December 14, 2006 - New York Voters Want Term Limits For State Officials, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Clinton Approval At All-Time High By a 67 - 27 percent margin, New York State voters support term limits of two terms for statewide elected officials, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Voters support two-term limits for state legislators 69 - 27 percent. Support for term limits is consistent among Democrats, Republicans and independent voters, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. It is "very important" that the newly elected State Legislature pass new ethics laws, 56 percent of voters say, with 28 percent who say it is "somewhat important." Strong laws for campaign finance reform also are "very important" to 52 percent of voters, with 30 percent who say "somewhat important." "Voters have some blunt marching orders for the new Legislature - pass new ethics and campaign finance laws, and, for good measure, emulate New York City's two- term limit for elected officials - including legislators," said Maurice Carroll, Director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. New York State voters approve 72 - 23 percent of the job Sen. Hillary Clinton is doing, topping her previous high of 65 - 30 percent October 5. Even Republicans are split, with 47 percent approving and 49 percent disapproving. "Sen. Clinton's presidential campaign starts out with great job-approval numbers in New York," Carroll said. "Almost half of Republican voters approve." New York State voters disapprove 71 - 26 percent of the job President George W. Bush is doing, among his lowest marks in any Quinnipiac University poll. Only 5 percent of voters say George Pataki has been a "great" governor, with 38 percent saying "good," 46 percent saying "so-so" and 9 percent saying "bad." "A going-away poll present for Gov. Pataki: Almost half of New Yorkers think he's been a so-so governor. Only a handful say he did a bad job," Carroll said. If New York State ends the fiscal year March 31 with a budget surplus, the money should be used to pay off debt, 38 percent of voters say, while 32 percent say cut taxes and 27 percent say improve services. Looking at the $2 billion extra that the State Court of Appeals has ordered must be spent on New York City schools, 75 percent of voters statewide say the city should pay some of that money, while 21 percent say the state should pay the entire $2 billion. Even New York City voters say 54 - 43 percent that the City should pay some of the extra money. And voters statewide say 73 - 19 percent that other school districts should get additional state funding as well. Support for additional state education funding for districts outside New York City ranges from 68 percent in the City to 72 percent among suburban voters to 78 percent among upstate voters. "Voters think that what's good for city school kids - more money - is good for kids all over the state," Carroll said. From December 5 - 11, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,144 New York State registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.9 percentage points. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and nationwide as a public service and for research. For more data -- www.quinnipiac.edu and click on Institutes and Centers, or call (203) 582-5201. 1. How would you rate George Pataki as governor of New York -- Has he been a great governor, a good governor, a so so governor or a bad governor? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Great 5% 14% 3% 1% 6% 5% Good 38 48 32 42 35 41 So so 46 30 51 50 47 44 Bad 9 5 11 6 10 8 DK/NA 2 2 2 1 2 3 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Great 1% 5% 4% 5% 8% Good 30 39 38 34 46 So so 53 45 46 50 38 Bad 12 9 9 9 7 DK/NA 5 3 3 2 1 TREND: How would you rate George Pataki as governor of New York? Has he been a great governor, a good governor, a so-so governor or a bad governor? Dec 14 Dec 14 2006 2005 Great 5 4 Good 38 39 So so 46 46 Bad 9 10 DK/NA 2 1 2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Hillary Rodham Clinton is handling her job as United States Senator? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 72% 47% 91% 66% 66% 77% Disapprove 23 49 7 25 27 19 DK/NA 5 4 2 9 6 4 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Approve 74% 66% 67% 81% 68% Disapprove 19 30 28 14 26 DK/NA 7 5 5 5 6 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Hillary Rodham Clinton is handling her job as United States Senator? Highest Lowest Approve Approve Dec 14 Oct 5 Aug 24 Jun 22 May 18 Dec 14 Feb 14 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2001 Approve 72 65 58 58 61 72 38 Disapprove 23 30 34 35 33 23 30 DK/NA 5 5 8 7 7 5 33 3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Charles Schumer is handling his job as United States Senator? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 65% 51% 76% 62% 67% 64% Disapprove 21 34 11 24 22 19 DK/NA 14 15 13 14 11 17 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Approve 57% 59% 59% 68% 73% Disapprove 28 24 24 19 17 DK/NA 15 17 17 13 10 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Charles Schumer is handling his job as United States Senator? (* = Also 69% on 10/02/01) Highest Lowest Approve Approve Dec 14 Oct 5 Aug 24 Jun 22 May 18 Dec 8 Apr 15 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2004 * 1999 Approve 65 59 59 62 61 69 51 Disapprove 21 25 23 23 25 16 22 DK/NA 14 16 18 14 14 15 28 4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as president? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 26% 63% 8% 25% 28% 24% Disapprove 71 33 91 69 69 72 DK/NA 3 4 1 6 3 4 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Approve 24% 31% 30% 19% 30% Disapprove 72 66 66 79 67 DK/NA 4 4 4 3 4 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as President? (* also 82% on 10/2/01) Highest Lowest Approve Approve Dec 14 Oct 5 Aug 24 Jun 22 May 18 Nov 14 May 18 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2001 * 2006 Approve 26 28 27 28 22 82 22 Disapprove 71 67 69 68 75 15 75 DK/NA 3 4 4 4 3 3 3 5. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 32% 38% 35% 25% 31% 34% Disapprove 50 51 48 54 54 46 DK/NA 18 11 17 21 15 20 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Approve 18% 29% 27% 36% 37% Disapprove 72 55 57 43 46 DK/NA 10 16 15 22 17 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job? Dec 14 Jun 21 May 17 Mar 29 Jan 20 Dec 20 Dec 8 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2005 2004 Approve 32 30 31 31 31 33 29 Disapprove 50 51 53 51 50 47 54 DK/NA 18 19 17 18 20 20 17 6. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Sheldon Silver is handling his job as State Assembly Speaker? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 29% 29% 34% 25% 28% 30% Disapprove 33 38 26 39 42 24 DK/NA 38 33 40 36 30 45 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Approve 16% 24% 23% 36% 31% Disapprove 50 36 38 25 35 DK/NA 34 40 39 40 35 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Sheldon Silver is handling his job as State Assembly Speaker? Dec 14 Jun 21 May 17 Mar 29 Dec 8 Sep 14 Aug 11 2006 2006 2006 2006 2004 2004 2004 Approve 29 32 30 33 31 29 26 Disapprove 33 35 37 33 31 33 33 DK/NA 38 33 33 34 38 38 41 7. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joseph Bruno is handling his job as State Senate Majority Leader? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 28% 33% 29% 23% 28% 28% Disapprove 32 30 28 41 42 24 DK/NA 40 38 43 36 30 48 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Approve 27% 27% 27% 29% 29% Disapprove 36 36 36 31 26 DK/NA 36 38 38 40 45 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joseph Bruno is handling his job as State Senate Majority Leader? Dec 14 Jun 21 May 17 Mar 29 Dec 8 Sep 14 Aug 11 2006 2006 2006 2006 2004 2004 2004 Approve 28 29 30 31 26 30 27 Disapprove 32 35 38 35 32 30 32 DK/NA 40 36 33 35 41 40 41 11. How important is it to you that the new State Legislature pass new ethics laws? Is it very important, somewhat important, not too important or not important at all? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Very important 56% 56% 55% 60% 55% 56% Smwht important 28 28 30 24 27 29 Not too important 6 6 5 6 7 5 Not important at all 3 4 2 3 5 2 DK/NA 7 5 7 7 6 8 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Very important 67% 54% 55% 53% 60% Smwht important 23 29 29 28 26 Not too important 2 7 6 7 4 Not important at all 3 4 4 3 2 DK/NA 5 6 6 8 8 12. How important is it to you that the new State Legislature pass strong campaign-finance laws? Is it very important, somewhat important, not too important or not important at all? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Very important 52% 53% 51% 56% 55% 50% Smwht important 30 34 30 27 28 31 Not too important 8 9 8 7 9 8 Not important at all 5 3 5 4 7 4 DK/NA 4 1 5 5 2 7 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Very important 60% 55% 56% 45% 57% Smwht important 27 31 30 30 28 Not too important 4 7 7 10 9 Not important at all 4 4 4 8 2 DK/NA 4 3 3 7 4 13. New York City term limits allow city-wide officials and City Council members to serve no more than two terms. Do you support or oppose Albany setting term limits of two terms for statewide elected officials? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 67% 72% 63% 72% 68% 66% Oppose 27 25 30 24 28 26 DK/NA 6 3 7 4 4 7 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Support 56% 72% 70% 63% 70% Oppose 27 24 24 31 26 DK/NA 17 5 6 6 4 14. Do you support or oppose Albany setting term limits of two terms for New York state legislators? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 69% 73% 64% 74% 70% 68% Oppose 27 25 30 24 28 26 DK/NA 4 2 6 2 2 6 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Support 59% 72% 70% 65% 71% Oppose 26 24 25 30 26 DK/NA 16 3 5 4 3 15. The Court of Appeals has ordered about two billion dollars more to be spent on New York City public schools. Do you think that all of the money for this additional spending should come from the state or should New York City also contribute some money? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom All from State 21% 9% 30% 22% 20% 23% City contribute 75 89 68 74 78 73 DK/NA 3 2 3 4 3 4 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub All from State 5% 5% 5% 43% 18% City contribute 93 92 92 54 77 DK/NA 2 3 2 4 5 16. When New York City schools get this additional state money, should other school districts also get more state money or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 73% 76% 76% 69% 72% 75% No 19 18 19 17 21 16 DK/NA 8 6 5 14 7 9 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Yes 80% 78% 78% 68% 72% No 14 13 13 25 19 DK/NA 5 9 8 7 10 17. It is likely that there will be a budget surplus this year in New York State. Do you think the budget surplus should be used to improve services, cut taxes, or pay off some of the debt? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Improve services 27% 17% 37% 18% 26% 28% Cut taxes 32 45 25 36 31 33 Pay off debt 38 37 34 44 42 35 DK/NA 3 1 4 2 2 4 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Improve services 36% 17% 19% 39% 22% Cut taxes 24 36 34 26 35 Pay off debt 40 46 45 29 40 DK/NA - 1 1 6 3
