Views about size of government among adults who say that government aid to the poor does more good than harm by state (2014) Switch to: State among adults who say that government aid to the poor does more good than harm by views about size of government

% of adults who say that government aid to the poor does more good than harm who would rather have…

StateSmaller government; fewer servicesBigger government; more servicesDependsDon't knowSample size
Alabama34%57%4%6%214
Alaska41%56%1%3%150
Arizona42%54%2%2%287
Arkansas30%63%1%6%138
California31%63%4%3%2,042
Colorado34%58%5%3%250
Connecticut33%61%3%3%210
Delaware30%65%4%2%160
District of Columbia16%78%5%1%227
Florida29%64%4%4%952
Georgia27%66%3%5%449
Hawaii38%55%2%5%171
Idaho46%46%5%3%148
Illinois34%59%4%3%687
Indiana35%60%3%3%269
Iowa33%58%3%6%156
Kansas44%47%3%7%136
Kentucky32%60%5%3%183
Louisiana34%62%1%3%197
Maine41%51%3%6%160
Maryland29%65%2%4%357
Massachusetts31%60%3%6%419
Michigan38%53%5%4%494
Minnesota41%54%2%3%303
Mississippi35%59%1%5%132
Missouri42%50%2%6%300
Montana38%51%4%6%130
Nebraska45%48%4%3%146
Nevada38%55%5%2%155
New Hampshire48%45%2%5%175
New Jersey30%63%2%5%470
New Mexico29%65%3%3%161
New York28%66%3%4%1,083
North Carolina32%60%3%5%509
North Dakota50%43%2%4%137
Ohio39%53%3%5%543
Oklahoma40%52%4%3%174
Oregon37%55%2%6%242
Pennsylvania40%54%3%4%631
Rhode Island32%59%4%6%173
South Carolina34%58%3%6%234
South Dakota47%46%4%2%129
Tennessee37%57%2%4%282
Texas30%63%3%4%1,137
Utah37%52%4%7%141
Vermont34%59%4%4%189
Virginia32%62%4%3%412
Washington38%55%3%3%400
West Virginia38%52%4%6%145
Wisconsin40%56%2%3%275
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.

Learn More: Smaller government; fewer services, Bigger government; more services