August 18, 2009 - Voters Say 4 - 1 New York State Government Is Broken, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; More Would Dump Their State Senator To Clean House Word format New York State government is dysfunctional, voters say 77 - 19 percent, and 58 percent say it is "the worst" or "among the worst" in the nation, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Only 2 percent say New York has the "best" state government in the nation, while 28 percent say "among the best." Voters disapprove 72 - 18 percent of the way the State Legislature is handling its job, the legislature's lowest overall score ever. Forty-nine percent of New York State voters say that almost everyone in the State Senate - including their own state senator - deserves to be thrown out, while 40 percent say their state senator should be reelected, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. By a 64 - 24 percent margin, voters say there should be a state Constitutional Convention to reform New York State government. Voters support 54 - 37 percent amending the State Constitution so the Governor can name a Lieutenant Governor when that position is vacant. Voters also support 70 - 21 percent creating a commission independent of the State Legislature to redraw legislative district lines. "Dysfunctional is practically a synonym for the New York State Legislature and voters want a change," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "While voters tend to like their own legislators, almost half of New Yorkers are ready to throw out their own state senator in a general house-cleaning. "Voters would like to see a Constitutional Convention to straighten out Albany. Memo to Dick Ravitch: They'd like to see it come up with a system to replace a lieutenant governor when that person is promoted to Governor or resigns or otherwise leaves office." By a 50 - 48 percent margin, voters say the controversy over control of the State Senate left them "embarrassed to be New Yorkers." The Democrats are to blame for the Senate controversy, 27 percent say, while 25 percent blame the Republicans, with 49 percent undecided. A total of 71 percent of New York State voters are "somewhat dissatisfied" or "very dissatisfied" with the way things are going in the state today, while 28 percent are "very satisfied" or "somewhat satisfied." "Last week's Quinnipiac University poll showed 65 percent of our neighbors across the Hudson River were embarrassed by the spate of corruption arrests in New Jersey," Carroll said. Half of all New Yorkers feel personally embarrassed by the Albany mess." State Budget A total of 93 percent of New York State voters say the state's budget problems are "somewhat serious" or "very serious." But only 8 percent say the State Legislature has "the political courage to make unpopular budget decisions," while 87 percent expect it will be "business as usual in Albany." Cut services rather than raise taxes to balance the budget, New York State voters say 54 - 33 percent. "Almost everyone says we're in serious budget trouble," Carroll said. "And almost everyone doubts that the State Legislature is up to the challenge." From August 10 - 13, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,667 New York State registered voters, with a margin of error of +/- 2.4 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 or RSS feed - http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, or call (203) 582-5201. 11. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 18% 13% 26% 12% 18% 18% 13% 33% Disapprove 72 73 67 78 72 71 75 63 DK/NA 10 13 7 10 9 11 12 4 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Approve 11% 15% 14% 26% 14% Disapprove 77 75 75 66 76 DK/NA 12 11 11 9 10 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job? (*Low app also 18% Jun 2009) APPROVE...... DIS... High Low High Aug 18 Jun 22 Apr 6 Feb 17 Apr 4 Aug 18 Aug 18 2009 2009 2009 2009 2007 2009* 2009 Approve 18 18 26 32 34 18 18 Disapprove 72 69 58 50 43 72 72 DK/NA 10 13 16 18 23 10 10 12. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state Senate is handling its job? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 20% 20% 27% 12% 16% 23% 16% 31% Disapprove 71 71 66 78 76 67 75 64 DK/NA 9 9 7 10 8 10 9 5 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Approve 11% 16% 15% 25% 19% Disapprove 84 74 76 65 75 DK/NA 5 10 9 10 6 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state Senate is handling its job? Aug 18 Jun 22 2009 2009 Approve 20 20 Disapprove 71 67 DK/NA 9 13 14. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in New York State today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Very satisfied 3% 1% 7% - 3% 3% 1% 11% Smwht satisfied 25 18 39 15 23 27 22 35 Smwht dissatisfied 37 38 32 46 36 38 38 36 Very dissatisfied 34 43 21 38 37 31 38 19 DK/NA 1 - 1 1 1 1 1 - UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Very satisfied 2% - 1% 6% 3% Smwht satisfied 21 16 17 35 24 Smwht dissatisfied 40 33 34 38 43 Very dissatisfied 34 50 48 21 30 DK/NA 3 1 1 1 - TREND: In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in New York State today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? VERY+SMWHT SAT High Low Aug 18 Jun 22 Apr 7 Feb 18 Jan 15 Feb 25 Apr 7 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 1998 2009 Very satisfied 3 2 1 2 2 13 1 Smwht satisfied 25 26 24 29 28 60 24 Smwht dissatisfied 37 34 34 37 33 20 34 Very dissatisfied 34 37 40 31 36 7 40 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 17. How would you rank the New York State legislature - the best in the nation, among the best in the nation, among the worst in the nation or the worst in the nation? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk The best 2% - 4% 1% 1% 3% 1% 6% Among the best 28 26 37 22 27 29 23 49 Among the worst 45 46 38 50 46 44 49 34 The worst 13 13 10 16 15 11 14 8 DK/NA 12 15 11 11 10 13 13 3 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub The best 1% 1% 1% 4% 1% Among the best 21 21 21 36 31 Among the worst 53 52 52 38 44 The worst 14 16 15 10 14 DK/NA 11 11 11 13 11 TREND: How would you rank the New York state legislature - the best in the nation, among the best in the nation, among the worst in the nation or the worst in the nation? Aug 18 Jan 15 2009 2009 The best 2 3 Among the best 28 39 Among the worst 45 36 The worst 13 7 DK/NA 12 15 18. Do you think there should be a state constitutional convention to reform New York State government or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 64% 59% 58% 75% 65% 64% 63% 69% No 24 29 29 16 25 24 24 27 DK/NA 11 13 12 9 10 13 12 4 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Yes 72% 68% 69% 61% 60% No 18 20 20 27 29 DK/NA 11 12 12 12 10 19. Do you think the state constitution should be amended so the governor can name a lieutenant governor when that position is vacant? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 54% 47% 63% 51% 58% 51% 51% 73% No 37 43 27 43 35 39 40 17 DK/NA 9 11 10 6 7 10 9 10 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Yes 57% 53% 53% 56% 53% No 32 41 39 31 42 DK/NA 11 7 7 13 5 20. Who do you think should draw the district lines by which members of the state legislature and Congress are elected - the state legislature or a commission that has no connection to the state legislature? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Legislature 21% 25% 24% 15% 20% 22% 18% 32% Commission 70 64 69 77 73 68 73 64 DK/NA 9 11 7 8 7 10 9 4 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Legislature 22% 17% 17% 27% 18% Commission 70 73 72 66 75 DK/NA 8 11 10 7 8 TREND: Who do you think should draw the district lines by which members of the state legislature and Congress are elected - the state legislature or a commission that has no connection to the state legislature? Aug 18 Jun 22 2009 2009 Legislature 21 22 Commission 70 66 DK/NA 9 12 21. If a commission drew the district lines from which legislators and members of Congress are elected, would that make for more competitive elections or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 69% 70% 68% 72% 73% 66% 69% 68% No 16 17 19 13 15 18 16 23 DK/NA 14 13 12 15 12 16 15 9 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Yes 70% 67% 68% 68% 76% No 19 17 18 17 13 DK/NA 11 15 15 16 11 TREND: If a commission drew the district lines from which legislators and members of Congress are elected, would that make for more competitive elections or not? Aug 18 Jun 22 2009 2009 Yes 69 65 No 16 14 DK/NA 14 22 22. Which comes closer to your view about your state senator - there are a lot of problems in Albany but your state Senator has done a good job and deserves to be reelected or almost everyone in the State Senate should be thrown out including your state Senator? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Deserves reelection 40% 35% 53% 30% 35% 45% 38% 52% Shld be thrown out 49 54 34 60 54 44 51 36 DK/NA 11 12 13 9 11 12 11 12 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Deserves reelection 37% 38% 38% 42% 39% Shld be thrown out 51 54 53 43 50 DK/NA 12 8 9 15 11 23. Some people have said that New York State government is dysfunctional. Do you agree or disagree? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Agree 77% 80% 70% 83% 79% 75% 81% 66% Disagree 19 14 27 15 19 20 15 33 DK/NA 3 6 3 2 2 5 5 1 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Agree 79% 86% 85% 68% 77% Disagree 17 10 11 28 20 DK/NA 4 4 4 4 3 TREND: Some people have said that New York state government is dysfunctional. Do you agree or disagree? Aug 18 Jun 22 Apr 7 2009 2009 2009 Agree 77 78 71 Disagree 19 18 23 DK/NA 3 4 6 24. Did the controversy over who controlled the State Senate make you embarrassed to be a New Yorker? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 50% 56% 48% 51% 47% 53% 53% 54% No 48 42 51 47 50 45 45 41 DK/NA 2 3 1 3 2 2 2 5 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Yes 44% 54% 53% 47% 51% No 55 44 46 50 47 DK/NA 1 1 1 3 2 TREND: Did the controversy over who controlled the State Senate make you embarrassed to be a New Yorker? (*Does the current controversy over who controls the State Senate make you embarrassed to be a New Yorker?) Aug 18 Jun 22 2009 2009* Yes 50 42 No 48 55 DK/NA 2 3 25. Who do you blame for the controversy - Democrats or Republicans? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Democrats 27% 52% 15% 27% 32% 22% 30% 20% Republicans 25 4 46 15 22 27 19 49 DK/NA 49 44 39 58 46 50 51 31 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Democrats 25% 23% 23% 29% 29% Republicans 33 19 21 31 21 DK/NA 41 58 56 39 50 TREND: Who do you blame for the controversy - Democrats or Republicans? Aug 18 Jun 22 2009 2009 Democrats 27 29 Republicans 25 32 DK/NA 49 39 31. Do you approve or disapprove of the way David Paterson is handling the state budget? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 25% 21% 34% 17% 27% 23% 23% 33% Disapprove 61 68 51 66 60 61 62 56 DK/NA 15 11 15 17 13 16 15 11 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Approve 25% 20% 20% 29% 25% Disapprove 66 68 68 53 60 DK/NA 8 12 12 18 15 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way David Paterson is handling the state budget? (*handled the state budget) Aug 18 Apr 6 Feb 18 Jan 15 Dec 24 Apr 17 2009 2009 2009 2009 2008 2008* Approve 25 19 36 42 40 52 Disapprove 61 70 45 43 46 18 DK/NA 15 11 19 15 14 29 32. How serious do you think New York State'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 65% 71% 55% 72% 66% 64% 69% 49% Smwht serious 28 27 33 23 27 29 26 36 Not too serious 5 2 9 2 4 5 4 10 Not at all serious 1 - 2 1 2 1 1 3 DK/NA 1 - 1 1 1 2 1 2 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Very serious 72% 75% 74% 56% 63% Smwht serious 26 20 21 33 34 Not too serious - 3 3 7 4 Not at all serious 1 1 1 2 - DK/NA - 1 1 2 - TREND: How serious do you think New York State's budget problems are - very serious, somewhat serious, not too serious, or not at all serious? (*Also Dec 2002) VERY+SMWHT SAT High Low Aug 18 Feb 18 Jan 15 Dec 24 Aug 6 Dec 24 Nov 6 2009 2009 2009 2008 2008 2008 2003* Very serious 65 69 74 71 63 71 62 Smwht serious 28 26 21 25 32 25 30 Not too serious 5 4 2 3 2 3 5 Not at all serious 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 33. Do you think the state legislature has the political courage to make unpopular budgetary decisions or do you think it will be business as usual in Albany? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Has courage 8% 6% 11% 5% 5% 10% 7% 10% Business as usual 87 87 82 92 89 85 88 82 DK/NA 5 7 7 3 5 5 4 8 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Has courage 3% 7% 7% 10% 6% Business as usual 93 88 88 82 92 DK/NA 4 5 5 8 3 TREND: Do you think the state legislature has the political courage to make unpopular budgetary decisions or do you think it will be business as usual in Albany? Aug 18 Feb 18 Jan 15 2009 2009 2009 Has courage 8 18 20 Business as usual 87 74 71 DK/NA 5 8 9 34. 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 Raising taxes 33% 9% 54% 24% 30% 35% 29% 59% Cutting services 54 81 31 65 58 51 60 21 DK/NA 13 10 15 11 12 14 11 21 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Raising taxes 29% 24% 25% 46% 26% Cutting services 59 62 61 40 64 DK/NA 12 14 14 14 11 TREND: To balance the state budget, if you had to choose, would you prefer - raising taxes or cutting government programs and services? Aug 18 Feb 18 Jan 15 Dec 24 Aug 6 2009 2009 2009 2008 2008 Raising taxes 33 34 30 36 32 Cutting services 54 51 56 53 56 DK/NA 13 15 14 11 12
