November 17, 2011 - New Jersey Voters Support Hudson Subway 4-1, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Support For Millionaire's Tax Tops 2-1 Word format New Jersey voters support 66 - 15 percent a proposal to extend a New York City subway line under the Hudson River to the New Jersey Transit station in Secaucus and say 66 - 26 percent that New Jersey should contribute financially to building the new tunnel, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Even Republican voters support the plan 57 - 17 percent and support paying something towards it 60 - 31 percent. Support for the plan ranges from 48 - 20 percent in the Philadelphia suburbs to 74 - 13 percent among both urban and suburban voters in counties north of Trenton, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. Support for paying something for the tunnel also is strong in every region. New Jersey voters support 51 - 36 percent Gov. Christopher Christie's decision to cancel an earlier Hudson River rail tunnel plan as too expensive. "Voters supported Christie's decision to kill the original Hudson River rail tunnel to Macy's basement, but now there's strong support for a cheaper alternative, a New York City subway to New Jersey," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Even more amazing, voters are willing to have New Jersey pay something for the project." Garden State voters say 63 - 32 percent that the state should seek federal approval to implement sports betting in New Jersey. Support is strong among all groups and in all regions. "Now that New Jerseyans have endorsed sports betting in a November 8 referendum, they think Trenton should push Washington for permission to do it," Carroll said. New Jersey voters agree 52 - 34 percent with the views of the Occupy Wall Street protestors. Agreement is 76 - 13 percent among Democrats and 52 - 31 percent among independent voters. Republicans disagree 68 - 21 percent. Men agree 50 - 39 percent while women agree 53 - 30 percent. Voters say 77 - 19 percent, including 63 - 34 percent among Republicans, that it is "OK that they are protesting." To balance the state budget, New Jersey voters support 64 - 28 percent the so-called Millionaire's Tax, up from a high of 55 - 34 percent February 10. Support today is 82 - 13 percent among Democrats and 67 - 25 percent among independent voters, while Republicans are opposed 54 - 38 percent. "Maybe it's Occupy Wall Street or maybe Garden State voters just want to see the rich folks pay more, but support for the Millionaire's Tax is 2-1, an all-time high," Carroll said. Voter opinions on ways to address New Jersey's ongoing budget issues are: 62 - 32 percent support for a wage freeze for state workers; 49 - 37 percent support for furloughs for state workers; 54 - 39 percent opposition to layoffs for state workers; 57 - 34 percent for spending cuts only, rather than a mix of cuts and tax hikes. From November 9 - 14, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,788 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.3 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, Virginia 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. 27. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Christopher Christie is handling the state budget? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 54% 89% 24% 62% 59% 49% 63% 21% Disapprove 39 9 68 30 36 42 31 71 DK/NA 7 3 7 8 5 8 6 8 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 37% 51% 62% 51% 68% Disapprove 55 43 30 41 27 DK/NA 8 6 8 8 5 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Christopher Christie is handling the state budget? Nov 17 Aug 17 Jun 21 Apr 21 Feb 10 Nov 11 Jun 17 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2010 2010 Approve 54 50 47 50 53 52 45 Disapprove 39 46 48 46 41 42 49 DK/NA 7 4 6 4 5 6 6 28. The next state budget will be tight. Do you think it should be balanced only with spending cuts or should there be some tax increases? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Spending cuts only 57% 84% 36% 59% 54% 61% 62% 45% Some tax increases 34 13 53 31 40 28 31 42 DK/NA 9 3 10 10 6 11 7 13 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Spending cuts only 49% 58% 56% 57% 64% Some tax increases 37 34 35 36 27 DK/NA 14 8 9 8 8 29. To help balance the state budget do you support or oppose - layoffs for state employees? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Support 39% 55% 19% 47% 45% 34% 44% 14% Oppose 54 36 75 46 49 58 48 82 DK/NA 7 9 6 6 6 8 8 4 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Support 32% 36% 46% 33% 50% Oppose 63 57 46 58 43 DK/NA 5 8 8 9 7 TREND: To help balance the state budget do you support or oppose layoffs for state employees? Nov 17 Apr 21 Feb 10 Nov 11 2011 2011 2011 2010 Support 39 50 56 54 Oppose 54 43 38 39 DK/NA 7 7 7 7 30. To help balance the state budget do you support or oppose - furloughs for state employees? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Support 49% 59% 38% 52% 50% 48% 51% 37% Oppose 37 28 47 36 40 34 36 46 DK/NA 14 13 15 12 10 18 13 17 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Support 44% 49% 44% 49% 54% Oppose 40 39 37 33 35 DK/NA 16 12 19 17 10 TREND: To help balance the state budget do you support or oppose furloughs for state employees? Nov 17 Apr 21 Feb 10 Nov 11 2011 2011 2011 2010 Support 49 61 65 63 Oppose 37 28 24 25 DK/NA 14 11 12 11 31. 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 62% 77% 47% 66% 65% 60% 66% 44% Oppose 32 20 46 27 30 33 30 48 DK/NA 6 3 7 7 5 7 5 8 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Support 55% 62% 63% 59% 68% Oppose 38 31 31 34 28 DK/NA 7 7 6 7 4 TREND: To help balance the state budget do you support or oppose a wage freeze for state workers? Nov 17 Apr 21 Feb 10 Nov 11 Jan 20 Nov 24 2011 2011 2011 2010 2010 2009 Support 62 72 77 78 71 75 Oppose 32 23 20 19 23 21 DK/NA 6 4 3 3 6 4 32. 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 64% 38% 82% 67% 64% 65% 62% 79% Oppose 28 54 13 25 32 24 31 13 DK/NA 8 8 6 8 4 11 8 8 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Support 71% 66% 61% 61% 63% Oppose 21 26 31 28 32 DK/NA 9 8 8 10 4 TREND: To help balance the state budget, do you support or oppose the so called millionaires tax? Nov 17 Apr 21 Feb 10 2011 2011 2011 Support 64 52 55 Oppose 28 36 34 DK/NA 8 12 11 37. As you may know, Governor Christie cancelled the cross-Hudson rail tunnel. Do you agree or disagree with Governor Christie's decision? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Agree 51% 80% 25% 58% 55% 47% 58% 23% Disagree 36 10 60 31 37 36 31 59 DK/NA 13 10 15 12 8 18 12 18 Philly COMMUTE TO NYC Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Yes No Agree 32% 48% 61% 49% 61% 43% 52% Disagree 56 41 27 27 29 53 34 DK/NA 12 11 12 24 10 4 14 TREND: As you may know, Governor Christie cancelled the cross-Hudson rail tunnel. Do you agree or disagree with Governor Christie's decision? Nov 17 Dec 21 Nov 10 2011 2010 2010 Agree 51 46 53 Disagree 36 38 37 DK/NA 13 16 10 38. New York City is suggesting an alternative plan, to extend the number seven subway line under the Hudson to the New Jersey transit station in Secaucus. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Good idea 66% 57% 74% 65% 66% 66% 65% 73% Bad idea 15 17 10 17 15 14 14 18 DK/NA 20 26 16 19 19 20 21 9 Philly COMMUTE TO NYC Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Yes No Good idea 74% 74% 63% 48% 63% 83% 64% Bad idea 13 13 14 20 15 11 15 DK/NA 13 13 22 32 22 5 21 TREND: New York City is suggesting an alternative plan to extend the number seven subway line under the Hudson to the New Jersey transit station in Secaucus. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea? Nov 17 Dec 21 2011 2010 Good idea 66 64 Bad idea 15 17 DK/NA 20 19 39. If the new Hudson River subway plan goes forward, do you think New Jersey should contribute financially to building it or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 66% 60% 76% 62% 69% 62% 66% 73% No 26 31 19 28 24 27 26 24 DK/NA 9 9 6 10 7 10 9 3 Philly COMMUTE TO NYC Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Yes No Yes 72% 69% 68% 53% 64% 80% 64% No 19 24 25 31 29 17 27 DK/NA 8 7 7 16 7 4 9 TREND: If the new Hudson River subway plan goes forward, do you think New Jersey should contribute financially to building it or not? Nov 17 Dec 21 2011 2010 Yes 66 63 No 26 27 DK/NA 9 10 40. Do you commute to New York City for work or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 10% 8% 9% 12% 15% 6% 8% 15% No 89 92 90 87 84 94 91 85 DK/NA - - - - 1 - - - Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Yes 20% 14% 8% 2% 7% No 80 86 92 96 92 DK/NA - - - 2 1 TREND: Do you commute to New York City for work or not? Nov 17 Dec 21 Nov 10 2011 2010 2010 Yes 10 11 11 No 89 89 89 DK/NA - - - 41. How closely have you been following news about the Wall Street protests? Would you say you have been following it very closely, somewhat closely, not too closely, or not at all? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Very closely 22% 27% 21% 23% 27% 18% 24% 22% Smwht closely 45 43 44 47 47 43 45 39 Not too closely 21 22 24 20 18 24 22 22 Not at all 11 9 12 11 8 14 9 17 DK/NA - - - - - - - - Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Very closely 29% 20% 24% 19% 24% Smwht closely 40 49 46 40 43 Not too closely 19 23 22 23 18 Not at all 10 8 8 18 15 DK/NA 2 - - - - 42. How well do you feel you understand the views of the Wall Street protesters? Do you understand them very well, fairly well, not too well or not well at all? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Very well 19% 18% 22% 17% 22% 16% 19% 20% Fairly well 36 33 38 40 40 33 36 37 Not too well 23 24 24 23 20 26 24 19 Not well at all 20 23 16 18 18 22 20 23 DK/NA 2 2 - 2 1 2 2 2 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Very well 25% 17% 17% 16% 21% Fairly well 36 39 42 34 29 Not too well 20 23 24 23 26 Not well at all 16 20 16 25 21 DK/NA 3 1 1 1 2 43. Regardless of how you feel about the Wall Street protests, do you generally agree or disagree with the protesters' views? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Agree 52% 21% 76% 52% 50% 53% 47% 69% Disagree 34 68 13 31 39 30 40 10 DK/NA 14 11 11 17 11 18 13 21 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Agree 64% 52% 48% 54% 43% Disagree 26 33 37 31 42 DK/NA 10 15 16 16 15 44. And regardless of how you feel about the views of the Wall Street protesters, do you think it is OK that they are protesting, or do you think they should not be protesting? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk OK to protest 77% 63% 87% 77% 81% 73% 74% 88% Shld not protest 19 34 11 18 16 22 23 7 DK/NA 4 3 2 4 2 5 3 5 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore OK to protest 78% 77% 79% 79% 73% Shld not protest 17 20 19 16 24 DK/NA 5 3 3 5 4 45. And regardless of how you feel about the views of the Wall Street protesters, do you generally agree or disagree with the approach of the protesters? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Agree 47% 27% 66% 45% 51% 44% 43% 65% Disagree 44 69 25 47 44 45 50 25 DK/NA 9 5 9 8 5 11 7 10 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Agree 55% 48% 49% 50% 37% Disagree 37 45 44 38 54 DK/NA 8 7 7 13 9 49. State voters approved the legalization of sports gambling in a referendum this past Tuesday. To put it into effect, the state needs federal approval. Should the state seek federal approval for the legalization of sports gambling or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 63% 64% 66% 60% 68% 58% 65% 52% No 32 32 29 34 29 34 30 39 DK/NA 6 4 5 6 3 8 5 9 Philly Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Yes 65% 60% 59% 64% 68% No 32 34 33 28 29 DK/NA 4 6 9 8 2 Demographic Summary
