What Texans Think About The Issues

The state of Texas is a very red state right now. No Democrat has held a statewide elected office for at least 18 years, and both houses of the legislature are dominated by Republicans. And the chances are that may continue for a while -- at least until the growing minority demographic changes things in the coming years (with Hispanics being the fastest growing portion of the population by far).

But that doesn't mean everyone in the state is a teabagger Republican. There are some people in this state trying to bring back a little sanity. The Texas Tribune and the University of Texas just completed a poll. It was taken to see what politicians were leading in their races, but the poll also asked some other questions. And the answers to those questions painted a pretty good picture of where the state stands at the current time. Here are those results:

WHICH BRANCH OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DO YOU TRUST THE MOST?
Judiciary...............39%
Executive...............23%
legislative...............9%
Don't know...............29%

HOW SHOULD THE SUPREME COURT RULE ON THE HEALTH CARE LAW?
Overturn it...............45%
Uphold it...............26%
Cut mandate only...............10%
Don't know...............19%

ARE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BETTER OR WORSE THAN THEY WERE A YEAR AGO?
Better...............9%
About the same...............39%
Worse...............39%
Don't know...............13%

DOES TEXAS SPEND THE RIGHT AMOUNT ON PUBLIC SCHOOLS?
Not enough...............51%
About right...............23%
Too much...............14%
Don't know...............13%

SHOULD CANDIDATES MAKE ANTI-TAX PLEDGES BEFORE ELECTIONS?
No...............47%
Yes...............36%
Don't know...............18%

IS THE COUNTRY ON THE RIGHT OR WRONG TRACK?
Wrong track...............61%
Right track...............25%
Don't know...............14%

IS THE STATE ON THE RIGHT OR WRONG TRACK?
Wrong track...............42%
Right track...............38%
Don't know...............21%

HOW IS THE ECONOMY COMPARED TO LAST YEAR?
Better...............28%
The same...............29%
Worse...............39%
Don't know...............4%

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEM FACING THE COUNTRY?
The economy...............26%
Spending/debt...............18%
Unemployment...............14%
Political leadership...............10%
Health care...............5%

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEM FACING THE STATE?
Immigration...............12%
The economy...............12%
Unemployment...............11%
Border security...............11%
Education...............11%
Political leadership...............10%

WHAT IS YOUR OPINION OF THE DEATH PENALTY?
Support it...............73%
Oppose it...............21%
Don't know...............5%

IS THE DEATH PENALTY FAIRLY APPLIED IN TEXAS?
Yes...............51%
No...............28%
Don't know...............21%

WHAT IS YOUR VIEW OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD?
Favorable...............46%
Unfavorable...............35%
Neither...............16%
Don't know...............4%

SHOULD INSURERS BE REQUIRED TO COVER BIRTH CONTROL FOR WOMEN?
Yes...............49%
No...............43%
Don't know...............8%

The poll had a margin of error of 3.46 points and was conducted May 7th through 13th.