December 16, 2009 - Bruno Corruption Is Albany Business As Usual, New York Voters Tell Quinnipiac University Poll; Approval Of Legislature At All-Time, All-State Low Word format The corruption conviction of former New York State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno is "Albany business as usual," not "an exception to the way Albany does business," state voters say 60 - 25 in a Quinnipiac University poll released today. The "business as usual" sentiment ranges from 53 - 32 percent among Democrats to 66 - 19 percent among Republicans. No gender, racial or regional group disagrees. New York State voters say 76 - 19 percent that their state government is dysfunctional, and 58 percent say it is "among the worst" or "the worst in the nation," the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. Among voters who say state government is dysfunctional, 28 percent blame legislative Democrats, while 21 percent blame Republicans and 17 percent blame Gov. David Paterson. Voters disapprove 72 - 17 percent of the job the State Legislature is doing, the lowest approval rating for any state legislature in any state polled by Quinnipiac University. In fact, 46 percent of voters say their own state senator should be voted out of office in 2010 in a general housekeeping, while 41 percent say their state senator deserves reelection. "New Yorkers were not shocked...shocked that the federal conviction of Joseph Bruno shows there is corruption in Albany. They see it as 'business as usual,'" said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "It's a polling clich‚ that voters don't like the legislature but do like their legislator. Even that seems to be fraying. A number of voters would keep their legislator, but a larger number think we ought to completely clean house. "The 'dysfunctional' label has been hung on the Albany government, and by a whopping 4-1 margin, New Yorkers agree with it." New York State voters say 63 - 21 percent there should be a state constitutional convention to reform state government. Support is strong among all groups. Voters also say 73 - 16 percent that a commission with no connection to the State Legislature should draw district lines by which state legislators and members of Congress are elected. Again, support is consistent among all groups. Legislative district lines drawn by an independent commission would make for more competitive elections, voters say 69 - 12 percent. To balance the New York State budget, voters support 68 - 28 percent a wage freeze for state workers. Support is 60 - 35 percent among Democrats and 61 - 33 percent among voters in union households. But by a narrow 47 - 44 percent margin, voters oppose layoffs for state workers. Layoffs win 47 - 41 percent support from Republicans and 49 - 43 percent support from independent voters, while Democrats oppose layoffs 53 - 38 percent. "New Yorkers are less likely than their neighbors across the river in New Jersey to take aim at state workers in the budget crisis," Carroll said. "Voters oppose layoffs as a budget- balancing tool, but they'd support a wage freeze. New Jersey voters said yes to both measures." Same-Sex Marriage New York State voters split 47 - 46 percent on whether same-sex couples should be allowed to marry, down from 51 - 41 percent support for the measure in a June 23 Quinnipiac University poll. Same-sex marriage wins 60 - 33 percent support from Democrats and 48 - 45 support from independent voters, while Republicans oppose it 75 - 21 percent. Men oppose the measure 50 - 43 percent while women support it by the same 50 - 43 percent margin. Support for same-sex marriage is 58 - 37 percent among voters 18 - 34 years old and 48 - 45 percent among voters 35 to 54 years old, but voters over 55 oppose the measure 56 - 37 percent. Support also rises with income and education level. "The defeat of same-sex marriage in the State Senate seems to have deflated some of the support among voters," Carroll said. "Young voters support it, while older voters oppose it, so it's just a matter of time." From December 7 - 13, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,692 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, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter. 17. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Approve 17% 9% 24% 16% 10% 23% 12% 37% 30% Disapprove 72 81 64 74 81 64 80 48 49 DK/NA 11 9 12 10 9 13 8 15 21 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Approve 9% 15% 14% 22% 15% Disapprove 81 77 77 64 74 DK/NA 10 8 8 13 12 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job? (*High Dis also 72% Aug 2009) APPROVE...... DIS... High Low High Dec 16 Oct 21 Aug 18 Jun 22 Apr 4 Dec 16 Dec 16 2009 2009 2009 2009 2007 2009 2009* Approve 17 19 18 18 34 17 17 Disapprove 72 67 72 69 43 72 72 DK/NA 11 14 10 13 23 11 11 19. 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 His Very satisfied 2% - 2% 3% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2% Smwht satisfied 22 13 33 17 17 27 17 38 23 Smwht dissatisfied 37 30 41 38 35 38 37 38 43 Very dissatisfied 38 56 23 41 45 33 44 22 32 DK/NA - - - - - 1 - - - UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Very satisfied 9% 2% 3% 2% - Smwht satisfied 7 16 15 30 24 Smwht dissatisfied 28 32 32 43 37 Very dissatisfied 55 49 50 25 39 DK/NA 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 Dec 16 Oct 21 Aug 18 Jun 22 Apr 7 Feb 25 Dec 16 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 1998 2009 Very satisfied 2 2 3 2 1 13 2 Smwht satisfied 22 28 25 26 24 60 22 Smwht dissatisfied 37 37 37 34 34 20 37 Very dissatisfied 38 31 34 37 40 7 38 DK/NA - 1 1 1 1 1 - 21. To help balance the state budget do you support or oppose - layoffs or furloughs for state employees? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Support 44% 47% 38% 49% 50% 40% 49% 31% 24% Oppose 47 41 53 43 44 49 41 64 67 DK/NA 9 12 9 7 6 12 10 5 10 UpState..... UpState Union Urban Othr Total NYC Sub HsHolds Support 49% 48% 48% 41% 42% 39% Oppose 44 43 43 49 49 53 DK/NA 7 9 9 9 9 8 22. 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 His Support 68% 71% 60% 73% 73% 63% 74% 50% 52% Oppose 28 22 35 24 24 31 22 45 42 DK/NA 5 7 5 3 3 6 4 5 6 UpState..... UpState Union Urban Othr Total NYC Sub HsHolds Support 74% 71% 71% 65% 65% 61% Oppose 22 25 24 29 31 33 DK/NA 4 5 4 5 4 6 23. Would you support or oppose a law that would allow same-sex couples to get married? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Support 47% 21% 60% 48% 43% 50% 47% 40% 55% Oppose 46 75 33 45 50 43 47 50 41 DK/NA 7 4 7 6 7 7 6 10 5 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl College 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Support 58% 48% 37% 42% 46% 59% 41% 59% Oppose 37 45 56 51 48 34 52 35 DK/NA 5 8 7 7 5 7 7 7 TREND: Would you support or oppose a law that would allow same-sex couples to get married? Dec 16 Jun 23 May 14 Apr 15 2009 2009 2009 2004 Support 47 51 46 37 Oppose 46 41 46 55 DK/NA 7 8 8 8 24. 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 His The best 2% 3% 3% 1% 1% 3% 1% 2% 7% Among the best 27 15 36 26 20 34 22 48 40 Among the worst 43 58 36 40 49 37 48 25 32 The worst 15 16 11 20 20 11 18 6 11 DK/NA 13 8 14 13 10 15 11 18 10 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub The best 3% 2% 3% 2% 2% Among the best 19 21 21 36 25 Among the worst 48 49 49 32 49 The worst 15 20 19 13 12 DK/NA 16 8 9 17 12 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? Dec 16 Aug 18 Jan 15 2009 2009 2009 The best 2 2 3 Among the best 27 28 39 Among the worst 43 45 36 The worst 15 13 7 DK/NA 13 12 15 25. 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 His Yes 63% 61% 62% 69% 64% 62% 62% 70% 69% No 21 25 22 19 22 20 22 19 21 DK/NA 16 13 16 13 14 18 16 11 11 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Yes 60% 71% 70% 60% 55% No 23 17 18 23 25 DK/NA 17 11 12 17 20 TREND: Do you think there should be a state constitutional convention to reform New York State government or not? Dec 16 Aug 18 2009 2009 Yes 63 64 No 21 24 DK/NA 16 11 26. 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 His Legislature 16% 17% 20% 13% 12% 19% 13% 28% 20% Commission 73 75 70 74 81 66 76 58 77 DK/NA 11 8 11 13 6 16 11 14 3 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Legislature 13% 15% 15% 18% 15% Commission 84 75 76 67 77 DK/NA 3 11 10 15 9 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? Dec 16 Aug 18 Jun 22 2009 2009 2009 Legislature 16 21 22 Commission 73 70 66 DK/NA 11 9 12 27. 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 His Yes 69% 65% 72% 69% 72% 67% 68% 68% 80% No 12 15 10 14 14 11 13 15 5 DK/NA 19 20 18 17 15 22 19 17 15 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Yes 81% 71% 73% 69% 63% No 6 11 10 14 14 DK/NA 13 18 17 18 23 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? Dec 16 Aug 18 Jun 22 2009 2009 2009 Yes 69 69 65 No 12 16 14 DK/NA 19 14 22 28. 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 His Deserves reelection 41% 33% 52% 37% 34% 46% 37% 50% 47% Shld be thrown out 46 56 35 50 55 39 52 30 39 DK/NA 13 12 13 13 11 15 10 20 14 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Deserves reelection 38% 36% 36% 47% 38% Shld be thrown out 52 54 53 36 50 DK/NA 10 11 11 17 12 TREND: 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? Dec 16 Aug 18 2009 2009 Deserves reelection 41 40 Shld be thrown out 46 49 DK/NA 13 11 29. Some people have said that New York State government is dysfunctional. Do you agree or disagree? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Agree 76% 84% 67% 80% 79% 74% 81% 61% 72% Disagree 19 11 27 17 18 21 15 36 23 DK/NA 5 4 6 3 3 6 4 3 5 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Agree 82% 80% 81% 70% 77% Disagree 14 17 16 24 17 DK/NA 4 3 3 6 6 TREND: Some people have said that New York state government is dysfunctional. Do you agree or disagree? Dec 16 Aug 18 Jun 22 Apr 7 2009 2009 2009 2009 Agree 76 77 78 71 Disagree 19 19 18 23 DK/NA 5 3 4 6 30. (If agree q29) Who do you think is most to blame - Governor Paterson or the Republicans in the state legislature or the Democrats in the state legislature? AGREE Q29............................. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Paterson 17% 18% 20% 15% 12% 21% Republicans in leg 21 3 38 17 21 21 Democrats in leg 28 54 9 32 35 22 DK/NA 34 25 34 35 32 36 TREND: (If agree) Who do you think is most to blame - Governor Paterson, the Republicans in the state legislature or the Democrats in the state legislature? Dec 16 Jun 22 Apr 07 2009 2009 2009 Paterson 17 23 21 Republicans in leg 21 25 21 Democrats in leg 28 21 25 DK/NA 34 31 33 31. Former State Senate Majority leader Joseph Bruno has been convicted of corruption. Do you think what Bruno did was Albany business as usual or do you think what Bruno did was an exception to the way Albany does business? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Business as usual 60% 66% 53% 63% 69% 53% 63% 46% 62% An exception 25 19 32 23 20 29 24 32 32 DK/NA 15 15 15 14 11 18 13 22 6 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Business as usual 65% 62% 62% 55% 64% An exception 17 26 25 28 20 DK/NA 18 12 13 17 15
