Among likely voters intending to vote "yes" on Proposition 72 this November, 47% say the reason for their taking the "yes" position on Proposition 72 (in support of the state's Health Insurance Act of 2003, SB2) is that they believe the law "is a step in the right direction and will expand insurance coverage." Another forty percent of "yes" side supporters feel "employers should share in the costs, do their part, contribute to the health care of their workers." On the other hand, 26% of likely voters who intend to vote "no" believe that the law "would increase the cost of doing business in California, makes business less competitive, and is bad for business." Another two in ten "no" side voters offer these other reasons for intending to vote "no": "providing workers health insurance would remain voluntary, a benefit, should not be mandated by government," or "it's not businesses' responsibility, businesses should not be paying for health care."

In two open-ended questions included in The Field Poll survey on Proposition 72, and sponsored by CHCF, respondents were asked to state one or more reasons for why they were planning to vote either "yes" or "no" come November.

Voters planning to vote "yes" cited these additional reasons for supporting SB2:

• "Would make health care insurance more affordable to workers, or it's too expensive to pay for yourself," (15%);
• A smaller percentage also cited these reasons: "it affects me directly, would guarantee coverage for me; it's better than having government pay for health care or would save the state money; and it would put all businesses on an equal footing."

Voters planning to vote "no" cited these additional reasons for voting to repeal SB2:

• "Businesses would pass the costs on to consumers and drive up prices," (6%);
• It will drive up the costs of health care further," (2%).

Among voters inclined to vote "yes" on the proposition:

• Republicans and Democrats are about equally inclined to cite "it's a step in the right direction…" as their reason;
• All income groups are about equally inclined to cite "it's a step in the right direction," but lower income groups are more likely to cite "it would make health care more affordable…" than are higher income groups;
• The youngest and oldest age groups surveyed are equally inclined to cite "it's a step in the right direction," but older voters are much more likely to cite "it would make health care more affordable…" than are younger voters;
• Union and non-union voters are equally inclined to cite "it's a step in the right direction," but union voters are about twice as likely to say "it would make health care more affordable" than are non-union voters.

On the "no" side:

• Republicans are about twice as likely as Democrats to cite "it would increase the cost of doing business" as their reason for planning to vote "no."
• Democrats are nearly three times as likely as Republicans to say they "don't know why" they are planning to vote "no."
• Higher income voters are many more times likely to cite "it would increase the cost of doing business" as their reason for planning to vote "no" than are lower income groups, which are many times more likely to cite "will drive up cost of health care" as their reason for planning to vote "no."

Proposition 72, on the November ballot, is a referendum that seeks to repeal the state's Health Insurance Act (SB2) signed into law last year. If approved, the provisions in the law would stand. As a public service to voters, CHCF is sponsoring an informational Web site on the Health Insurance Act. In accordance with standard policy, CHCF does not take a position on this legislation nor the voter referendum.