February 28, 2008 - Pennsylvania Voters Don't Expect Tax Break From Slots, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Most Say Slot Machine Corruption Is A Problem Word format Most Pennsylvania voters expect the state's slot machine gambling to raise $1 billion by 2012, but they don't expect a significant tax break from this new revenue, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. A total of 36 percent of Philadelphia residents say it is "very likely" or "somewhat likely" that slot machine revenues will result in "significant cuts" in their City Wage Tax, while 58 percent say these tax cuts are "not too likely" or "not likely at all," the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN uh- pe-ack) University poll finds. Among residents in the rest of Pennsylvania, 33 percent say "significant property tax rebates" from slot machine revenues are "very likely" or "somewhat likely," while 65 percent say tax rebates are "not too likely" or "not likely at all." Still, 71 percent of Pennsylvania voters say it is "very likely" or "somewhat likely" slot machine gambling will raise an additional $1 billion in state revenues by 2012, while 25 percent say the billion-dollar goal is "not too likely" or "not likely at all." "Pennsylvania voters are not counting the money they were promised in the form of significant tax cuts paid for by slot machine revenues," said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "They do believe Harrisburg will receive a billion-dollar windfall, but they don't expect this money to trickle down to them in the form of significant tax cuts or rebates." By a 65 - 27 percent margin, Pennsylvania voters say it's a "good thing" that the state now has four of the five top producing slot machine casinos on the East Coast. Results are consistent among men and women. But 14 percent of voters say corruption in the operation of these casinos is "a major problem," while 42 percent say it is "somewhat of a problem." Governor's Approval Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell gets a 52 - 34 percent approval rating, almost the same as his 53 - 36 percent rating in a November 7, 2007 Quinnipiac University poll. But voters split 42 - 42 percent in their approval of the way Gov. Rendell is handling slot machine gambling in the state. "While Pennsylvania voters remain skeptical that slot machine gambling casino revenue will cut their taxes, the author of the plan, Gov. Ed Rendell, cruises along with a comfortable approval rating," Richards said. "Voters are split right down the middle, however, on the Governor's handling of slot machine gambling. A majority are concerned about corruption in the slot casinos, but about a quarter say it's not much of a problem." Voters approve 54 - 31 percent of the job U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter is doing and approve 50 - 20 percent of the job U.S. Sen. Robert Casey is doing. From February 21 - 25, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,872 Pennsylvania voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.3 percentage points. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio and the nation as a public service and for research. For more data -- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x271.xml, or call (203) 582-5201. 7. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Ed Rendell is handling his job as Governor? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 52% 34% 68% 52% 51% 54% Disapprove 34 55 16 35 38 30 DK/NA 13 11 15 12 11 16 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Approve 47% 73% 54% 68% 41% 47% 40% Disapprove 43 13 30 20 43 41 46 DK/NA 10 14 17 12 16 12 14 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Ed Rendell is handling his job as Governor? * Also 46% on 10/5/2005, 4/22/2004, 3/18/2004 and 12/16/2003 Highest Lowest Approve Approve Feb 28 Nov 7 Aug 22 May 30 Mar 28 Feb 7 Apr 5 2008 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2006* Approve 52 53 53 55 57 61 46 Disapprove 34 36 37 36 33 30 37 DK/NA 13 11 10 9 10 9 17 8. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 37% 34% 42% 35% 34% 40% Disapprove 42 48 34 45 48 36 DK/NA 21 18 24 21 18 24 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Approve 33% 36% 44% 43% 38% 33% 34% Disapprove 53 34 34 31 36 50 49 DK/NA 13 30 22 26 26 17 17 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job? Highest Lowest Approve Approve Feb 28 Nov 7 Aug 22 May 30 Mar 28 Apr 10 Oct 5 2008 2007 2007 2007 2007 2003 2005 Approve 37 35 30 34 39 49 26 Disapprove 42 48 55 47 41 24 60 DK/NA 21 17 15 18 20 27 14 9. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Arlen Specter is handling his job as United States Senator? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 54% 48% 60% 55% 51% 57% Disapprove 31 40 24 32 39 24 DK/NA 14 11 16 13 10 19 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Approve 55% 61% 56% 54% 55% 54% 51% Disapprove 35 23 31 32 25 31 34 DK/NA 10 16 13 14 20 15 14 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Arlen Specter is handling his job as United States Senator? * Also 60% on 5/22/2003 & 2/21/2003 Highest Lowest Approve Approve Feb 28 Nov 8 Aug 22 May 30 Mar 28 Jul 13 Apr 22 2008 2007 2007 2007 2007 2005* 2004 Approve 54 54 58 56 59 60 47 Disapprove 31 31 32 34 29 30 36 DK/NA 14 14 10 11 12 10 17 10. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bob Casey Jr. is handling his job as United States Senator? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 50% 37% 62% 49% 50% 49% Disapprove 20 31 12 19 24 16 DK/NA 30 32 26 33 26 35 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Approve 46% 52% 55% 48% 50% 55% 47% Disapprove 29 11 17 20 17 22 21 DK/NA 25 38 28 32 33 23 32 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bob Casey Jr. is handling his job as United States Senator? Highest Lowest Approve Approve Feb 28 Nov 8 Aug 22 May 30 Mar 28 Feb 28 Mar 28 2008 2007 2007 2007 2007 2008 2007 Approve 50 49 49 47 46 50 46 Disapprove 20 21 23 21 18 20 18 DK/NA 30 30 28 32 35 30 35 12. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Ed Rendell is handling slot machine gambling in Pennsylvania? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 42% 37% 47% 43% 42% 42% Disapprove 42 52 35 40 45 39 DK/NA 16 11 18 16 12 18 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Approve 40% 49% 47% 45% 47% 40% 35% Disapprove 49 30 37 38 35 52 49 DK/NA 11 21 16 17 18 8 16 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Ed Rendell is handling slot machine gambling in Pennsylvania? Feb 28 Mar 28 2008 2007 Approve 42 43 Disapprove 42 43 DK/NA 16 14 13. (Philadelphia ONLY) State officials say that slot machine gambling in Pennsylvania is now making enough money to start reducing the city wage tax. How likely do you think it is that you will ever see significant cuts in the Philadelphia wage tax from revenue raised through slot machine gambling - Very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, or not likely at all? Philly Tot Very likely 4% Smwht likely 32 Not too likely 28 Not likely at all 30 DK/NA 5 14. (Outside Philadelphia ONLY)State officials say that slot machine gambling in Pennsylvania is now making enough money to start giving out property tax rebates. How likely do you think it is that you will ever see significant property tax rebates from revenue raised through slot machine gambling - Very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, or not likely at all? OUTSIDE PHILADELPHIA....................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Very likely 5% 4% 8% 4% 6% 5% Smwht likely 28 22 36 24 26 30 Not too likely 31 33 26 37 28 34 Not likely at all 34 39 27 33 39 29 DK/NA 2 2 3 2 2 3 Alghny NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Very likely 4% 5% 8% 4% 6% 4% Smwht likely 28 29 25 30 27 29 Not too likely 31 34 28 31 28 33 Not likely at all 35 30 38 28 38 32 DK/NA 2 3 2 6 2 2 15. State officials say slot machine gambling will raise 1 billion dollars in revenue for the state by 2012. Do you think this is very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, or not likely at all? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Very likely 26% 23% 25% 29% 31% 21% Smwht likely 45 44 51 40 39 50 Not too likely 15 16 13 16 14 16 Not likely at all 10 13 8 10 12 9 DK/NA 4 4 3 4 4 4 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Very likely 23% 26% 31% 22% 26% 29% 26% Smwht likely 46 45 46 47 47 46 42 Not too likely 19 14 11 16 12 12 16 Not likely at all 9 9 7 11 12 9 13 DK/NA 3 6 4 4 3 4 3 16. From what you have heard or read, how big a problem is corruption in the operation of slot machine casinos in Pennsylvania - A major problem, somewhat of a problem or not much of a problem at all? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom A major prob 14% 17% 11% 14% 15% 13% Somewhat of a prob 42 42 43 40 40 43 Not much of a prob 27 25 29 29 33 23 DK/NA 17 17 17 17 12 21 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl A major prob 16% 12% 17% 10% 9% 15% 16% Somewhat of a prob 41 40 48 40 41 40 42 Not much of a prob 24 29 25 31 32 33 23 DK/NA 19 19 10 18 19 13 18 17. Pennsylvania now has four of the five top producing slot machine casinos on the East Coast in terms of producing the most revenue. Is that a good thing for Pennsylvania or a bad thing? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Good thing 65% 57% 71% 65% 67% 63% Bad thing 27 36 20 27 27 26 DK/NA 8 8 9 8 6 11 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Good thing 67% 73% 69% 62% 63% 64% 62% Bad thing 28 19 22 32 22 25 30 DK/NA 5 8 9 6 15 11 8
