A barrage of polls

So The Des Moines Register has launched a barrage of new Iowa Poll results in our direction this morning on various issues being batted around the Statehouse. No doubt the numbers are already generating considerable buzz as they are recounted over cups of bad Capitol coffee.

In short, the 800 Iowans polled this month favor a ban on red light cameras, 50-46, a ban on speed cameras, 51-47, a ban on the use of lead shot by dove hunters, 45-41, and a ban on abortions after five months of pregnancy instead of the current six-month limit, 54-38.

They oppose legal online gambling 69-28 and allowing power companies to raise rates for the construction of a future nuke plant, 77-18. But by a 64-31 tally, they support creating a new $25 million fund to provide state incentives to businesses. And 52 percent think state workers should pay $200 monthly for health insurance, with 41 percent opposed.

So I guess human nature is affirmed. We don't like government intrusion that might actually affect us, red light cameras and speed cameras, but don't mind so much when the powerful state takes another month of jurisdiction over pregnancies or regulates hunting shot. Pro-Choice Hunters for Smaller Government has yet to release a statement. 

And in a state with 18-state-licensed casinos, three Native American gaming facilities, lotteries, etc., it shows a real streak of plucky optimism that folks here still think access to gambling can be limited. And, again, most people probably have little interest in gambling online.

We like the idea of job-creating business incentives, the $25 million High Quality Jobs fund, unless they come straight out of our pockets, like in the nuke plant bill.

I still say a traffic camera ban will pass this year, unfortunately. Placing some sensible state regulations on what should ultimately be a local decision would be a much better solution. Lead shot won't be banned, the incentives fund may pass, but I doubt much happens in a sharply divided legislature on the other stuff.

The Register released a poll last week showing

broad opposition to a gas tax increase. Of all the polls we've seen lately, that one may have the most impact. I'm starting to get a sense that low popularity and high gas prices may spell curtains for the tax hike. It would not surprise me to see the idea jettisoned, even though the need clearly exists.

My own stand on the gas tax still stands.