June 21, 2013

Voters Oppose Governor Perrys Omnibus

Abortion Bill
Bipartisan Statewide Survey of Likely Voters in Texas
To:

Interested Parties

From: Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research and Chesapeake Beach

Consulting

A majority of Texans oppose the legislation currently being considered by the legislature that
imposes restrictions on abortion and 80 percent do not want abortion to be raised during the
special session of the legislature called at the end of May by Governor Rick Perry.
Of registered voters, 63 percent say the state has enough restrictions on abortion and 71
percent thinking that the Governor and legislature should be more focused on the economy and
jobs. A majority opposes the sort of legislation passed by the state Senate and being
considered by the state House during this legislative Special Session, believing that it imposes
further restrictions on abortion. Overall, only 34 percent trust the Governor and the legislature
to make decisions about womens healthcare.
The following memo is based on a statewide survey1 of 601 registered voters in Texas,
conducted June 17 19, 2013. These data are subject to a margin of error of +/- 4.0 percentage
points at a 95 percent confidence level. The survey is representative of the Texas electorate.
Among those surveyed, 49 percent self-identify as Republicans and 37 percent identify as
Democrats; ideologically, 46 percent say they are conservative, 33 percent identify as
moderates, and 15 percent are liberal.
Major findings include:

Nearly three quarters of voters (74 percent) in the state say personal, private medical
decisions about whether to have an abortion should be made by a woman, her family,
and her doctor, not by politicians; just 19 percent of voters think government has a right
and an obligation to pass restrictions on abortion. Support for a womans ability to make

Full question wording and topline results are provided in the attached appendix.
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Texas Statewide Survey Results

decisions on abortion for herself is both broad and deep, including among Independents
(76 percent) and Republicans (61 percent).

Fifty-two percent of Texas voters think that abortion should be legal in all or most cases,
compared to 39 percent who say it should be illegal in all or most cases. Even among
those who think abortion should be illegal, a majority (51 percent) believe that personal,
private medical decisions about whether to have an abortion should be made by a
woman, her family, and her doctor, not by politicians.

Eight in ten voters agree that the special session should be focused on issues like
education, jobs, and economy instead of bringing up social issues like abortion; 71
percent think that the Governor and the legislature should spend less time passing laws
restricting abortion. Again, both Independent and Republican voters share this view.

Overall, a majority (51 percent) oppose the current legislation in the legislature, which
would place new restrictions and regulation on abortion providers that would likely result
in the closure of all but five abortion clinics in the state of Texas, all of which are located
along the I-35 corridor and would ban most abortions at 20 weeks of pregnancy.

While voters are split on whether or not womens access to healthcare is being
threatened in the state (43 percent each threatened and not threatened), 57 percent do
not trust the Governor or the legislature to make decisions about womens healthcare.

In sum, this legislation is not a reflection of any voter sentiment that this is an important issue for
the Governor and legislature to take up or any desire for further restrictions on abortion. Indeed,
a majority opposes this legislation, being devised by politicians they do not particularly trust on
womens health issues.

2013 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, All Rights Reserved.

June 2013

Texas Statewide Survey Results

Appendix: Frequency Questionnaire

June 17-19, 2013
601 Registered Voters
Q.1 First of all, are you registered to vote at this address?
Total

Yes ................................................................................... 100

No ........................................................................................ Don't know ........................................................................... (ref:NRV)
Q.2 I know it's a long way off, but what are the chances of your voting in the election for
Governor, U.S. Congress, and other offices in November 2014 -- are you almost certain to vote,
will you probably vote, are the chances 50-50, or don't you think you will vote?
Total

Almost certain .................................................................... 70

Probably ............................................................................. 19
50-50................................................................................... 8
Will not vote ........................................................................ 4
(Don't know/Refused) .......................................................... 0
(ref:WILLVOTE)

Q.3 In general, how closely do you follow news about politics, government and current events -very closely, fairly closely, not too closely, or not closely at all?
Total

Very closely........................................................................ 27
Fairly closely ...................................................................... 40
Not too closely ................................................................... 24
Not closely at all .................................................................. 9
(Don't know/Refused) ........................................................... Total close ........................................................................ 67
Total not close .................................................................. 33
Close - Not Close ............................................................. 35
(ref:FOLCLOSE)

2013 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, All Rights Reserved.

June 2013

Texas Statewide Survey Results

Q.4 Now I am going to read you some statements and I want you to tell me if you agree or
disagree with that statement.
Agree
Strng Smwt Nei- Smwt Strng DK/ Total Total
Agree Agree Ther Dis Dis Ref Agree Dis Dis

4 Women's access to health care

is being threatened in Texas. ......... 29
5 A special session of the
legislature should focus on
issues like education, jobs, and
the economy, instead of bringing
up social issues like abortion that
were already addressed in the
regular session of the legislature. ... 61
(ref:AGREE2)

14

21

21

43

43

-1

19

80

14

-66

Q.6 Now I'm going to read you some pairs of statements. Please tell me whether the FIRST
statement or the SECOND statement comes closer to your own view.
st

st

nd

nd

Texas laws do not

currently place enough
restrictions on abortions. ....... 47

15

21

63

27

36

16

74

19

55

1
1
2
2
Stmt Stmt Stmt Stmt
NeiStrng Weak Weak Strng Both ther

Total Total
st
nd
DK/
1
2
Ref Stmt Stmt

st

1
nd
2

6 Texas laws already

place enough restrictions
on abortion and we don't
need any new laws.

7 Personal, private
medical decisions whether
to have an abortion should
be made by a woman, her
family, and her doctor, not
by politicians.
Government has a right
and obligation to pass
restrictions on abortion to
ensure the health and
safety of women and
children, both born and
unborn. ................................. 66

2013 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, All Rights Reserved.

June 2013

Texas Statewide Survey Results

st

st

nd

nd

1
1
2
2
Stmt Stmt Stmt Stmt
NeiStrng Weak Weak Strng Both ther

Total Total
st
nd
DK/
1
2
Ref Stmt Stmt

st

1
nd
2

8 Instead of spending time

passing more laws
restricting abortion, the
state legislature in Texas
should be focusing on
creating jobs and growing
the economy.
It is important for the state
legislature in Texas to
pass new laws to regulate
abortion procedures,
providers and facilities
because abortions create
harmful long-term
consequences for women
and for society....................... 63

18

71

22

49

11

11

46

34

57

-23

9 I trust Governor Perry

and the state legislature to
make decisions about
women's healthcare.
I don't trust Governor
Perry and the state
legislature to make
decisions about women's
healthcare. ............................ 23
(ref:LEGPR)

Q.10 Now I am going to read a proposal introduced by Governor Perry that is currently being
considered by the state legislature as part of the special legislative session. Please tell me
whether you favor or oppose that proposal.
Strng Smwt Smwt Strng Dk/
Fav Fav Opp Opp Ref

10 This proposal would put in place

new restrictions and regulations on
abortion providers that would likely
result in the closure of all but five
abortion clinics in the state of Texas, all
of which are located along the I-35
corridor, and would ban most abortions
starting at 20 weeks of pregnancy. ........... 29
(ref:PROP13)

2013 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, All Rights Reserved.

13

12

39

Opp
Total Total
Fav Opp Fav

42

51

June 2013

Texas Statewide Survey Results

Q.11 Finally, I would like to ask you a few questions for statistical purposes. In what year were
you born?
Total

18 - 24................................................................................. 9
25 - 29................................................................................. 6
30 - 34................................................................................. 6
35 - 39................................................................................ 10
40 - 44................................................................................. 9
45 - 49................................................................................. 9
50 - 54................................................................................. 9
55 - 59................................................................................. 6
60 - 64................................................................................ 11
65 and over ........................................................................ 23
(No answer) ........................................................................ 1
(ref:AGE)
Q.12 What is the last year of schooling that you have completed?
Total

1 - 11th grade...................................................................... 5
High School graduate......................................................... 20
Non-college post H.S. ......................................................... 3
Some college ..................................................................... 24
College graduate ................................................................ 33
Post-graduate school ......................................................... 14
(Don't know/Refused) .......................................................... 1
(ref:EDUC)
Q.13 Generally speaking, do you think of yourself as a Republican, a Democrat or what?
Total

Strong Democrat ................................................................ 18

Weak Democrat ................................................................. 11
Independent-lean Democrat ................................................ 8
Independent ....................................................................... 12
Independent-lean Republican ............................................ 11
Weak Republican ............................................................... 14
Strong Republican.............................................................. 25
(Don't know/Refused) .......................................................... 2
(ref:PTYID1)
Q.14 Thinking in political terms, would you say that you are Conservative, Moderate, or Liberal?
Total

Liberal ................................................................................ 15
Moderate ............................................................................ 33
Conservative ...................................................................... 46
(Don't know/Refused) .......................................................... 7
(ref:IDEO1)

2013 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, All Rights Reserved.

June 2013

Texas Statewide Survey Results

Q.15 Now I'd like to ask you something a little different. Do you think that abortion should be
legal in all cases, legal in most cases, illegal in most cases or illegal in all cases?
Total

Legal in all cases................................................................ 14

Legal in most cases ........................................................... 39
Illegal in most cases ........................................................... 26
Illegal in all cases ............................................................... 13
(Don't know/Refused) .......................................................... 8
Total Legal ........................................................................ 52
Total Illegal ....................................................................... 39
Legal - Illegal .................................................................... 13
(ref:LEGAL)
Q.16 Are you married, single, separated, divorced, or widowed?
Total

Married ............................................................................... 66
Single ................................................................................. 17
Separated/Divorced ............................................................ 7
Widowed ............................................................................. 8
(Don't know/Refused) .......................................................... 1
Sep/Div/Wid ...................................................................... 15
(ref:MARRY)
Q.17 What is your religion -- Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Mormon, another Christian
religion, another non-Christian religion, or do you not have a religious affiliation?
Total

Protestant .......................................................................... 41
Catholic .............................................................................. 21
Jewish ................................................................................. 0
Muslim/Islam ....................................................................... 1
Mormon ............................................................................... 2
Other Christian ................................................................... 18
Other non-Christian religion ................................................ 3
Not affiliated or nothing in particular (Atheist, Agnostic) ..... 11
(Don't know/Refused) .......................................................... 4
(ref:RELIGTFN)

2013 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, All Rights Reserved.

June 2013

Texas Statewide Survey Results

[490 Respondents]
Q.18 (SKIP IF JEWISH, MUSLIM, ATHEIST, AGNOSTIC, OR OTHER NON-CHRISTIAN
RELIGION IN RELIGTFN) When it comes to your religious identity, would you say you are
fundamentalist, evangelical, charismatic, Pentecostal, mainline, or liberal, or do none these
describe you?
Total

Fundamentalist ................................................................... 7
Evangelical.......................................................................... 9
Charismatic ......................................................................... 4
Pentecostal ......................................................................... 5
Mainline .............................................................................. 7
Liberal ................................................................................ 10
(No designation, or just Christian or just Protestant) ........... 43
(Other) ................................................................................ 6
(Don't know/Refused) .......................................................... 8
(ref:PROTID)
[490 Respondents]
Q.19 (SKIP IF JEWISH, MUSLIM, ATHEIST, AGNOSTIC, OR OTHER NON-CHRISTIAN
RELIGION IN RELIGTFN) Would you describe yourself as a born-again Christian, or no?
Total

Yes .................................................................................... 51
No ...................................................................................... 45
(Don't know/Refused) .......................................................... 3
(ref:BORNAGIN)
Q.20 How often do you attend church or other religious services -- every week, once or twice a
month, several times a year, or hardly ever?
Total

Every week ........................................................................ 47

Once or twice a month ....................................................... 19
Several times a year .......................................................... 10
Hardly ever......................................................................... 14
(Never) ................................................................................ 5
(Don't know/Refused) .......................................................... 5
(ref:RELIGB)
Q.21 What is your race?
Total

White.................................................................................. 61
Black .................................................................................. 12
Hispanic ............................................................................. 21
(Other) ................................................................................ 3
(Don't know/Refused) .......................................................... 3
(ref:RACE)
Q.22 Sex of respondent.

2013 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, All Rights Reserved.

June 2013

Texas Statewide Survey Results

Total

Male ................................................................................... 47
Female ............................................................................... 53
(ref:GENDER)

2013 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, All Rights Reserved.

June 2013