1. Key Findings from a Survey of 500 Registered Voters
January 19-22, 2018
Robert Blizzard, Partner

2. Methodology
On behalf of Progress in Motion, Public Opinion Strategies conducted a survey of 500 registered voters in Minnesota. Three hundred respondents were contacted via landline and 200 were contacted via cell phone.
The survey was conducted January 19-22, 2018 and has a margin of error of +4.38%.
MINNESOTA STATEWIDE – JANUARY 2018 2

3. The State’s Roads,
Bridges and Highways

4. The number of accidents on state roads, bridges and highways.^
Voters don’t really believe there’s been an uptick in the "number of accidents."
Now, thinking some more about the state's roads, bridges and highways, do you feel that each of the following has gotten better, gotten worse, or stayed about the same over
the past few years?
The number of accidents on state roads, bridges and highways.^
Total By Metro Area
59%
57%
55%
23%
21%
18%
15%
13%
Better
10%
Better
Worse Total
Worse
Inside (57%)
Worse
Outside (43%)
Same
Better
Same
Same
^Asked of Sample B only.
MINNESOTA STATEWIDE – JANUARY 2018 4

5. The physical condition of the state's roads, bridges and highways.*
There are mixed opinions on the "physical condition" of the state's roads.
Now, thinking some more about the state's roads, bridges and highways, do you feel that each of the following has gotten better, gotten worse, or stayed about the same over
the past few years?
The physical condition of the state's roads, bridges and highways.*
Total By Metro Area
44%
45%
43%
35%
31%
28%
24%
25%
22%
Worse Total
Worse
Inside (60%)
Worse
Outside (40%)
Better
Same
Better
Same
Better
Same
*Asked of Sample A only.
MINNESOTA STATEWIDE – JANUARY 2018 5

6. The level of traffic and congestion in your area.
And, by a nearly four-to-one margin, Minnesotans say the "level of traffic and congestion" has gotten worse.
Now, thinking some more about the state's roads, bridges and highways, do you feel that each of the following has gotten better, gotten worse, or stayed about the same over
the past few years?
The level of traffic and congestion in your area.
Total
By Metro Area
62%
49%
48%
39%
39%
27%
11%
Better
11%
Better
11%
Better
Worse Total
Worse
Inside (59%)
Worse
Outside (41%)
Same
Same
Same
MINNESOTA STATEWIDE – JANUARY 2018 6

7. to improve roads, bridges and highways.
A strong majority of voters believe the state needs to spend more money
to improve roads, bridges and highways.
And, do you believe that the state's roads, bridges and highways are funded adequately, or do you believe
the state needs to spend more money to improve the state's roads, bridges and highways?
Total By Party By Metro Area
-24 -4
-28
-33
-23
-26
63%
63%
60%
61%
59%
45% 49%
36%
35%
36%
35%
30%
Fund
adeq More
Total
Fund
adeq More
GOP (22%)
Fund
adeq More
IND (43%)
Fund
adeq More
DEM (33%)
Fund
adeq More
Inside (59%)
Fund
adeq More
Outside (41%)
MINNESOTA STATEWIDE – JANUARY 2018 7

8. A Potential Constitutional Amendment

9. When voters are provided with some background about a potential Constitutional Amendment…
Now, as you may know, Minnesotans currently pay a sales tax of six‐point‐eight‐seven percent when they purchase auto parts like tires, new wiper blades, and so on.
Currently, one‐half of the revenue generated from that tax is dedicated to improving the state's roads, bridges and highways, while the other half goes directly to the state's general fund.
The State Legislature is discussing a proposal to amend the State's Constitution to dedicate ALL of the money collected from the sales tax on auto parts to go toward improving the state's roads, bridges and highways.
MINNESOTA STATEWIDE – JANUARY 2018

10. Fully three-quarters of Minnesotans support the potential Amendment.
If this Constitutional Amendment were on the ballot today, would you vote YES in favor of it or NO against it?
+57
76%
43%
Definitely
19%
Yes No
Total
MINNESOTA STATEWIDE – JANUARY 2018

11. Voters across the state support the Amendment.
If this Constitutional Amendment were on the ballot today, would you vote YES in favor of it or NO against it?
By Metro Area By Region
82%
+51
81% 80%
+72
85%
72%
72%
71%
53%
Def
55%
Def
51%
Def
46%
Def
38%
Def
39%
Def
36%
Def
23%
21%
20%
15%
17%
Yes No
13% No
Inside
Outside
Minn/St. P
Collar
West/NW
Northeast
South
(59%)
(41%)
(32%)
(26%)
(18%)
(12%)
(11%)
MINNESOTA STATEWIDE – JANUARY 2018

12. Voters in every age cohort strongly support the Amendment.
If this Constitutional Amendment were on the ballot today, would you vote YES in favor of it or NO against it?
By Age By Gender/Age
+49
+63
80%
80%
80%
74%
+67
80%
74%
72%
70%
68%
62%
Def
56%
Def
59%
Def
53%
Def
32%
Def
32%
Def
30% 28%
29%
Def 20%
26%
24%
25%
Def
Def 23%
17%
15%
11%
13%
Yes No
18-34
35-44
45-54
55-64
65+
Men
Women
(18%)
(22%)
(11%)
(25%)
(24%)
18-54
55+
(26%)
(21%)
(28%)
MINNESOTA STATEWIDE – JANUARY 2018

13. Messaging

14. We tested ten messages in SUPPORT of this Amendment, and five of these messages met the 35% “very convincing” threshold, including two messages which surpassed
40% “very convincing.”

15. The top scoring messages:
% Very Convincing
Total
Dedicating the sales tax that people are currently paying on auto parts to the Highway Trust Fund is fair because, just like the gas tax and registration fees, it means that those who use the state's roads are
paying for improving
the roads.
46%
84%
By passing this Constitutional Amendment, voters here in Minnesota will be making sure that highway dollars are protected in a lockbox to keep politicians from diverting the money to other areas of government spending.^
42%
75%
^Asked of Sample B only.
MINNESOTA STATEWIDE – JANUARY 2018

16. The next strongest scorers:
% Very Convincing
Total
39%
83%
73%
35%
74%
34%
71%
In the next two decades, Minnesota's population will increase by close to one million new residents. In order to accommodate this population growth, the state needs to invest now in a better transportation system to avoid congestion and safety problems.
The revenue collected from motor vehicle fees and taxes, including the sales tax on auto parts, should be Constitutionally dedicated to fixing roads and bridges. That way, no politician in St. Paul can touch it.
Dedicating all of the sales tax revenue on auto parts to the Highway Trust Fund will provide significantly more money without raising taxes on hard‐working Minnesota families.*
By passing this Constitutional Amendment, voters here in Minnesota will be making sure that highway dollars are protected to keep politicians from diverting the money to other areas of government spending.*
Minnesota's roads, bridges and highways across the state are in bad shape and deteriorating. By passing this Constitutional Amendment, we will finally get the dedicated funding needed to invest in fixing crumbling
roads and deficient bridges.
34%
77%
*Asked of Sample A only.
MINNESOTA STATEWIDE – JANUARY 2018

17. These messages failed to really move the needle:
% Very Convincing
Total
Improving the state's highways and public transit will help reduce traffic and congestion, making it easier for people to get around Minnesota, and giving families more time at home and less
time waiting in their car.^
29%
74%
In recent years, the number of car accidents has increased and highway fatalities are on the rise. By passing this Constitutional Amendment, the state can spend more on making highways and bridges safer in Minnesota to reduce
fatalities and injuries.*
23%
61%
If we don't pass this Constitutional Amendment and don't invest more in our transportation infrastructure, Minnesota's economy will suffer as businesses will choose not to expand or to locate elsewhere ‐ taking their jobs and tax revenue with them.
18%
51%
*Asked of Sample A only; ^asked of Sample B only.
MINNESOTA STATEWIDE – JANUARY 2018

18. We tested nine messages AGAINST this Amendment, and none of these messages met the 35% “very convincing” threshold.

19. The strongest messages against the Amendment:
% Very Convincing
Total
By passing this Constitutional Amendment, hundreds of millions of dollars that typically go to K‐12 public schools or health care for Senior Citizens will vanish. We shouldn't shortchange our kids' education and the elderly just to benefit rural Minnesota
roads.1
29%
60%
By passing this Constitutional Amendment, most new transportation funding would end up going to the Twin Cities to pay for bus routes and light rail instead of to help fix crumbling roads and bridges outside of the metro area.2
26%
64%
The problem with transportation funding is really how the money is being spent. If State Legislators would just clean up the inefficiencies and bureaucracy in St.
Paul, there would be a lot more money
to spend on our state's roads, bridges
and highways.^
25%
58%
^Asked of Sample B only; 1Asked inside Metro Area; 2Asked outside Metro Area.
MINNESOTA STATEWIDE – JANUARY 2018 31

20. The rest of the opposition messages:
% Very Convincing
Total
21%
60%
16%
47%
15%
43%
39%
14%
38%
12%
41%
Dedicating all of the motor vehicle sales tax revenue to transportation will result in the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars from the state's general fund which means less money being spent on K‐12 public education, health care for Senior Citizens, and other critical state
services.*
By passing this Constitutional Amendment, hundreds of millions of dollars would go toward building more highways that are wasteful and harm the environment. The state should invest that money in public transit
options near the Twin Cities.1
Dedicating all of the motor vehicle sales tax revenue to transportation will result in the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars from the state's general fund will create a huge budget hole that will give the politicians in St. Paul an excuse to pass a massive tax increase on
Minnesota families.^
Too much of the money being spent now on the state's roads, bridges and highways is wasted. The last thing we can do is trust the politicians in St. Paul to spend this
new money the right way.*
Rather than messing with the State's Constitution, the State Legislature should increase the state gas tax instead of diverting money from the general fund to fix
roads.^
This Constitutional Amendment punishes the state's middle class who may need to buy more auto parts than the wealthy who tend to own newer vehicles. Thus, the middle class will be paying the bulk of transportation funding, while wealthy Minnesotans are free riders.*
*Asked of Sample A only; ^Asked of Sample B only; 1Asked inside Metro Area.
MINNESOTA STATEWIDE – JANUARY 2018

21. The Money Messages The people get it. They are willing to spend more
75% plus support a “lockbox” for this money.
The key messages move the needle. With Voters.
Legislators need not fear this vote.
WE NEED YOUR HELP.
Text “Transportation” to (do this now).

22. Questions? www.transportationalliance.com