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The results of the Montana Chamber’s annual poll of Montana voters are in and they reveal some interesting new political and economic trends that may affect your business.

The Power Base (P-base) is an annual scientific survey of 600 Montana likely voters on a variety of business and political issues with a margin of error of 4.1%. The poll is done to find out what regular Montanans think about important economic issues facing our state. It was conducted during the week of November 14-18, 2011. Here are some of the results :

The unemployment levels are a top concern for Montanans. 48% listed it as the top problem facing our state, and the next highest problem, health care, was a third of that level at 15%. Montanans want to get back to work, and they are looking for businesses, not government, to provide the jobs.

As in prior surveys, the P-base shows Montanans want to see more business growth, especially in high wage businesses like the natural resource industries. For example, 81% of Montana voters want the state to encourage more timber harvesting, 76% want more oil & gas development, 73% want more coal development and 73% want more mining. More than two-thirds of Montanans say they support the Keystone XL pipe-line and clear majorities support development of the Otter Creek coal tracts.

Montanans are still pessimistic about the national economy. 66% of voters believe the U.S.’s economy is on the wrong track as opposed to 21% who think we are on the right track. Voters believe the state’s economy is better off with 46% saying we’re on the right track versus 30% saying wrong track.

For the seventh straight year, health care costs continue to be a top concern at 26% and retirement security came in second at 15%. Additionally, addressing the unemployment situation is the top issue (33%) voters want addressed in the coming elections.  
In addition, respondents are asked about what they believe is the major problem facing Montana. Those concerned about more good-paying jobs overwhelming outpaces the other responses at 48%. In a different question, 33% of voters said they wanted candidates for office to have jobs and the economy at the top of their list of issues to explain to voters.

When it comes to candidate endorsements, voters respect candidates who get stamps of approval from business groups. When asked whether a Montana Chamber endorsement of a candidate would influence their voter, 48% of voters said it would have a positive effect compared with only 13% who said it would have a negative effect. Even more popular are agriculture groups with 63% positive to only 7% negative. Trial lawyers (-49% net negative), environmental groups (-23% net negative) and labor unions (-8% net negative) scored low in the poll.

When asked about the upcoming elections for the Montana state legislature, voters are more likely (53%) to want to replace their local legislator rather than re-elect them (28%). Additionally, Republicans have a slight edge going into the legislative elections. 36% prefer GOP candidates for the legislature while 27% prefer Democrats. Any statewide candidate who opposes new coal development will have an uphill battle with 58% of Montanans saying they would not support such a candidate. A repeal of new medical marijuana restrictions may be difficult since the results show a majority of Montanans support those changes.

The message from the survey is clear: Montanans want to see the state move towards long-term, sustainable growth by increasing natural resource development, improving our business climate, and creating more good-paying jobs.