The survey questions

The mail survey was conducted by Star Tribune researchers in February and March and was sent to 130 publicly held Minnesota-based companies. Fifty-four companies responded, a rate of 42 percent. Not all companies responded to all questions. Overall, the views appear to represent the different industries in the state but might under-represent the views of larger companies.

1. Please rate each of the following public policy issues according to how important it is to your business.

Rankings: 3 - Very important; 2 - Important; 1 - Somewhat important; 0 - Not at all important Economic recession2.77

Hiring/retaining workers2.38

Health care benefits2.36

Federal tax rates2.19

State tax rates2.11

Education2.0

Transportation1.45

2. What are your company's plans for capital spending in the next 12 months?

No significant changes44%

Decrease capital spending43%

3. What are your company's hiring plans for the next 12 months?

Keep staffing levels the same61% Decrease headcount22%

Increase headcount17%

4. Oil prices spiked at more than $145 per barrel in 2008 before falling. What effects have volatile energy costs had on your business?

Some effects61%

Profound effects13%

5. Does your business plan assume oil prices will be higher or lower a year from now?

About the same56%

Higher a year from now42%

Lower a year from now2%

Lower taxes64%

Address the housing crisis27%

Increase government spending9%

7. Businesses face pressure on many economic and political fronts. Please rank how significant these pressures are on your business.

Rankings: 3 - Significant; 2 - Not very significant; 1 - Not at all significant. The U.S. economy2.75

Global competition2.12

Increased regulatory enforcement2.08

The Minnesota economy 2.06

Energy costs1.83

Housing slump1.69

Terrorism1.04

Climate change0.88

8. Consumer spending has slowed as the recession has deepened. What effects has this had on your business?

Significant effects40%

Some effects39%

9. The credit crisis has spurred federal bailouts and spread uncertainty in global credit markets. Compared with a year ago, does your business or industry have more or less access to capital?

About the same56% Less access40%

More access 4%

10. Health care costs continue to rise. Do you think the current national model, where employers provide health care benefits to their workers, will remain viable?

Yes78%

11. New types of health coverage, in-cluding high-deductible plans, have spread in recent years. Do you agree or disagree that these new plans are helping to reduce health care costs?

Agree64%