Dan Nataf Ph.D. Director Center for the Study of Local Issues Anne Arundel Community College 101 College Parkway Arnold, MD

ServiceIncreaseReduceKeep same Increase- Reduce Public Schools Police Fire The community college Seniors’ services Roads Social Services Health Department Environmental Oversight Libraries Parks and Recreation Planning and Zoning

As you may know, cameras are already being used to catch and ticket drivers who run red lights. Now there is consideration of using cameras to catch and ticket drivers who speed near schools or construction areas. Which of the following best represents your views on this issue? StancePercentage Favor the use of cameras in all cases 49% Favor the use of cameras only for red lights16% Favor the use of cameras only for speeding 6% Oppose the use of cameras in general 28% No opinion/no answer 2%

Digging out of a deep hole Washington Post, Nov. 19, 2009 “Digging out of a deep hole”

How would you rate economic conditions in… excellent, good, only fair or poor?

How would you rate economic conditions (% saying excellent or good) by employment category

How would you rate economic conditions ( % saying excellent or good) by income, gender, marital status, race, party, ideology

How would you rate economic conditions by “does X condition apply” - % saying excellent or good Anne Arundel County

Economic ConditionThis year Next year Future year Median year N.A. A stabilization of housing values A return to steady growth of the economy A major reduction in the unemployment rate A return to a better balance between revenues and expenditures for state and local government budgets A return to a better balance between revenues and expenditures for the federal government’s budget

Health Care Quality/Access

Budget cutting measure About right Too big Too small N.A. The governor’s policy of making state employees take three to 10 days of unpaid leave Laying off 200 state employees The proposal to cut $210 million in state aid to localities in Maryland The proposal to cut $15 million in local aid to Anne Arundel County Cutting a combined $30 million in health- related funding

SupportOpposeUnsure N.A. Maintaining the tuition freeze at the University of Maryland Maintaining the level of state funding for public schools Requiring school employees to take several unpaid days off Shifting the cost of teachers’ pensions to local governments

AllDemRepInd.D-R Maintaining the tuition freeze at the University of Maryland Maintaining the level of state funding for public schools Requiring school employees to take several unpaid days off Shifting the cost of teachers’ pensions to local governments AllDemRepInd.D-R The governor’s policy of making state employees take three to 10 days of unpaid leave Laying off 200 state employees The proposal to cut $210 million in state aid to localities in Maryland The proposal to cut $15 million in local aid to Anne Arundel County Cutting a combined $30 million in health-related funding O’Malley doing poor job % Ideology Conservative55 Moderate33 Liberal10 Conservative-Liberal45 Party Democrat21 Republican62 Independent38 Democrat-Republican-41 % saying “support” % saying “about right” O’Malley’s job balancing budget Good=13%; Okay=42%; Poor=38%

Main problem… OverallDemRepUnaffil.D-R Deficit/Debt Budget/Overspending Defense/Homeland Sec./Terrorism Economy Unemployment43380 Taxes2233 Wars in Afghan/Iraq Health care Environment/Climate change23003 Education13003

: National Issues: Presidential job approval Bush Obama

% approving of president’s job by party