05/13/2002

By JIM PARKER and VINCE PATTON, KGW Staff

Nearly two-thirds of Oregonians favor a proposal by Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jim Hill to raise taxes on beer and wine to help fund education, according to a new KGW poll of likely primary voters.

However, the poll found voters are opposed to increasing the Oregon Lottery’s use of video poker machines and evenly-divided on the notion of raising state vehicle registration fees.

Overall, 62% of those surveyed said they support increasing taxes on beer and wine -- provided the money goes to education. 32% were opposed to the proposed hike.

The proposed tax increase generates support from majorities of both Democrats (69%) and Republicans (55%). In addition, the idea garners majority support among all age groups and Congressional Districts in the state, the survey shows.

However, there does appear to be a split along gender lines on this tax question.

“Ironically, 40% of the men oppose the beer and wine tax compared to only 27% of the women. That should tell you something to,” Riley said.

Meantime, voters are evenly divided on the suggestion by Democratic front-runner Ted Kulongoski to raise state vehicle registration fees. The increased fees would be used to pay for needed road and bridge repairs.

Our poll found 48% support the fee hike, 45% oppose it, a statistical dead heat.

“This will be a tougher one to sell, it could go either way,” said Riley.

To help the state out of its budget crunch, there has also been talk among lawmakers of expanding Oregon Lottery video games.

But a resounding 66% of those surveyed oppose a video gambling expansion, only 27% support the idea.

“If I were a betting man, I wouldn't bet on that one being supported broadly,” said Riley. “People are very much opposed to increasing video poker games.”

No political or demographic group of voters supported this idea, our poll found.

“(Opposition) is across the board. It's across the entire state, across gender, male and female, across the various age groups,” concludes Riley.