The Northfield News

Senator Bill Doyle has released the results of his 41st annual Town Meeting Day Survey.

Strongest support in the history of the survey related to the question, “should drivers be prohibited from texting while driving.” Ninety-six percent said yes, three percent said no and one percent was not sure. No question during the history of the survey ever recorded 96 percent approval. There was again strong support for prohibiting cell phones while driving. Seventy-four percent said yes, 20 percent said no, and 6 percent were not sure. This was approximately the same results when the question was asked last year.

The greatest change from last year’s result was whether Vermont’s Yankee should be renewed in 2012. This year, 31 percent said yes, 52 percent said no, and 17 percent were not sure. Last year’s Yankee result was 40 percent said yes, 37 percent said no, and 23 percent were not sure.

The respondents to the survey gave strong support to statewide cell service and broadband and that locally grown food was an important part of Vermont’s economic future. Fifty-three percent of the respondents said that President Obama was doing a good job, 32 percent said no, and 15 percent were undecided.

Most Vermonters did not think our federal stimulus funds have been well-spent. Vermonters were concerned about the cost of local schools and did not say Vermont is an affordable place in which to live. Vermonters thought Vermont’s prison population should be reduced through alternatives. Forty-one percent of Vermonters were satisfied with their health insurance costs.