ILR Profiles

The Empire State Poll conducted by the Survey Research Institute, provides an annual portrait of New Yorkers’ views and opinions on a range of employment, community, social, and governmental issues and topics. This year, 800 upstate and 800 downstate residents are being surveyed. Entering its third year, the poll is the first statewide survey of its kind in New York State. Results and findings of the poll are not only used for academic and policy research at Cornell University to benefit New York State, but are also disseminated widely to policymakers and the public through regular presentations, briefings, and media coverage. Results of a poll conducted between February 7 and February 26, 2005, showed these attitudes toward proposed changes in Social Security:

• More than half of all New York State residents (51 percent) oppose the proposal to change Social Security by allowing individuals to privately invest a portion of their Social Security taxes.
• Upstate New York residents are much more likely to support changes to Social Security (45 percent) than are downstate residents (32 percent).
• A higher percentage of self-described Republicans (29 percent) oppose Social Security reform than the percentage of Democrats who support changing the program (22 percent).
• Support for changing Social Security is closely linked to how respondents feel about their personal financial situation and the New York State economy. Those who believe their personal financial situation could worsen in the next 12 months are less likely to support changes to the program (25 percent) than those who believe their personal financial situation will improve (41 percent).
• Members of union households are more likely to oppose changing Social Security (60 percent) than members of non-union households (47 percent).

- Survey Research Institute