By Focus Staff

This week’s Knoxville Focus poll posed the question: “This week the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce announced its intention to form a Political Action Committee for the purpose of influencing local political decisions and elections.  In your opinion, should the Chamber of Commerce continue to receive local tax dollars if they are going to influence local political decisions and elections?”

More than 89% of likely voters said no, they don’t believe the Chamber should continue receiving public money if the Chamber intends to start a PAC.  Only a little over 10% of likely Knox County voters think it is fine for the Chamber to start a PAC and still be subsidized by local tax dollars.

The First and Second Districts overwhelmingly favored not giving the Chamber tax money if they wish to start a Political Action Committee; less than 7% of voters inside the First District think it is appropriate for the Chamber to receive public money while forming a PAC.  More than a staggering 91% of respondents inside the Second District were opposed to allowing the Chamber to feed at the public trough while collecting private dollars for a Political Action Committee.

The margins were uniform in just about every area of the City of Knoxville and Knox County amongst voters.

Click here to see the survey’s breakdown.