilities. ItŐs time for
them to decide between statehood and independence.
|
Agree
|
83%
|
|
Disagree
|
9%
|
|
Not sure
|
8%
|
12. Making Puerto Rico a state would
entitle Puerto Rican citizens to vote and require them
to pay Federal Income Taxes. It would add two U.S. Senators
and five U.S. Representatives to the Congress as well
as a million new American voters. Hearing the facts,
do you think it would be a good or bad idea for Puerto
Rico to become the 51st state of the U.S.?
|
Statehood is a good idea
|
60%
|
|
Statehood is a bad idea
|
17%
|
|
Mixed, good for some/bad for others
|
12%
|
|
Not sure
|
10%
|
13. If Puerto Rico became a state, do
you think Puerto Rican economy would be helped, hurt
or unaffected?
|
Helped
|
61%
|
|
Hurt
|
6%
|
|
Unaffected
|
15%
|
|
Not sure
|
17%
|
14. If Puerto Rico became a state, do
you think the quality of life for Puerto Ricans living
on the Island would:
|
Improve a lot
|
25%
|
|
Improve a little
|
42%
|
|
Stay the same
|
14%
|
|
Get a little worse
|
4%
|
|
Get a lot worse
|
2%
|
|
Not sure
|
12%
|
15. If Puerto Rico became independent,
do you think the Puerto Rican economy would be helped,
hurt or unaffected?
|
Helped
|
20%
|
|
Hurt
|
39%
|
|
Unaffected
|
23%
|
|
Not sure
|
19%
|
16. If Puerto Rico became independent,
do you think the quality of life for Puerto Ricans living
on the Island would:
|
Improve a lot
|
8%
|
|
Improve a little
|
16%
|
|
Stay the same
|
18%
|
|
Get a little worse
|
31%
|
|
Get a lot worse
|
10%
|
|
Not sure
|
17%
|
17. Regardless of where you stand on
statehood for Puerto Rico, do you think the U.S. Congress
should offer Puerto Ricans a chance to vote a clear choice
between statehood and independence-the only two long-term
solutions?
|
Yes
|
75%
|
|
No
|
14%
|
|
Not sure
|
12%
|
|
