June 16, 2004 - Pataki Gets More Blame For School Finance Delay, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Voters Say Courts Should Fix Problem Gov. George Pataki is most to blame for the delay in resolving New York State's school financing problem, 37 percent of New York State voters say in a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Another 11 percent of voters blame Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, while 10 percent blame Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno and 17 percent say all three are equally to blame. Gov. Pataki has an overall 47 - 41 percent approval rating, compared to 49 - 36 percent in an April 14 poll by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University. By a 47 - 43 percent margin, New York State voters say the courts, not the State Legislature, should develop a financial plan to aid poor school districts. And voters say 60 - 33 percent that a special agency should be created to oversee the administration of state funds for poor school districts. "The clock is ticking on New York's multi-billion-dollar school problem and Gov. Pataki gets the lion's share of the blame for dawdling," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Most New Yorkers don't think the State Legislature is up to the job of fixing the school financing crisis. Voters would rather have the courts fix this problem, which started in the courts with a lawsuit." By a 62 - 35 percent margin, New York State voters say it's a "bad idea" to depend on legalized gambling receipts to help fund poor school districts. Take state funds from richer school districts to help poorer districts, 56 percent of voters say, while 20 percent say increase state taxes to help poor districts and 7 percent say increase local taxes. "Some might be morally opposed; some might doubt that it will work. For whatever reason, voters oppose almost 2 - 1 using slot machine money to fix the schools," Carroll said. "They'd rather play Robin Hood and take the money from rich school districts to help poor districts." Presidential Race President George W. Bush has a negative 36 - 58 percent approval rating among New York State voters, the lowest Bush approval ever measured in Quinnipiac University polls of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania or nationwide. Sen. John Kerry, the Democratic challenger, has a 52 - 34 percent lead over President Bush, with 7 percent for independent candidate Ralph Nader. Senate Race Sen. Charles Schumer has a 62 - 21 percent approval and a 63 - 14 percent lead over Republican challenger Howard Mills, with 8 percent for Conservative party candidate Marilyn O'Grady. "Both top Democrats, Sen. Kerry and Sen. Schumer, look like shoo-ins in New York this November. The only question is whether the presidential and Senate candidates have any coattails that might influence races for Congress or the State Legislature," Carroll said. Sen. Hillary Clinton has a 63 - 30 percent approval and Attorney General Eliot Spitzer has a 64 - 14 percent approval, the best ever for each of them. From June 9 - 14, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,466 New York State registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.6 percentage points. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and nationwide as a public service and for research. For additional data -- www.quinnipiac.edu or call (203) 582-5201 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way George Pataki is handling his job as Governor of New York? App Dis DK/NA Jun 16, 2004 47 41 12 Apr 14, 2004 49 36 15 Nov 6, 2003 52 36 12 Oct 2, 2003 46 42 12 Jun 25, 2003 43 45 11 Apr 23, 2003 43 45 12 Feb 12, 2003 49 41 10 Dec 19, 2002 58 31 11 Sep 25, 2002 62 26 12 Jul 2, 2002 66 18 17 May 1, 2002 67 19 14 Apr 18, 2002 66 19 15 Feb 27, 2002 70 18 13 Jan 23, 2002 70 16 14 Nov 14, 2001 78 12 10 Oct 2, 2001 81 12 7 Jun 26, 2001 56 30 14 Apr 24, 2001 58 27 15 Mar 28, 2001 61 24 16 Feb 14, 2001 57 28 15 Dec 14, 2000 66 23 11 Aug 10, 2000 61 24 15 Jul 13, 2000 60 27 12 Jun 7, 2000 62 25 13 May 16, 2000 63 27 10 May 2, 2000 58 29 12 Apr 6, 2000 56 31 13 Mar 2, 2000 57 31 12 Feb 10, 2000 57 32 12 Jan 20, 2000 60 29 11 Dec 14, 1999 60 29 11 Nov 11, 1999 60 29 12 Oct 5, 1999 57 31 11 Sep 15, 1999 60 27 12 Aug 2, 1999 56 34 10 Jul 1, 1999 54 35 11 May 24, 1999 58 32 10 Apr 25, 1999 57 31 12 Apr 15, 1999 59 31 10 Mar 24, 1999 60 30 11 Feb 24, 1999 60 27 13 Feb 4, 1999 64 27 8 Oct 28, 1998 64 25 11 Oct 15, 1998 63 26 11 Sep 27, 1998 62 26 11 Jun 17, 1998 64 29 7 Mar 25, 1998 69 24 7 Feb 25, 1998 70 22 8 Dec 10, 1997 62 30 7 Sep 24, 1997 60 35 6 Jul 22, 1997 52 41 7 Apr 24, 1997 54 35 11 Mar 4, 1997 56 34 10 Oct 30, 1996 53 31 16 Sep 22, 1996 51 35 14 Jun 18, 1996 46 45 9 Apr 28, 1996 48 40 12 Mar 4, 1996 47 41 12 Dec 11, 1995 46 40 14 Nov 6, 1995 42 41 18 Apr 27, 1995 41 40 20 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Charles Schumer is handling his job as United States Senator? App Dis DK/NA Jun 16, 2004 62 21 17 Apr 14, 2004 61 19 20 Nov 6, 2003 56 25 19 Oct 2, 2003 60 24 16 Jun 25, 2003 57 23 21 Apr 24, 2003 59 22 19 Feb 12, 2003 56 22 22 Dec 19, 2002 57 22 21 Sep 26, 2002 58 17 25 Jul 3, 2002 61 17 22 May 1, 2002 58 18 24 Apr 18, 2002 60 17 23 Feb 27, 2002 61 16 23 Jan 25, 2002 63 17 21 Nov 14, 2001 64 16 20 Oct 2, 2001 69 11 19 Jun 28, 2001 60 18 22 Apr 26, 2001 61 17 22 Mar 28, 2001 60 18 22 Feb 14, 2001 56 21 23 Dec 13, 2000 62 19 19 May 2, 2000 52 18 30 Nov 11, 1999 55 19 26 Sep 16, 1999 55 18 27 Apr 15, 1999 51 22 28 Mar 23, 1999 52 20 28 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Hillary Rodham Clinton is handling her job as United States Senator? App Dis DK/NA Jun 16, 2004 63 30 7 Apr 14, 2004 62 30 8 Nov 6, 2003 59 34 8 Oct 2, 2003 61 33 7 Jun 25, 2003 57 34 9 Apr 24, 2003 52 36 12 Feb 12, 2003 56 34 9 Dec 19, 2002 57 31 12 Sep 26, 2002 53 35 12 Jul 3, 2002 56 31 13 May 1, 2002 57 30 13 Apr 18, 2002 58 28 13 Feb 27, 2002 58 32 10 Jan 25, 2002 55 31 14 Nov 14, 2001 54 34 13 Oct 2, 2001 59 28 12 Jun 28, 2001 52 31 17 Apr 26, 2001 47 34 19 Mar 28, 2001 40 38 23 Feb 14, 2001 38 30 33 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Eliot Spitzer is handling his job as State Attorney General? App Dis DK/NA Jun 16, 2004 64 14 23 Apr 14, 2004 60 14 26 Nov 6, 2003 59 15 26 Oct 2, 2003 62 15 23 Jun 25,2003 57 14 29 Apr 23, 2003 59 14 27 Feb 12, 2003 60 13 27 Apr 6, 2000 51 14 35 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Alan Hevesi is handling his job as State Comptroller? App Dis DK/NA Jun 16, 2004 43 17 40 Nov 6, 2003 44 14 42 Oct 2, 2003 44 16 40 Jun 25, 2003 40 18 42 Apr 23, 2003 39 18 43 Feb 12,2003 40 14 46 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as President? App Dis DK/NA Jun 16, 2004 36 58 5 Apr 14, 2004 40 56 4 Nov 7, 2003 44 51 5 Oct 1, 2003 42 53 5 Jun 26, 2003 52 42 6 Apr 24, 2003 58 37 4 Feb 13, 2003 50 44 5 Dec 19, 2002 51 42 7 Sep 26, 2002 58 36 6 Jul 3, 2002 64 28 8 May 1, 2002 69 25 6 Apr 22, 2002 68 27 5 Feb 27, 2002 74 20 6 Jan 25, 2002 80 16 4 Nov 14, 2001 82 15 3 Oct 2, 2001 82 14 4 Jun 28, 2001 44 47 9 Apr 26, 2001 50 40 10 Mar 28, 2001 48 38 15 Feb 14, 2001 45 30 24 TREND: If the election for president were being held today, and the candidates were John Kerry the Democrat, and George W. Bush the Republican, for whom would you vote? JK GWB SmnEls Wld'tVt DK/NA Jun 16, 2004 55 36 1 2 5 Apr 14, 2004 53 36 2 1 9 Nov 7, 2003 50 42 1 1 6 Oct 1, 2003 48 43 1 3 5 Jun 26, 2003 43 48 1 2 5 Apr 24, 2003 38 50 1 1 10 TREND: If the election for president were being held today, and the candidates were John Kerry the Democrat, George W. Bush the Republican and Ralph Nader the Independent, for whom would you vote? JK GWB RN SmnEls Wld'tVt DK/NA Jun 16, 2004 52 34 7 1 1 5 Apr 14, 2004 49 35 6 - 1 8 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 Very Smwht Smwht Very sat sat dis dis DK/NA Jun 16, 2004 3 41 35 20 1 Apr 15,2004 4 42 32 21 1 Nov 6, 2003 4 42 30 23 1 Oct 2, 2003 5 39 32 24 1 Jun 25, 2003 4 33 37 25 1 Apr 23, 2003 5 32 32 29 2 Feb 12, 2003 4 40 33 22 1 Dec 19, 2002 7 44 27 21 - Sep 26, 2002 8 54 23 14 1 Jan 24, 2002 12 58 21 8 1 Dec 27, 2000 13 57 20 8 1 Mar 25, 1998 12 55 23 9 1 Feb 25, 1998 13 60 20 7 1 Dec 10, 1997 9 51 27 12 1 1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George Pataki is handling his job as Governor? HvKidsIn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom PubSch Approve 47% 64% 36% 45% 48% 45% 48% Disapprove 41 25 52 42 41 41 40 DK/NA 12 10 12 14 10 14 11 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Approve 34% 48% 44% 41% 59% Disapprove 49 38 41 47 31 DK/NA 17 14 15 11 10 2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Charles Schumer is handling his job as United States Senator? HvKidsIn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom PubSch Approve 62% 49% 74% 60% 62% 62% 60% Disapprove 21 33 12 22 25 17 20 DK/NA 17 18 14 18 12 21 20 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Approve 61% 59% 60% 64% 64% Disapprove 18 20 19 22 22 DK/NA 22 21 21 14 14 3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Hillary Rodham Clinton is handling her job as United States Senator? HvKidsIn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom PubSch Approve 63% 34% 85% 60% 57% 69% 62% Disapprove 30 61 9 31 36 25 32 DK/NA 7 5 5 9 7 6 6 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Approve 64% 55% 57% 74% 55% Disapprove 30 38 36 19 40 DK/NA 7 7 7 7 5 4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as President? HvKidsIn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom PubSch Approve 36% 76% 10% 34% 42% 32% 38% Disapprove 58 20 85 60 53 63 59 DK/NA 5 4 5 7 5 6 4 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Approve 34% 45% 42% 25% 44% Disapprove 61 49 53 70 50 DK/NA 6 5 5 5 6 6. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Eliot Spitzer is handling his job as State Attorney General? HvKidsIn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom PubSch Approve 64% 60% 68% 64% 68% 60% 64% Disapprove 14 16 13 11 14 14 14 DK/NA 23 24 19 25 18 27 23 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Approve 66% 67% 67% 58% 67% Disapprove 7 11 10 18 14 DK/NA 27 21 23 24 19 7. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Alan Hevesi is handling his job as State Comptroller? HvKidsIn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom PubSch Approve 43% 41% 45% 42% 48% 39% 41% Disapprove 17 18 16 17 16 18 20 DK/NA 40 41 39 41 36 43 39 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Approve 36% 40% 39% 47% 45% Disapprove 14 14 14 20 18 DK/NA 51 46 47 33 37 12. How much attention have you been paying to the election campaign for President -- a lot, some, only a little, or none at all? HvKidsIn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom PubSch A lot 44% 47% 42% 45% 50% 39% 38% Some 35 35 38 32 32 38 41 Only a little 15 13 15 15 13 16 17 None at all 5 5 3 6 5 6 5 DK/NA 1 - 1 1 1 1 - UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub A lot 44% 42% 42% 44% 48% Some 38 35 36 33 39 Only a little 13 16 16 17 9 None at all 5 7 7 4 4 DK/NA - - - 1 1 13. If the election for president were being held today, and the candidates were John Kerry the Democrat and George W. Bush the Republican for whom would you vote? HvKidsIn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom PubSch Kerry 55% 14% 86% 55% 50% 60% 56% Bush 36 80 7 34 42 31 36 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 2 1 2 2 2 3 DK/NA 5 3 5 6 5 6 4 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Kerry 54% 45% 48% 68% 48% Bush 33 46 43 25 43 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 3 1 2 1 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 3 2 2 - 3 DK/NA 8 5 6 5 5 14. If the election for president were being held today, and the candidates were John Kerry the Democrat, George W. Bush the Republican, and Ralph Nader the Independent for whom would you vote? HvKidsIn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom PubSch Kerry 52% 14% 83% 49% 46% 57% 53% Bush 34 79 8 31 41 29 35 Nader 7 4 4 14 8 6 8 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 1 - 1 1 1 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 DK/NA 5 2 5 5 4 6 1 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Kerry 51% 43% 45% 63% 45% Bush 29 45 40 23 41 Nader 14 7 9 6 6 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 1 1 1 - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 1 1 - 3 DK/NA 4 4 4 6 5 15. How much attention have you been paying to the election campaign for United States Senator from New York -- a lot, some, only a little, or none at all? HvKidsIn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom PubSch A lot 13% 16% 11% 10% 13% 12% 10% Some 25 24 28 21 26 24 24 Only a little 33 33 36 31 32 33 33 None at all 29 26 25 36 28 30 33 DK/NA 1 1 - 1 1 1 - UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub A lot 12% 11% 12% 15% 10% Some 20 25 23 26 28 Only a little 37 34 35 29 35 None at all 30 29 29 29 27 DK/NA - 1 1 1 - 16. If the election for United States Senator were being held today, and the candidates were Charles Schumer the Democrat, Howard Mills the Republican, and Marilyn O'Grady the Conservative Party candidate for whom would you vote? HvKidsIn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom PubSch Schumer 63% 37% 83% 63% 60% 66% 64% Mills 14 36 3 7 16 11 13 O'Grady 8 11 3 10 10 6 10 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 - - 2 1 1 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 DK/NA 14 14 10 17 12 15 11 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Schumer 63% 53% 56% 71% 61% Mills 13 17 16 8 18 O'Grady 9 10 10 5 10 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - 1 1 1 0 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 2 1 1 2 DK/NA 15 17 16 13 9 17. George Pataki will be up for re-election in 2006. Would you like to see George Pataki re-elected Governor, or would you rather see someone else elected Governor? HvKidsIn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom PubSch Yes/Re-elected 33% 50% 24% 29% 33% 33% 33% No/Someone else 55 38 66 56 55 55 55 DK/NA 12 12 10 14 12 12 12 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Yes/Re-elected 26% 33% 31% 30% 43% No/Someone else 64 54 57 59 45 DK/NA 10 14 13 11 12 18. 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? HvKidsIn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom PubSch Very satisfied 3% 4% 3% 3% 4% 3% 2% Smwht satisfied 41 49 35 40 42 39 37 Smwht dissatisfied 35 29 40 35 34 35 35 Very dissatisfied 20 17 21 22 20 21 25 DK/NA 1 1 1 - - 1 - UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Very satisfied 0% 3% 3% 4% 4% Smwht satisfied 28 35 33 44 49 Smwht dissatisfied 41 35 37 32 36 Very dissatisfied 29 25 26 20 11 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 - 24. New York State has not had a budget since April 1, the start of the fiscal year. Do you think that the state's failure to pass a budget is a very serious problem, somewhat serious, not very serious, or not a problem at all? HvKidsIn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom PubSch Very serious prob 55% 51% 59% 55% 52% 57% 61% Smwht serious 34 35 33 35 33 34 28 Not very serious 7 10 5 5 10 4 7 Not a prob at all 3 4 2 3 4 2 3 DK/NA 2 - 1 2 1 2 2 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Very serious prob 70% 63% 65% 48% 49% Smwht serious 26 29 28 39 35 Not very serious 2 4 4 7 12 Not a prob at all 1 3 3 3 3 DK/NA 1 1 1 3 1 25. Who do you think is most responsible for the state's failure to pass a budget -- Governor Pataki, State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, or State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno? HvKidsIn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom PubSch Pataki 35% 24% 43% 35% 30% 39% 42% Silver 13 24 6 10 19 7 10 Bruno 10 12 9 11 12 9 9 ALL TO BLAME(VOL) 23 21 22 25 25 21 22 DK/NA 19 19 19 19 14 24 17 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Pataki 40% 32% 34% 43% 23% Silver 13 16 15 8 16 Bruno 8 7 7 12 13 ALL TO BLAME(VOL) 26 26 26 18 26 DK/NA 13 18 17 20 22 26. For more than a year the state has been under a court order to spend several billion dollars more on education. Leaders have just started addressing it now. Who do you think is most responsible for the delay -- Governor Pataki, State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, or State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno? HvKidsIn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom PubSch Pataki 37% 29% 46% 33% 35% 40% 43% Silver 11 16 7 11 14 9 8 Bruno 10 9 10 13 13 8 10 ALL TO BLAME(VOL) 17 16 16 21 18 17 17 DK/NA 24 30 21 23 21 27 21 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Pataki 42% 35% 37% 42% 30% Silver 9 11 10 10 15 Bruno 7 7 7 13 13 ALL TO BLAME(VOL) 18 21 20 14 18 DK/NA 24 26 25 22 25 27. If the state legislature doesn't meet the court's July 30th deadline, the court can order a solution. Who would you rather see develop a plan to help aid poor school districts, the state legislature or the court? HvKidsIn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom PubSch Legislature 43% 51% 40% 37% 44% 42% 42% Court 47 39 50 51 47 46 49 DK/NA 10 10 9 12 9 12 9 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Legislature 44% 43% 43% 38% 49% Court 48 47 47 49 43 DK/NA 8 11 10 12 8 28. One solution to the court order for more funds for poor school districts would be to raise money by installing slot machines at racetracks, off track betting parlors, and elsewhere. Do you think it is a good idea or bad idea to depend on gambling to help fund poor school districts? HvKidsIn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom PubSch Good idea 35% 41% 34% 30% 41% 28% 38% Bad idea 62 56 63 66 55 68 59 DK/NA 4 3 3 4 4 3 3 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Good idea 33% 37% 36% 36% 30% Bad idea 64 59 61 60 67 DK/NA 3 4 3 5 3 29. Suppose slot machines don't raise enough money. To raise more money for poorer school districts, would you prefer; increasing state taxes, increasing local taxes, or taking some of the state funding from richer school districts? HvKidsIn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom PubSch Increase state tax 20% 19% 21% 20% 23% 17% 21% Increase local tax 7 9 5 7 8 6 8 From rich districts 56 51 60 55 51 60 53 DK/NA 18 20 14 18 18 18 18 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Increase state tax 16% 19% 18% 17% 25% Increase local tax 9 5 6 6 10 From rich districts 54 56 56 63 43 DK/NA 21 20 20 14 22 30. Do you think a special agency should be created to oversee administration of state funding for poor school districts? HvKidsIn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom PubSch Yes 60% 50% 70% 56% 53% 67% 59% No 33 44 24 37 42 26 36 DK/NA 6 6 6 7 6 7 5 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Yes 56% 57% 56% 68% 55% No 38 39 38 26 36 DK/NA 7 5 5 6 9
