Florida Poll: Keep Government Out of Business

A poll by the Florida Coalition for the New Economy concluded Florida voters dont want local governments competing with private business.

The survey of 801 Florida voters showed 73 percent oppose allowing local governments to use taxpayer funds, including federal stimulus dollars, to compete against the private sector. Only 14 percent favor using taxpayer funds for this purpose, while 13 percent were undecided.

Specifically, a majority -- 53 percent -- oppose the idea of allowing local governments to offer the same Internet service private providers offer. Two-thirds, 66 percent, said they would be more likely to vote against a candidate who supports using tax dollars to allow local governments to compete with private broadband providers.

Even before they know the trade-offs and the problematic history of recent government-owned networks, voters oppose the idea of them, said Thomas Perrin, director of public affairs at the James Madison Institute.

The poll was conducted by Florida Opinion Research from Feb. 29 to March 3 and had a margin of error of +/- 3.46 percent.