April 21, 2011 - New Jersey voters want more money for schools, Quinnipiac University Poll finds; But they oppose tax hikes and court-ordered spending Word format New Jersey voters support 60 - 36 percent increased spending on all public schools and support 57 - 39 percent increased spending on schools in just the state's poorest areas, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. But voters say 67 - 28 percent that spending is not the best way to improve public schools and say 53 - 42 percent that the State Supreme Court should not order the State Legislature to increase school funding, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. A total of 97 percent of New Jersey voters say the state's budget problems are "very serious" or "somewhat serious." Voter attitudes on budget-related issues are: By 59 - 32 percent voters would rather cut services than raise taxes; Support layoffs for state employees 50 - 43 percent; Support furloughs for state employees 61 - 28 percent; Support a wage freeze for state employees 72 - 23 percent; Support reduced pensions for new state employees 63 - 32 percent; Support a millionaires' tax 52 - 36 percent; Oppose cuts in state aid to public schools 71 - 25 percent; Oppose tax cuts for corporations 55 - 41 percent. "The State Supreme Court case on school spending could scramble the budget and voter opinions are mixed. They favor spending more on schools but they don't think the court should tell the Legislature to do it," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "An unusual pattern: Voters favor spending more on poor school districts but, by a slightly higher margin, they favor spending more on ALL districts." "On the philosophical point - is more money the best way to improve education - voters give an emphatic 'no,'" Carroll added. "Yes, we've got a big budget problem, voters say. They'd sooner cut spending than raise taxes. And public employees remain in the crosshairs." New Jersey voters approve 50 - 46 percent of the way Gov. Christopher Christie is handling the state budget, but disapprove 52 - 44 percent of the way he is handling education. Gov. Christie's proposal to limit school superintendent salaries is a good way to balance the budget, 69 percent of voters say, while 27 percent say it is meddling. By a 64 - 16 percent margin, voters have a favorable opinion of public school teachers, but by 45 - 30 percent they have an unfavorable opinion of the New Jersey Education Association. Teachers unions play a negative rather than a positive role in improving education, voters say 51 - 39 percent. New Jersey voters favor merit pay for good teachers 69 - 27 percent and support Christie's proposal to limit teacher tenure 62 - 32 percent. "The outlines of Gov. Christopher Christie's new schools plan win approval," Carroll said. "Voters like merit pay and changing tenure to make it easier to get rid of bad teachers. They like the people who teach their kids, but they don't like the teachers union. And they endorse Christie's move to curb school superintendents' pay." Vouchers, Charter Schools, Slots at Racetracks Voters oppose school vouchers 56 - 39 percent. Republicans split 49 - 48 percent on vouchers. Men are divided with 50 percent opposed and 46 percent in favor. Women are opposed 61 - 33 percent. Voters statewide also oppose expansion of charter schools 56 - 36 percent, with no group or region in support. New Jersey voters also support slot machines at racetracks 53 - 34 percent, with men supporting the move 60 - 31 percent and women in favor 47 - 37 percent. From April 12 - 18, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,532 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.5 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, 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. 17. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Christopher Christie is handling - education? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 44% 75% 18% 50% 53% 36% 53% 9% Disapprove 52 23 79 45 44 60 43 91 DK/NA 4 2 3 6 4 4 4 1 Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Approve 29% 43% 54% 41% 52% 32% 45% Disapprove 67 53 40 56 44 67 53 DK/NA 4 4 6 4 3 1 2 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Christopher Christie is handling education? Apr 21 Feb 10 Dec 21 2011 2011 2010 Approve 44 47 45 Disapprove 52 48 49 DK/NA 4 5 6 18. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Christopher Christie is handling - the state budget? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 50% 79% 21% 61% 59% 41% 60% 12% Disapprove 46 17 74 35 38 53 35 85 DK/NA 4 4 4 4 3 6 5 3 Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Approve 34% 51% 63% 43% 56% 40% 51% Disapprove 64 44 32 54 37 57 47 DK/NA 2 5 4 3 7 3 2 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Christopher Christie is handling the state budget? Apr 21 Feb 10 Nov 11 Jun 17 2011 2011 2010 2010 Approve 50 53 52 45 Disapprove 46 41 42 49 DK/NA 4 5 6 6 19. How serious do you think New Jersey's budget problems are very serious, somewhat serious, not too serious, or not at all serious? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Very serious 79% 85% 72% 81% 78% 80% 80% 87% Smwht serious 18 14 24 17 19 17 18 12 Not too serious 1 - 2 2 1 2 1 1 Not at all serious 1 1 1 - 1 1 1 - DK/NA 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Very serious 70% 81% 81% 80% 80% 76% 84% Smwht serious 27 16 17 18 16 23 14 Not too serious 1 2 - - 3 - 1 Not at all serious - - - 1 1 1 1 DK/NA 1 - 1 - - - - TREND: How serious do you think New Jersey's budget problems are - very serious, somewhat serious, not too serious, or not at all serious? VERY+SMWHT.... High Low Apr 21 Feb 10 Nov 11 Jan 20 Aug 12 Nov 11 Dec 11 2011 2011 2010 2010 2008 2010 2002 Very serious 79 82 86 80 67 86 35 Somewhat serious 18 15 13 17 28 13 51 Not too serious 1 2 - 2 2 - 10 Not at all serious 1 1 - - - - 1 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 3 1 3 20. To balance the state budget, if you had to choose, would you prefer raising taxes or cutting government programs and services? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Raise taxes 32% 7% 54% 26% 29% 34% 26% 63% Cut services 59 85 35 66 63 55 66 28 DK/NA 9 8 11 9 7 11 8 10 Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Raise taxes 52% 31% 23% 27% 28% 35% 29% Cut services 37 60 69 63 64 60 62 DK/NA 11 10 8 10 8 5 9 TREND: To balance the state budget, if you had to choose, would you prefer raising taxes or cutting government programs and services? Apr 21 Feb 10 Nov 11 Jan 20 Nov 24 Mar 16 Jan 26 2011 2011 2010 2010 2009 2006 2006 Raising taxes 32 26 26 25 23 29 28 Cutting services 59 64 62 62 68 58 57 DK/NA 9 9 13 13 9 13 16 21. To help balance the state budget do you support or oppose - layoffs for state employees? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Support 50% 67% 34% 57% 59% 42% 57% 20% Oppose 43 27 60 36 35 51 37 72 DK/NA 7 6 6 7 6 7 6 8 Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Support 38% 50% 54% 52% 55% 45% 55% Oppose 54 45 39 42 37 50 40 DK/NA 8 5 7 6 8 5 5 TREND: To help balance the state budget do you support or oppose layoffs for state employees? Apr 21 Feb 10 Nov 11 2011 2011 2010 Support 50 56 54 Oppose 43 38 39 DK/NA 7 7 7 22. To help balance the state budget do you support or oppose - furloughs for state employees? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Support 61% 72% 50% 66% 65% 58% 64% 47% Oppose 28 23 33 24 26 29 27 37 DK/NA 11 5 16 9 9 13 8 17 Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Support 47% 60% 64% 61% 71% 57% 69% Oppose 30 31 26 27 22 33 24 DK/NA 23 8 10 12 7 10 7 TREND: To help balance the state budget do you support or oppose furloughs for state employees? Apr 21 Feb 10 Nov 11 2011 2011 2010 Support 61 65 63 Oppose 28 24 25 DK/NA 11 12 11 23. To help balance the state budget, do you support or oppose - a wage freeze for state workers? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Support 72% 83% 63% 78% 76% 69% 78% 47% Oppose 23 14 31 19 20 26 19 49 DK/NA 4 3 5 3 3 5 3 4 Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Support 70% 71% 73% 73% 76% 70% 76% Oppose 24 24 22 26 19 26 20 DK/NA 6 4 6 1 5 3 3 TREND: To help balance the state budget, do you support or oppose a wage freeze for state workers? Apr 21 Feb 10 Nov 11 Jan 20 Nov 24 2011 2011 2010 2010 2009 Support 72 77 78 71 75 Oppose 23 20 19 23 21 DK/NA 4 3 3 6 4 24. To help balance the state budget, do you support or oppose - reducing pension benefits for new state workers? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Support 63% 81% 48% 68% 68% 57% 72% 36% Oppose 32 16 44 28 28 35 23 61 DK/NA 6 3 8 5 4 8 5 3 Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Support 49% 64% 67% 58% 71% 61% 70% Oppose 47 30 26 34 23 36 25 DK/NA 3 5 7 8 5 3 4 TREND: To help balance the state budget, do you support or oppose reducing pension benefits for new state workers? Apr 21 Feb 10 2011 2011 Support 63 66 Oppose 32 29 DK/NA 6 5 25. To help balance the state budget, do you support or oppose - the so called millionaires tax? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Support 52% 35% 59% 56% 49% 55% 53% 59% Oppose 36 53 28 33 40 32 36 36 DK/NA 12 12 13 11 11 13 10 6 Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Support 51% 60% 51% 45% 48% 61% 56% Oppose 34 32 36 41 38 28 30 DK/NA 14 8 13 13 14 10 14 TREND: To help balance the state budget, do you support or oppose the so called millionaires tax? Apr 21 Feb 10 2011 2011 Support 52 55 Oppose 36 34 DK/NA 12 11 26. To help balance the state budget, do you support or oppose - cutting overall state aid to public schools? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Support 25% 44% 11% 28% 33% 19% 31% 12% Oppose 71 52 88 67 62 79 66 88 DK/NA 4 4 1 5 4 3 3 - Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Support 20% 24% 32% 28% 24% 20% 20% Oppose 78 74 60 68 73 76 79 DK/NA 2 2 8 4 2 4 1 TREND: To help balance the state budget, do you support or oppose cutting overall state aid to public schools? Apr 21 Feb 10 2011 2011 Support 25 25 Oppose 71 71 DK/NA 4 4 27. To help stimulate New Jersey's economy, do you support or oppose tax cuts for corporations? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Support 41% 68% 26% 39% 44% 38% 44% 21% Oppose 55 29 69 57 54 56 53 69 DK/NA 4 3 5 4 3 6 4 9 Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Support 30% 43% 41% 35% 53% 34% 42% Oppose 60 54 56 62 43 64 55 DK/NA 10 3 4 3 3 2 4 TREND: To help stimulate New Jersey's economy, do you support or oppose tax cuts for corporations? Apr 21 Feb 10 2011 2011 Support 41 47 Oppose 55 48 DK/NA 4 4 28. The Governor wants to limit school superintendent salaries. Do you think this is a good way to help balance the budget or meddling in local government? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Balance budget 69% 76% 60% 71% 68% 69% 73% 57% Meddling 27 20 34 26 27 27 23 34 DK/NA 5 4 6 4 5 4 4 8 Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Balance budget 61% 71% 67% 67% 73% 69% 68% Meddling 33 25 28 29 21 28 28 DK/NA 6 4 5 4 5 3 4 TREND: The Governor wants to limit school superintendent salaries. Do you think this is a good way to help balance the budget or do you think it is meddling in local government? Apr 21 Feb 10 Dec 21 2011 2011 2010 Way to bal bud 69 68 63 Meddling in gov 27 25 31 DK/NA 5 7 6 29. Is your opinion of New Jersey's public school teachers favorable, unfavorable, or haven't you heard enough about them? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Favorable 64% 57% 73% 63% 62% 66% 66% 61% Unfavorable 16 23 8 18 15 17 17 14 Hvn't hrd enough 17 16 16 16 19 16 13 25 REFUSED 3 4 3 3 4 2 4 - Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Favorable 66% 65% 66% 57% 66% 75% 72% Unfavorable 10 15 17 16 20 12 17 Hvn't hrd enough 21 17 11 24 12 12 7 REFUSED 3 3 6 3 2 2 4 TREND: Is your opinion of New Jersey's public school teachers favorable, unfavorable, or haven't you heard enough about them? Apr 21 Feb 10 Dec 21 Nov 11 June 17 2011 2011 2010 2010 2010 Favorable 64 62 57 56 56 Unfavorable 16 17 23 24 26 Hvn't hrd enough 17 18 18 19 16 REFUSED 3 3 2 1 2 30. Is your opinion of the state's largest teachers union, the New Jersey Education Association, favorable, unfavorable, or haven't you heard enough about it? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Favorable 30% 11% 52% 23% 28% 32% 27% 48% Unfavorable 45 68 22 55 53 38 55 15 Hvn't hrd enough 24 20 26 20 19 28 18 37 REFUSED 1 1 - 2 1 1 1 - Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Favorable 47% 31% 21% 27% 26% 46% 31% Unfavorable 28 46 57 41 53 37 53 Hvn't hrd enough 24 23 21 31 20 16 15 REFUSED 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 TREND: Is your opinion of the state's largest teachers union, the New Jersey Education Association, favorable, unfavorable, or haven't you heard enough about it? Apr 21 Feb 10 Dec 21 Nov 11 Jun 17 2011 2011 2010 2010 2010 Favorable 30 27 27 21 24 Unfavorable 45 44 48 46 50 Hvn't hrd enough 24 28 25 32 25 REFUSED 1 1 1 1 1 31. Generally speaking, do you believe the teachers' unions are playing a positive or a negative role in improving New Jersey's educational system? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Positive 39% 18% 62% 31% 37% 40% 33% 67% Negative 51 76 27 59 56 47 59 22 DK/NA 10 6 11 10 7 12 9 11 Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Positive 47% 39% 36% 39% 34% 53% 39% Negative 39 54 58 48 53 41 54 DK/NA 14 7 6 12 13 6 8 TREND: Generally speaking, do you believe the teachers' unions are playing a positive or a negative role in improving New Jersey's educational system? Apr 21 Feb 10 Dec 21 Nov 11 Jan 21 Oct 15 2011 2011 2010 2010 2010 2009 Positive 39 36 35 36 39 45 Negative 51 52 55 54 48 43 DK/NA 10 12 11 10 12 11 32. Some people say that public school teachers who do an outstanding job should be rewarded with additional pay, so called merit pay. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Good idea 69% 76% 67% 68% 76% 63% 69% 68% Bad idea 27 22 30 27 21 32 27 30 DK/NA 4 2 3 5 3 5 3 2 Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Good idea 68% 70% 67% 68% 70% 60% 76% Bad idea 26 28 26 26 28 39 22 DK/NA 6 2 7 6 1 1 2 TREND: Some people say that public school teachers who do an outstanding job should be rewarded with additional pay so called merit pay. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea? Apr 21 Feb 10 Nov 11 Jan 21 Oct 15 2011 2011 2010 2010 2009 Good idea 69 68 67 66 70 Bad idea 27 27 28 31 27 DK/NA 4 4 5 3 3 33. Governor Christie wants to limit teacher tenure. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Good idea 62% 84% 43% 69% 67% 58% 72% 20% Bad idea 32 13 50 25 30 34 24 75 DK/NA 6 3 8 6 4 7 4 4 Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Good idea 53% 63% 73% 55% 66% 57% 66% Bad idea 40 33 25 34 29 38 30 DK/NA 7 5 2 10 5 5 4 TREND: Governor Christie wants to limit teacher tenure. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea? Apr 21 Feb 10 2011 2011 Good idea 62 62 Bad idea 32 30 DK/NA 6 7 34. Do you favor or oppose providing parents with tax money in the form of school vouchers to help pay for their children to attend private or religious schools? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Favor 39% 49% 31% 38% 46% 33% 37% 36% Oppose 56 48 63 58 50 61 57 56 DK/NA 6 3 7 4 4 7 5 8 Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Favor 38% 37% 40% 38% 41% 28% 39% Oppose 57 57 53 56 54 71 58 DK/NA 4 6 6 5 6 1 3 TREND: Do you favor or oppose providing parents with tax money in the form of school vouchers to help pay for their children to attend private or religious schools? Apr 21 Feb 10 Nov 24 Jul 03 2011 2011 2009 2001 Favor 39 43 43 50 Oppose 56 52 54 43 DK/NA 6 5 3 7 35. As you may know, charter schools are operated by private or non-profit organizations. The schools are paid for with tax dollars. Do you think there should be an expansion of charter schools in New Jersey or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 36% 39% 28% 39% 40% 31% 36% 38% No 56 52 63 54 52 60 56 56 DK/NA 8 9 9 7 8 9 8 6 Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Yes 39% 37% 39% 31% 33% 22% 32% No 56 56 49 60 58 72 61 DK/NA 5 7 13 8 8 6 7 TREND: As you may know, charter schools are operated by private or non-profit organizations. The schools are paid for with tax dollars. Do you think there should be an expansion of charter schools in New Jersey or not? Apr 21 Feb 10 Jan 21 Nov 24 2011 2011 2010 2009 Yes 36 41 40 38 No 56 50 52 55 DK/NA 8 8 8 7 36. Do you think the state legislature should spend more tax dollars to improve the public schools in New Jersey's poorest areas or don't you think so? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 57% 42% 80% 47% 50% 63% 48% 96% No 39 53 18 50 46 33 48 4 DK/NA 4 4 3 4 4 4 4 - Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Yes 71% 56% 51% 59% 52% 57% 57% No 26 40 46 38 43 42 41 DK/NA 3 4 3 3 5 1 2 37. Do you think the state legislature should spend more tax dollars to improve all of New Jersey's public schools or don't you think so? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 60% 47% 76% 54% 56% 64% 54% 91% No 36 50 21 42 41 32 43 7 DK/NA 3 3 3 4 3 4 3 2 Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Yes 73% 62% 56% 57% 54% 64% 69% No 24 35 41 39 42 34 29 DK/NA 3 3 3 4 3 2 2 38. Do you think the state supreme court should order the state legislature to spend more money to improve the public schools or don't you think so? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 42% 25% 64% 31% 37% 46% 30% 88% No 53 70 32 64 59 49 64 11 DK/NA 5 5 4 5 4 5 6 1 Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Yes 58% 46% 24% 44% 35% 46% 45% No 40 48 72 52 59 50 52 DK/NA 2 6 4 4 6 4 3 39. Do you think spending more money is the best way to improve the public schools or don't you think so? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 28% 13% 48% 18% 22% 34% 19% 66% No 67 83 47 76 73 61 76 29 DK/NA 5 3 5 5 5 5 5 5 Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Yes 39% 33% 18% 27% 22% 26% 27% No 56 63 77 67 75 69 68 DK/NA 5 4 5 6 4 5 5 40. How worried are you that a cut in state aid to schools and the two percent cap on property taxes would hurt the quality of the schools in your district - Very worried, somewhat worried, not too worried, or not worried at all? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Very worried 19% 8% 29% 16% 16% 22% 13% 36% Somewhat worried 26 22 32 25 23 29 27 33 Not too worried 27 29 23 30 28 26 27 12 Not worried at all 25 38 13 28 30 20 30 13 DK/NA 3 3 4 2 3 3 3 6 Philly Union HvKids Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHold PubSch Very worried 22% 18% 19% 21% 17% 21% 25% Somewhat worried 34 28 20 23 26 29 25 Not too worried 25 26 30 27 28 25 27 Not worried at all 14 25 29 26 28 22 20 DK/NA 5 3 2 3 1 2 1 TREND: How worried are you that a cut in state aid to schools and the two percent cap on property taxes would hurt the quality of the schools in your district, very worried, somewhat worried, not too worried, or not worried at all? Apr 21 Feb 10 2011 2011 Very worried 19 21 Somewhat worried 26 35 Not too worried 27 23 Not worried at all 25 19 DK/NA 3 1 41. Many politicians have proposed allowing slot machines at racetracks. Do you think that is a good idea or a bad idea? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Good idea 53% 61% 53% 52% 60% 47% 56% 43% Bad idea 34 30 36 33 31 37 33 45 DK/NA 12 9 12 15 9 16 10 13 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Good idea 55% 55% 48% 50% 58% Bad idea 33 31 35 39 34 DK/NA 12 13 17 10 8 TREND: Many politicians have proposed allowing slot machines at racetracks. Do you think that is a good idea or a bad idea? Apr 21 Feb 10 Aug 20 2011 2011 2010 Good idea 53 55 47 Bad idea 34 36 43 DK/NA 12 9 9
