June 15, 2011 - Connecticut Budget Takes Toll On Malloy, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Voters Approve Of Sick Leave Law 3-1 Word format Connecticut voters give Gov. Dannel Malloy a negative 38 - 44 percent approval rating, apparently driven by 43 percent who are "dissatisfied" with the new state budget and another 16 percent who are "angry" with the budget, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Only 36 percent described themselves as "enthusiastic" or "satisfied" with the budget. Today's results compare with a negative 35 - 40 percent approval rating for Gov. Malloy in a March 9 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll. While voters dislike Malloy's policies 50 - 37 percent, they like him as a person 48 - 18 percent. Jodi Rell was a better governor, 32 percent say, while 20 percent say Malloy is better and 37 percent say they are about the same. Voters disapprove 52 - 36 percent of the way Malloy is handling the state budget. Voters also disapprove 50 - 35 percent of the new state budget. Only 17 percent of voters say the new state budget spreads tax increases fairly across income groups while 67 percent say taxes should be higher on those with higher incomes. "Gov. Dannel Malloy should be doing better in a blue state like Connecticut, but he gets only a 52 percent approval rating among his base of Democrats," said Quinnipiac University Poll Director Douglas Schwartz, PhD. "His low approval rating is a reflection of how voters feel about his budget. Many voters are dissatisfied and some even say they are angry. They think the budget relies too much on tax increases and not enough on spending cuts. They also think the middle class is paying more than its fair share while those with higher incomes aren't paying their fair share." "Gov. Malloy might be jealous of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's high 61 percent job approval rating, but Cuomo is the exception. Malloy can take some solace from the fact that other new governors who also are dealing with big budget deficits have similar low job approval ratings," Dr. Schwartz added. Connecticut state employees are making less than their fair share of sacrifices under the new budget, 36 percent of voters say, while 21 percent say workers are doing more than their fair share and 35 percent say they are doing about their fair share. Public employee wages and benefits are too high, 46 percent of voters say, with 8 percent saying too low and 39 percent saying wages and benefits are about right. Connecticut voters approve 53 - 44 percent of the job President Barack Obama is doing, up slightly from 49 - 47 percent in a March 8, 2011, Quinnipiac University poll. President Obama deserves reelection, voters say 51 - 43 percent, and they would vote for Obama 46 - 35 percent over an unnamed Republican in 2012. U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal gets a 54 - 25 percent approval rating while voters disapprove 45 - 41 percent of the job U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman is doing. Connecticut voters support 72 - 25 percent a new law that requires large companies to offer five days of paid sick leave per year to employees. Support is 84 - 14 percent among Democrats, 50 - 44 percent among Republicans and 72 - 26 percent among independent voters. Men support the measure 63 - 34 percent while women back it 79 - 17 percent. Voters also support 66 - 31 percent a law to de-criminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana. Support is 77 - 21 percent among Democrats, 49 - 45 percent among Republicans and 66 - 31 percent among independent voters. Support is slightly stronger among men, 69 - 28 percent, than among women, 64 - 33 percent. From June 8 - 13, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,311 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.7 percentage points. Live interviewers call landlines and cell phones. The Quinnipiac University Poll conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and the nation as a public service and for research. For more data or RSS feed- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter. 1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Dannel Malloy is handling his job as Governor? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 38% 17% 52% 37% 37% 39% Disapprove 44 68 29 44 47 41 DK/NA 18 14 18 18 16 20 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Dannel Malloy is handling his job as Governor? Jun 15 Mar 09 2011 2011 Approve 38 35 Disapprove 44 40 DK/NA 18 25 2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 33% 14% 47% 32% 32% 35% Disapprove 50 72 35 53 55 45 DK/NA 17 14 18 15 13 20 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job? (*Low also 28% Mar 2010) APPROVE....... High Low Jun 15 Jul 16 Jun 10 Mar 18 Jan 14 Jun 3 Jul 16 2011 2010 2010 2010 2010 2004 2010* Approve 33 28 29 28 30 48 28 Disapprove 50 58 57 59 58 33 58 DK/NA 17 14 14 13 13 19 14 3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joe Lieberman is handling his job as United States Senator? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 41% 48% 35% 44% 41% 40% Disapprove 45 42 49 42 47 43 DK/NA 14 10 16 14 11 17 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joe Lieberman is handling his job as United States Senator? (*Low also 38% Dec 2008) APPROVE....... High Low Jun 15 Mar 09 Jul 16 Jun 10 Mar 17 Sep 21 Mar 09 2011 2011 2010 2010 2010 2000 2011* Approve 41 38 40 41 39 80 38 Disapprove 45 45 50 50 54 14 45 DK/NA 14 17 9 9 7 6 17 4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Richard Blumenthal is handling his job as United States Senator? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 54% 38% 72% 50% 50% 58% Disapprove 25 43 8 28 29 21 DK/NA 21 19 20 22 20 21 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Richard Blumenthal is handling his job as United States Senator? Jun 15 Mar 09 2011 2011 Approve 54 49 Disapprove 25 25 DK/NA 21 26 5. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 53% 12% 82% 47% 48% 56% Disapprove 44 86 14 48 50 39 DK/NA 3 1 3 4 1 5 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President? (*High also 71% Apr 2009) APPROVE....... High Low Jun 15 Mar 09 Jul 16 Jun 10 Mar 17 May 27 Mar 09 2011 2011 2010 2010 2010 2009* 2011 Approve 53 49 50 53 54 71 49 Disapprove 44 47 44 42 42 22 47 DK/NA 3 4 6 5 4 7 4 6. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in Connecticut today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Very satisfied 4% - 5% 4% 3% 4% Smwht satisfied 30 17 44 24 33 27 Smwht dissatisfied 32 30 30 36 28 35 Very dissatisfied 35 53 21 36 36 33 DK/NA - - 1 - - - TREND: In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in Connecticut today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? VERY+SMWHT SAT High Low Jun 15 Mar 09 Jul 15 Jun 10 Mar 18 Oct 21 Mar 09 2011 2011 2010 2010 2010 1998 2011 Very satisfied 4 2 3 2 1 21 2 Smwht satisfied 30 29 38 42 39 62 29 Smwht dissatisfied 32 35 37 36 38 14 35 Very dissatisfied 35 33 22 19 20 3 33 DK/NA - 1 1 1 1 - 1 7. Looking ahead to the 2012 election for President... If the 2012 election for President were being held today, do you think you would vote for Barack Obama the Democratic candidate, or for the Republican candidate? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Obama 46% 8% 79% 38% 43% 49% Republican 35 81 6 38 40 30 DEPENDS ON CAND(VOL) 11 9 8 14 10 11 DK/NA 8 2 8 9 7 9 8. Looking ahead to the 2012 election for President... Do you feel that Barack Obama deserves to be reelected, or do you feel that he does not deserve to be reelected? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes/Deserves 51% 12% 82% 45% 46% 55% No/Does not 43 85 10 49 49 38 DK/NA 6 4 8 7 5 7 9. Do you think Dannel Malloy has been a better governor than Jodi Rell, a worse governor, or about the same? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Better 20% 8% 35% 14% 20% 20% Worse 32 54 16 34 32 32 About the same 37 28 38 41 37 37 DK/NA 11 10 10 12 11 11 10. Regardless of how you feel about Dannel Malloy's policies, would you say you like or don't like Dannel Malloy as a person? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Like 48% 35% 59% 45% 47% 48% Don't Like 18 24 14 18 21 15 DK/NA 34 41 27 37 32 36 11. And regardless of how you feel about Dannel Malloy as a person, would you say you like or don't like most of Dannel Malloy's policies? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Like 37% 16% 53% 35% 36% 38% Don't Like 50 75 32 53 53 47 DK/NA 13 9 15 12 11 15 12. Would you describe the state of Connecticut's economy these days as - excellent, good, not so good, or poor? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Excellent - - 1% - - - Good 15 11 19 14 19 13 Not so good 48 44 55 46 44 53 Poor 35 45 25 40 37 34 DK/NA - - 1 - - - TREND: Would you describe the state of Connecticut's economy these days as - excellent, good, not so good, or poor? EXCLNT+GOOD... High Low Jun 15 Jul 23 Feb 10 Dec 17 Jul 1 Dec 20 Feb 10 2011 2009 2009 2008 2008 2001 2009 Excellent - - - - 1 3 - Good 15 13 6 11 29 51 6 Not so good 48 57 53 62 48 38 53 Poor 35 28 39 26 22 7 39 DK/NA - 1 1 1 1 1 1 13. During the next 12 months, do you think the economic conditions in Connecticut will get better, get worse, or stay about the same? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Get better 25% 13% 36% 24% 25% 25% Get worse 28 43 16 30 30 27 Stay the same 44 41 46 44 44 43 DK/NA 3 2 3 3 1 5 TREND: During the next 12 months, do you think the economic conditions in Connecticut will get better, get worse, or stay about the same? GET BETTER... High Low Jun 15 Jul 23 Jul 1 Apr 7 Nov 24 Nov 21 Jul 1 2011 2009 2008 2005 2004 2003 2008 Get better 25 31 12 22 31 38 12 Get worse 28 20 44 23 14 13 44 Stay the same 44 46 39 51 52 47 39 DK/NA 3 3 5 4 3 2 5 14. Would you describe the state of your own personal finances these days as - excellent, good, not so good, or poor? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Excellent 7% 9% 5% 7% 8% 5% Good 53 52 46 59 58 49 Not so good 27 28 32 24 23 31 Poor 12 10 17 9 10 14 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 1 TREND: Would you describe the state of your own personal finances these days as- excellent, good, not so good, or poor? Jun 15 Jul 23 Feb 11 Dec 17 Dec 20 Apr 23 2011 2009 2009 2008 2001 2001 Excellent 7 4 4 5 11 10 Good 53 52 44 48 65 63 Not so good 27 32 35 34 18 20 Poor 12 11 15 12 5 6 DK/NA 1 1 2 1 1 1 15. Would you say that you are better off or worse off financially than you were a year ago? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Better off 32% 28% 37% 29% 37% 28% Worse off 45 49 41 46 42 48 SAME(VOL) 22 22 20 25 20 24 DK/NA 1 2 1 - 1 1 TREND: Would you say that you are better off or worse off financially than you were a year ago? BETTER OFF.... High Low Jun 15 Jul 23 Feb 11 Dec 17 Jul 1 Nov 24 Feb 11 2011 2009 2009 2008 2008 2004 2009 Better off 32 20 18 22 25 40 18 Worse off 45 56 60 58 60 32 60 Same 22 23 21 18 14 26 21 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 16. During the next 12 months, do you think your own personal finances will get better, get worse, or stay about the same? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Get better 27% 22% 36% 22% 28% 25% Get worse 19 26 13 20 18 20 Stay the same 52 51 49 56 52 52 DK/NA 2 1 2 2 2 3 TREND: During the next 12 months, do you think your own personal finances will get better, get worse, or stay about the same? Jun 15 Jul 23 Feb 11 Dec 17 Dec 20 2011 2009 2009 2008 2001 Get better 27 27 24 25 33 Get worse 19 16 20 18 7 Stay the same 52 54 51 53 58 DK/NA 2 2 5 4 2 17. Turning to Connecticut's state budget... Do you approve or disapprove of the way Dannel Malloy is handling the budget? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 36% 20% 48% 36% 36% 36% Disapprove 52 72 36 54 54 50 DK/NA 13 8 17 10 11 14 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Dannel Malloy is handling the budget? Jun 15 Mar 09 2011 2011 Approve 36 32 Disapprove 52 51 DK/NA 13 16 18. How much have you heard or read about the new state budget agreed to by Governor Malloy and the state legislature? A lot, some, not much, or nothing at all? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom A lot 28% 35% 24% 28% 33% 23% Some 52 45 50 56 49 55 Not much 15 14 19 12 12 17 Nothing at all 6 6 7 4 6 5 DK/NA - - - - - - 19. Do you approve or disapprove of the state budget agreed to by Governor Malloy and the state legislature? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 35% 17% 51% 33% 37% 34% Disapprove 50 74 33 53 53 48 DK/NA 14 9 15 14 10 18 20. I am going to mention four phrases and ask you which one best describes how you feel about the new state budget. Do you feel - enthusiastic, satisfied but not enthusiastic, dissatisfied but not angry, or angry? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Enthusiastic 2% - 2% 1% 2% 1% Satisfied not enthus 34 17 47 33 34 33 Dissat not angry 43 49 38 45 40 47 Angry 16 30 8 17 20 13 DK/NA 5 3 5 4 4 6 21. Do you think the new state budget has the right mix of tax increases and spending cuts or should there have been bigger spending cuts and smaller tax increases? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Right mix 20% 5% 34% 18% 22% 18% Bigger spending cuts 65 87 49 68 66 64 BIGTAX INCREASES(VOL) 4 2 4 4 4 4 DK/NA 11 7 13 11 8 14 22. Do you think the new state budget spreads the tax increases fairly among different income groups or do you think that there should have been bigger tax increases for those with higher incomes and smaller tax increases for the middle class? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Taxes fairly 17% 27% 10% 19% 23% 13% Shld have higher tax for wealthy 67 49 83 65 59 75 DK/NA 15 24 7 16 19 12 23. To help eliminate the budget deficit, do you think the new state budget has the middle class making financial sacrifices that are more than their fair share less than their fair share, or about their fair share? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom More than fair share 59% 66% 56% 59% 56% 61% Less than fair share 3 2 4 3 3 3 About fair share 33 29 34 33 37 29 DK/NA 5 3 7 5 4 7 24. To help eliminate the budget deficit, do you think the new state budget has those with higher incomes making financial sacrifices that are more than their fair share, less than their fair share, or about their fair share? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom More than fair share 12% 22% 5% 14% 13% 12% Less than fair share 54 33 65 54 48 58 About fair share 28 40 23 26 33 23 DK/NA 6 5 6 6 6 7 25. To help eliminate the budget deficit, do you think the new state budget has state public employees making financial sacrifices that are more than their fair share, less than their fair share, or about their fair share? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom More than fair share 21% 14% 27% 18% 18% 23% Less than fair share 36 51 22 42 40 32 About fair share 35 24 41 33 33 36 DK/NA 9 11 9 7 8 9 26. Do you think this new state budget will improve Connecticut's economy, hurt Connecticut's economy, or not make a difference? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Improve economy 22% 9% 32% 21% 21% 22% Hurt economy 35 60 18 37 37 33 Not make difference 36 26 43 36 37 36 DK/NA 7 5 7 5 4 9 27. Some people say that if the new budget raised taxes more on the wealthy that it would make Connecticut less economically competitive with nearby states. Do you agree or disagree? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Agree 39% 60% 27% 40% 42% 35% Disagree 57 37 69 56 55 59 DK/NA 4 3 4 5 3 6 28. Do you think the wages and benefits for state public employees are too high, too low, or about right? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Too high 46% 63% 28% 53% 52% 40% Too low 8 5 13 5 5 11 About right 39 24 52 35 39 40 DK/NA 7 8 7 7 4 10 29. Both Governor Rell and Governor Malloy have promised the state public employee unions no layoffs for a total of six years in return for concessions. Do you think that is a good idea or a bad idea? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Good idea 46% 35% 54% 44% 44% 48% Bad idea 48 60 39 50 53 43 DK/NA 6 4 7 6 3 9 30. As you may know, Connecticut will have a new law that requires large companies to offer five days of paid sick leave to service workers. Do you support or oppose this new law? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 72% 50% 84% 72% 63% 79% Oppose 25 44 14 26 34 17 DK/NA 3 5 3 2 3 4 31. As you may know, Connecticut will have a new law that decriminalizes possession of small amounts of marijuana. Low-level marijuana users would be punished with a fine, instead of a criminal charge. Do you support or oppose this new law? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 66% 49% 77% 66% 69% 64% Oppose 31 45 21 31 28 33 DK/NA 3 6 1 3 3 3
