The changing terrain: Election year issues
For the past two months, First Command has surveyed military and general population families to find out what election year issues are most important to them. Once again, in August, pay, benefits and defense spending are key presidential election issues for military families surveyed in the Financial Behaviors Index®. Eighty-seven percent of these families indicated they are registered to vote in the November election.
Sequestration issues continue to be of high importance to military families who are selecting a president. For the second month in a row, approximately three-quarters of families surveyed indicated that sequestration is extremely or very important when it comes to selecting a candidate. Only half of general population families feel the same way.
Other issues of high importance to these military families include changes to military retirement and other benefits (86 percent), defense spending (80 percent), and the cost of healthcare (77 percent). Although general population families are more concerned about the cost of healthcare (83 percent find it extremely/very important in selecting a president), only 54 percent indicate the same level of concern over changes to military retirement/other benefits. Sixty percent said defense spending is extremely/very important in choosing a president.
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