Health care is Ohioans’ No. 1 choice for more state spending

When asked the area of state government where Ohioans would most like to see more money spent, the No. 1 answer was health care, according to a poll conducted by the University of Cincinnati (Source: “POLL: Nearly One-Third of Ohioans Want State to Spend More Money on Health, Education,” Market Watch, July 31, 2008).

Thirty-two percent of Ohioans favor spending more on health care, compared to 26 percent who listed primary and secondary education as their top choice for more state spending. Economic development was listed first by 19 percent of respondents, followed by 10 percent for road and bridge construction and maintenance, 8 percent for higher education and 2 percent for prisons and safety.

The question was included in the Ohio Health Issues poll, which is part of the twice-yearly Ohio Poll. The Ohio Health Issues poll is expected to release more finding in the coming weeks on Ohioans’ opinions about health-care topics. The poll is funded by The Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati, which also provides funding to the Health Policy Institute of Ohio.