Every March, for more than four decades, state Sen. William Doyle has taken the pulse of Vermont.Doyle - who also teaches political science at Johnson State College - says more than 13,000 Vermonters in 155 communities filled out his yellow survey forms this year.The questions he asks intentionally mirror many of the pending policy issues at the Vermont Statehouse. It is not a scientific method though he says thanks to its large sample has consistently reflected random sample opinion polling.Doyle released the results of his 2014 survey Monday. * * * * * *Should drivers be prohibited from using cell phones while driving? YES 74% NO 19% Not sure 7%Should Vermont legalize marijuana?YES 44% NO 45% Not sure 11%Should wind turbines be constructed on Vermont ridge lines?YES 48% NO 33% Not sure 19%Should Vermont increase its minimum wage?YES 71% NO 20% Not sure 9%Are you concerned about the increasing use of opiates in Vermont? YES 89% NO 5% Not sure 6%Should we reduce the Vermont prison population through the use of alternatives for offenders?YES 71% NO 17% Not sure 12%Should food products sold in Vermont produced with genetic engineering be labeled?YES 76% NO 15% Not sure 9%Do you believe that Vermont is an affordable place to live?YES 26% NO 60% Not sure 14%Are statewide cell service and broadband important to the future of Vermont's economy?YES 87% NO 5% Not sure 8%Should natural gas be an important part of Vermont's economy?YES 55% NO 21% Not sure 24%Should Vermont create a state bank?YES 23% NO 38% Not sure 39%Do you believe that Vermont health care is moving in the right direction?YES 41% NO 38% Not sure 21%Do you believe that increasing costs of education are unsustainable?YES 69% NO 18% Not sure 13%Do you believe that our national government collects too much information on the lives of American citizens?YES 69% NO 17% Not sure 14 %

Every March, for more than four decades, state Sen. William Doyle has taken the pulse of Vermont.



Doyle - who also teaches political science at Johnson State College - says more than 13,000 Vermonters in 155 communities filled out his yellow survey forms this year.


The questions he asks intentionally mirror many of the pending policy issues at the Vermont Statehouse. It is not a scientific method though he says thanks to its large sample has consistently reflected random sample opinion polling.

Doyle released the results of his 2014 survey Monday.

* * * * * *

Should drivers be prohibited from using cell phones while driving? YES 74% NO 19% Not sure 7%

Should Vermont legalize marijuana?

YES 44% NO 45% Not sure 11%



Should wind turbines be constructed on Vermont ridge lines?

YES 48% NO 33% Not sure 19%



Should Vermont increase its minimum wage?

YES 71% NO 20% Not sure 9%



Are you concerned about the increasing use of opiates in Vermont? YES 89% NO 5% Not sure 6%

Should we reduce the Vermont prison population through the use of alternatives for offenders?

YES 71% NO 17% Not sure 12%



Should food products sold in Vermont produced with genetic engineering be labeled?

YES 76% NO 15% Not sure 9%

Do you believe that Vermont is an affordable place to live?

YES 26% NO 60% Not sure 14%

Are statewide cell service and broadband important to the future of Vermont's economy?

YES 87% NO 5% Not sure 8%



Should natural gas be an important part of Vermont's economy?

YES 55% NO 21% Not sure 24%



Should Vermont create a state bank?

YES 23% NO 38% Not sure 39%



Do you believe that Vermont health care is moving in the right direction?

YES 41% NO 38% Not sure 21%



Do you believe that increasing costs of education are unsustainable?

YES 69% NO 18% Not sure 13%



Do you believe that our national government collects too much information on the lives of American citizens?

YES 69% NO 17% Not sure 14 %