April 4, 2012 - Cuomo Is A Beauty, Despite 'Big Ugly' Beast, New York State Voters Tell Quinnipiac University Poll; Voters Back Minimum Wage Hike Almost 4-1 Word format Despite serious concerns about the so-called "Big Ugly" agreement last month in Albany, New York State voters approve 68 - 19 percent of the job Gov. Andrew Cuomo is doing, continuing his year-long string of +60 approval ratings and brushing up against his all-time high 69 - 19 percent job score in February, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Gov. Cuomo wins approval ratings of 67 - 24 percent among Republicans, 67 - 20 percent among Democrats and 73 - 14 percent among independent voters, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. Black voters, who approve 58 - 24 percent, are the only group below 62 percent. Even voters in union households approve 62 - 25 percent. But New York State voters say 55 - 30 percent that "closed-door negotiations" were not needed to achieve the major policy Cuomo and legislative leaders negotiated last month. No group believes the secrecy was necessary. A total of 76 percent of voters say "the lack of transparency surrounding these major policy deals is a very serious or somewhat serious problem." "Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder and New York voters say Gov. Andrew Cuomo has done a beautiful job so far," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "But if voters liked the result, they weren't happy with the process, the so-called 'Big Ugly' deal where Gov. Cuomo and legislative leaders worked out an agreement on pensions, legislative redistricting, casino gambling, DNA and whatever else they needed to resolve. "Was the time honored - or dishonored - Albany practice of three-men-in-a-room the only practical way to get a deal? Most voters don't think so. How about the lack of transparency - a big problem, three-fourth of voters think." "OK, Governor, enough for the bad news. Cuomo continues to chalk up awesome job- approval numbers," Carroll added. A total of 68 percent of New York State voters also say its' a "very serious" or "somewhat serious" problem that new legislative district lines were not created by an independent commission. There are similar results from every group in the survey. "Those district lines the State Legislature drew for itself? A big NO from the voters," Carroll said. Looking at Cuomo's claim that he is so flexible he should be called "Gumby," 42 percent of New York State voters agree, while 35 percent say he is "rigid and uncompromising." Voting for "Gov. Gumby" are Democrats 45 - 31 percent and independent voters 46 - 33 percent, while Republicans say rigid 45 - 37 percent. Men say flexible 48 - 34 percent while women are divided 37 - 36 percent. Voters in union households say rigid 45 - 37 percent. Minimum Wage New York State voters support 78 - 20 percent raising the $7.25 per hour minimum wage, with no specific target offered in the question. Support is 53 - 43 percent among Republicans, 91 - 7 percent among Democrats and 76 - 21 percent among independent voters. Among those who support raising the minimum wage, 37 percent of voters support raising it to $8.50 per hour, with 52 percent who support an even higher minimum wage and 8 percent who want less than $8.50 per hour. Combined results for the two questions among all New York State voters show: 29 percent of voters support an $8.50 per hour minimum wage; 6 percent support a raise, but not as high as $8.50; 41 percent support a raise higher than $8.50; 20 percent oppose any increase. Small businesses will not reduce the number of people they hire if the minimum wage is increased, voters say 51 - 41 percent. From March 28 - April 2, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,597 New York State 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, 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. 8. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Andrew Cuomo is handling his job as Governor? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk HsHld Approve 68% 67% 67% 73% 71% 65% 72% 58% 62% Disapprove 19 24 20 14 18 21 17 24 25 DK/NA 13 9 13 14 12 14 11 18 13 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K 18-34 35-54 55+ Approve 75% 64% 66% 66% 67% 75% 59% 68% 73% Disapprove 15 22 20 22 22 17 23 22 16 DK/NA 10 15 14 12 11 9 18 10 12 UpStat NYC Sub Approve 65% 72% 67% Disapprove 22 17 18 DK/NA 14 10 15 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Andrew Cuomo is handling his job as Governor? APPROVE....... High Low Apr 04 Feb 15 Dec 20 Oct 26 Sep 20 Feb 15 Feb 23 2012 2012 2011 2011 2011 2012 2011 Approve 68 69 68 65 66 69 56 Disapprove 19 19 17 19 17 19 15 DK/NA 13 12 15 15 17 12 29 12. Governor Andrew Cuomo and the leaders of the Senate Republican and Assembly Democratic majorities are being criticized for secrecy in negotiating major policy deals, then quickly voting at night on the measures. Do you think these closed-door negotiations were necessary to achieve major policy deals or not? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk HsHld Yes 30% 27% 32% 30% 33% 26% 30% 29% 30% No 55 61 49 58 56 54 56 53 59 DK/NA 15 12 19 12 11 19 14 18 11 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K 18-34 35-54 55+ Yes 36% 26% 23% 24% 33% 39% 34% 32% 26% No 47 60 62 61 54 48 51 54 58 DK/NA 17 14 15 15 13 13 16 14 16 UpStat NYC Sub Yes 25% 33% 32% No 63 48 53 DK/NA 12 19 15 13. Do you think the lack of transparency surrounding these major policy deals is a very serious problem, a somewhat serious problem, a not too serious problem, or not a problem at all? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk HsHld Very serious 40% 45% 35% 43% 42% 39% 41% 35% 44% Somewhat serious 36 35 37 34 34 37 37 35 36 Not too serious 12 8 13 15 12 13 12 12 11 Not a problem 6 8 7 6 9 4 6 7 5 DK/NA 6 5 8 2 4 7 5 10 4 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K 18-34 35-54 55+ Very serious 35% 43% 39% 48% 43% 37% 37% 40% 43% Somewhat serious 37 35 37 34 35 36 45 33 33 Not too serious 16 10 8 12 14 14 11 13 12 Not a problem 5 7 8 3 5 9 3 10 6 DK/NA 6 5 8 4 2 5 4 4 6 UpStat NYC Sub Very serious 44% 37% 40% Somewhat serious 35 35 37 Not too serious 11 14 12 Not a problem 6 7 6 DK/NA 4 7 5 14. Governor Cuomo and legislative leaders are being criticized for agreeing to new legislative district lines that weren't created by an independent commission. How serious a problem do you think it is that these new district lines weren't created by an independent commission; a very serious problem, a somewhat serious problem, a not too serious problem, or not a problem at all? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk HsHld Very serious 29% 35% 30% 26% 29% 30% 29% 37% 35% Somewhat serious 39 40 39 39 39 39 42 30 37 Not too serious 16 10 18 17 17 16 14 19 13 Not a problem 7 7 6 8 10 4 8 5 8 DK/NA 9 8 8 9 5 12 7 9 7 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K 18-34 35-54 55+ Very serious 32% 28% 28% 35% 31% 30% 19% 29% 36% Somewhat serious 39 39 36 35 40 42 47 39 36 Not too serious 16 16 16 18 16 18 22 16 14 Not a problem 6 7 6 4 7 7 5 7 7 DK/NA 7 10 15 8 6 3 6 9 7 UpStat NYC Sub Very serious 27% 29% 33% Somewhat serious 43 36 37 Not too serious 15 18 15 Not a problem 7 8 5 DK/NA 8 8 10 15. Governor Cuomo said he is so flexible he should be called 'Gumby.' Do you believe Cuomo is a compromiser who is flexible like Gumby, or is he rigid and uncompromising? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk HsHld Flexible/Gumby 42% 37% 45% 46% 48% 37% 43% 40% 37% Rigid/Uncompromising 35 45 31 33 34 36 36 35 45 DK/NA 23 18 24 21 18 27 21 25 18 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K 18-34 35-54 55+ Flexible/Gumby 44% 41% 36% 40% 42% 51% 47% 41% 41% Rigid/Uncompromising 32 37 34 42 38 33 31 40 35 DK/NA 24 22 31 18 20 16 21 19 25 UpStat NYC Sub Flexible/Gumby 39% 46% 42% Rigid/Uncompromising 40 30 36 DK/NA 22 24 22 16. Would you support or oppose raising the minimum wage in New York State, which is now $7.25 an hour? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk HsHld Support 78% 53% 91% 76% 72% 83% 73% 91% 81% Oppose 20 43 7 21 25 14 24 8 16 DK/NA 3 4 2 3 2 3 3 1 2 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K 18-34 35-54 55+ Support 76% 79% 84% 79% 77% 74% 78% 79% 77% Oppose 21 19 14 19 21 24 22 19 19 DK/NA 3 2 3 2 2 2 - 2 4 UpStat NYC Sub Support 75% 82% 76% Oppose 23 16 21 DK/NA 2 2 3 17. (If support q16) Do you think that the minimum wage should be $8.50 an hour, should be less than $8.50 an hour, or should be more than $8.50 an hour? SUPPORT INCREASE Q16....................................... Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk HsHld Exactly $8.50 37% 54% 33% 38% 36% 38% 44% 19% 38% Less than $8.50 8 12 4 9 8 8 10 2 6 More than $8.50 52 33 61 48 52 52 42 79 55 DK/NA 3 1 1 4 4 2 4 - 1 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K 18-34 35-54 55+ Exactly $8.50 38% 37% 35% 32% 35% 44% 37% 37% 39% Less than $8.50 8 8 10 10 6 7 8 5 10 More than $8.50 49 54 54 57 57 46 53 56 48 DK/NA 4 2 2 1 2 3 2 2 3 UpStat NYC Sub Exactly $8.50 44% 27% 44% Less than $8.50 12 5 7 More than $8.50 42 65 48 DK/NA 3 3 1 17a. (COMBINED Q16 & Q17)Would you support or oppose raising the minimum wage in New York State, which is now $7.25 an hour? IF SUPPORT: Do you think that the minimum wage should be $8.50 an hour, should be less than $8.50 an hour, or should be more than $8.50 an hour? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk HsHld Increase to $8.50 29% 29% 30% 29% 26% 31% 32% 17% 31% Increase < $8.50 6 6 4 7 6 7 7 2 4 Increase > $8.50 41 18 56 37 38 43 30 72 45 Oppose increase 20 43 7 21 25 14 24 8 16 DK/NA 5 4 3 6 5 5 6 1 4 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K 18-34 35-54 55+ Increase to $8.50 29% 29% 29% 25% 27% 32% 29% 29% 30% Increase < $8.50 6 6 8 8 4 5 6 4 8 Increase > $8.50 38 42 45 45 44 34 41 44 37 Oppose increase 21 19 14 19 21 24 22 19 19 DK/NA 6 4 4 2 4 5 1 4 6 UpStat NYC Sub Increase to $8.50 33% 22% 33% Increase < $8.50 9 4 5 Increase > $8.50 31 53 37 Oppose increase 23 16 21 DK/NA 5 5 4 18. Do you think small businesses will reduce the number of people they hire if the minimum wage is raised, or don't you think so? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk HsHld Yes 41% 59% 30% 44% 42% 40% 42% 47% 35% No 51 34 63 47 53 49 50 48 57 DK/NA 8 7 7 9 5 11 8 5 8 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K 18-34 35-54 55+ Yes 35% 46% 50% 39% 42% 36% 49% 40% 40% No 58 46 44 52 52 58 46 53 52 DK/NA 7 8 7 8 6 6 5 7 8 UpStat NYC Sub Yes 45% 39% 39% No 47 54 53 DK/NA 8 7 9 Demographic Summary
