Florida (FL) Poll * July 19, 2007 * Florida Voters Say Insurance R - Quinnipiac University

Home> Institutes and Centers> Quinnipiac University Polling Institute> Florida (FL)> Release Detail

July 19, 2007 - Florida Voters Say Insurance Reform Doesn't Help, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; But Gov. Crist's Approval Moves To New High

Word format Florida voters love Gov. Charlie Crist as much as ever, giving him a 73 - 11 percent job approval, but 72 percent say his insurance reform plan hasn't delivered lower rates, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. This is Gov. Crist's fourth approval score at 69 percent or higher.
Property tax cuts passed by the State Legislature and signed by Gov. Crist were not large enough, 47 percent of voters tell the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll. Another 8 percent say tax cuts were too large, while 29 percent say they are about right.
Florida voters support 57 - 17 percent a proposal to be voted on in January that would create a "Super Homestead Exemption," although most voters say they know little or nothing about the proposal. The plan needs a 60 percent majority to become law. Complaints from local governments that passage of the super exemption would require cuts in services are either "not valid concerns" or "not a reason to vote against the proposal," a total of 68 percent of voters say.
"We might want to begin calling him 'Teflon Charlie' because Gov. Crist remains enormously popular. Yet voters are not happy with insurance reform he championed and think he and lawmakers didn't go far enough in their initial tax cut," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
Crist's 73 percent job approval, including 72 - 10 percent among Democrats, is equal to his rating in March, the highest since he took office in January. But voters aren't seeing the savings in their property insurance rates he promised when signing the reform plan into law earlier this year.
Since lawmakers passed a new law aimed at reducing property insurance, 31 percent say their bills have gone up; 4 percent say bills have declined and 41 percent say they are the same.
Among those who pay property insurance, 41 percent say their bills are about what they expected, while 49 percent say they expected more of a decrease. Looking forward, 51 percent of Florida voters expect the new law to have only a minor impact on lowering rates; 11 percent expect a major impact and 27 percent expect no impact. And 65 percent expect that insurance companies will benefit more from the new law, while 23 percent think property owners will benefit more.
"Voters haven't seen the decrease in property insurance rates they expected and are not optimistic that the new law will help them much in the future," said Brown.
In an open-ended question, where voters can give any answer, 22 percent of Florida voters cite taxes as the most important problem facing the state, followed by 11 percent who list property insurance, 9 percent who cite education and 8 percent who cite immigration.
While most voters support the Super Homestead Exemption proposal, 26 percent remain undecided; 67 percent of voters say the proposal needs a lot more explanation, while only 5 percent say it has been clearly explained to them.
"Even though they don't know the details of the plan, Florida voters are strongly in favor of the Super Homestead Exemption. Supporters still fall a bit short of the 60 percent threshold, but at first glance they seem to be within range of getting the votes needed for passage," said Brown. Senate Approvals
Florida voters approve 47 - 26 percent of the job Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson is doing, but give Republican Sen. Mel Martinez a slightly negative 36 - 38 percent approval rating, his lowest ever.
From July 12 - 16, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,106 Florida voters, with a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Florida, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, 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.
23. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Charlie Crist is handling his job as Governor?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Approve 73% 77% 72% 69% 74% 72% 73% Disapprove 11 8 10 15 11 11 10 DK/NA 16 15 17 16 14 17 17 Home North/ Owners PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Approve 75% 65% 79% 70% 80% 74% Disapprove 11 13 10 13 9 9 DK/NA 14 23 10 17 11 16
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Charlie Crist is handling his job as Governor? * also 73% on 3/29/07
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Jul 19 Jun 6 Mar 29 Feb 6 Jul 19 Feb 6 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 * 2007 Approve 73 70 73 69 73 69 Disapprove 11 12 9 6 11 6 DK/NA 16 19 18 25 16 25
24. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Approve 39% 51% 32% 36% 43% 35% 40% Disapprove 37 26 39 45 40 34 30 DK/NA 24 23 29 19 17 31 29 Home North/ Owners PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Approve 37% 44% 32% 42% 37% 38% Disapprove 39 30 47 39 31 34 DK/NA 24 26 20 19 32 28
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job?
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Jul 19 Jun 6 Mar 29 Feb 6 Dec 20 Sep 23 Dec 20 2007 2007 2007 2007 2006 2004 2006 Approve 39 41 42 50 38 51 38 Disapprove 37 38 33 27 43 34 43 DK/NA 24 22 25 24 19 15 19
25. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill Nelson is handling his job as United States Senator?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Approve 47% 48% 53% 41% 49% 46% 51% Disapprove 26 27 19 34 34 19 22 DK/NA 27 26 28 26 17 35 28 Home North/ Owners PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Approve 48% 39% 53% 54% 49% 42% Disapprove 27 28 26 22 18 30 DK/NA 25 33 20 24 33 29
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill Nelson is handling his job as United States Senator?
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Jul 19 Jun 7 Mar 29 Feb 6 Dec 21 Feb 6 Aug 12 2007 2007 2007 2007 2006 2007 2004 Approve 47 47 53 54 51 54 42 Disapprove 26 21 18 18 23 18 18 DK/NA 27 32 29 28 26 28 40
26. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Mel Martinez is handling his job as United States Senator?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Approve 36% 49% 27% 32% 39% 33% 46% Disapprove 38 26 44 43 44 33 27 DK/NA 26 26 29 25 17 34 27 Home North/ Owners PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Approve 35% 35% 38% 42% 43% 27% Disapprove 42 31 44 36 34 42 DK/NA 23 35 19 22 22 31
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Mel Martinez is handling his job as United States Senator?
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Jul 19 Jun 7 Mar 29 Feb 6 Dec 21 Feb 6 Jul 19 2007 2007 2007 2007 2006 2007 2007 Approve 36 37 44 48 42 48 36 Disapprove 38 34 25 22 25 22 38 DK/NA 26 30 31 29 32 29 26
28. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in Florida today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Very satisfied 8% 13% 7% 4% 8% 8% 12% Smwht satisfied 45 54 37 47 48 43 45 Smwht dissatisfied 33 26 38 34 32 34 30 Very dissatisfied 13 6 16 15 11 15 13 DK/NA 1 1 2 1 1 1 - Home North/ Owners PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Very satisfied 7% 8% 10% 7% 15% 5% Smwht satisfied 46 56 43 49 39 38 Smwht dissatisfied 33 24 31 31 36 42 Very dissatisfied 14 11 16 12 10 13 DK/NA 1 2 - 1 1 1
TREND: In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in Florida today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?
Jul 19 Dec 20 Jun 29 May 24 Apr 19 Feb 22 Nov 15 2007 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2005 Very satisfied 8 10 13 15 14 15 15 Smwht satisfied 45 41 45 41 45 43 43 Smwht dissatisfied 33 29 26 25 24 26 20 Very dissatisfied 13 19 16 18 15 14 21 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 2 2 1
29. What do you think is the most important problem facing Florida today?
Tot Taxes Total 22% Taxes general 7 Property tax 15 Property Insurance 11% Education Total 9% Education general 6 Funding education 2 Education other 1 Immigration 8% Economy Total 7% Economy general 2 Unemployment/jobs 2 Cost of living 3 Healthcare Total 7% Healthcare/Costs/ Ins/HMO's 6 Medicare 1 Crime Total 4% Crime/Violence general 3 Drugs 1 Environment/Pollution 3% Overcrowding/Over population 3% Energy Total 2% Energy costs general 1 Gas prices 1 Insurance general 2% Politicians Total 2% Politicians general 1 Political corruption 1 Hurricanes 1 Housing Costs/ Availability 1 Senior issues 1 Quality of life 1 Drought/Water problems 1 Lack of ethics/Morality 1 Open space/Urban sprawl/ Overdevelopment 1 Highway traffic/ congestion 1 Terrorism general 1 War (Iraq) 1 Other 1 DK/NA 4
TREND: What do you think is the most important problem facing Florida today?
Jul 19 Mar 29 Dec 20 Jun 29 May 24 2007 2007 2006 2006 2006 Crime Total 4% 3% 4% 5% 2% Crime/Violence general 3 3 3 4 2 Drugs 1 - 1 1 - Economy Total 7% 5% 6% 6% 6% Economy general 2 1 2 1 1 Unemployment/jobs 2 3 2 2 2 Minimum wage too low - - 1 1 1 Cost of living 3 1 1 2 2 Education Total 9% 10% 15% 19% 19% Education general 6 8 9 14 14 Teachers - - 1 1 1 Funding education 2 2 2 3 3 School choice/Vouchers - - 1 - 1 Education other 1 - 2 1 - Energy costs Total 2% 1% 1% 2% 3% Energy costs general 1 1 1 1 1 Gas prices 1 - - 1 2 Environment/Pollution 3% 2% 2% 3% 3% Healthcare Total 7% 4% 2% 2% 3% Healthcare/Costs/Insurance/HMO's 6 3 2 2 3 Medicare 1 - - - - Prescription costs - 1 - - - Home/Property Insurance 11% 15% 22% 5% 6% Hurricanes/Weather Total 1% 1% - 5% 7% Hurricanes 1 1 - 4 7 Prepared for weather - - - 1 - Immigration 8% 6% 9% 10% 13% Insurance general 2% 3% - - - Open space/Urban sprawl/Overdev 1% 3% 3% 5% 4% Overcrowding/Over population 3% 4% 4% 6% 7% Politicians/Campaigns Total 2% 1% 1% 2% 3% Politicians/Campaigns general 1 1 - - 1 Political corruption 1 - - 1 1 Bush administration - - 1 - - Governor/State leadership - - - 1 1 Taxes Total 22% 19% 9% 3% 3% Taxes general 7 4 3 1 1 Property tax 15 15 6 2 2 Other 1 10 7 6 3 DK/NA 4 6 4 5 6
30. Turning to the issue of property insurance - Over the next year or so, do you think property insurance rates in Florida will go up, go down, or stay about the same? IF "UP": Will they go up significantly or just a little? IF "DOWN": Will they go down significantly or just a little?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Up significantly 28% 25% 31% 26% 26% 30% 32% Up a little 22 24 22 21 25 20 21 Stay the same 26 27 22 31 26 25 23 Down a little 11 14 9 11 9 14 12 Down significantly 2 2 3 - 2 2 2 DK/NA 11 8 13 10 12 10 10 Home North/ Owners PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Up significantly 29% 33% 27% 31% 25% 24% Up a little 21 31 21 30 9 12 Stay the same 27 17 25 23 36 31 Down a little 11 8 11 7 8 19 Down significantly 2 1 2 2 2 2 DK/NA 11 9 13 6 20 12
31. What do you trust most to reduce and stabilize property insurance rates in Florida -- government interaction or private sector competition?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Gov interaction 49% 41% 55% 51% 52% 46% 44% Private competition 37 46 28 39 38 35 36 VOL OPTION (BOTH) 3 3 1 4 4 2 2 DK/NA 12 10 17 6 6 17 17 Home North/ Owners PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Gov interaction 48% 45% 47% 46% 46% 57% Private competition 39 38 39 39 38 31 VOL OPTION (BOTH) 3 3 4 3 5 1 DK/NA 11 14 11 13 11 11
32. As you may know, earlier this year the state passed a new insurance law aimed at cutting property insurance rates. Since that law was passed in January have your property insurance bills gone up, gone down, or stayed about the same?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Gone up 31% 31% 31% 32% 29% 34% 34% Gone down 4 5 3 5 5 4 5 Stayed the same 41 43 39 41 46 37 36 (DON'T PAY PROP INS) 8 7 9 6 6 9 9 DK/NA 16 14 18 16 15 17 17 Home North/ Owners PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Gone up 34% 29% 33% 32% 42% 28% Gone down 5 2 5 3 6 5 Stayed the same 45 43 40 41 29 45 (DON'T PAY PROP INS) 1 8 10 4 13 6 DK/NA 14 18 12 20 10 16
33. (If pay property insurance) Is this about what you expected or did you expect more of a decrease?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl As expected 41% 46% 38% 40% 45% 37% 40% Expected more decrease 49 45 54 48 45 53 49 DK/NA 10 9 8 11 10 10 11 Home North/ Owners PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE As expected 41% 39% 37% 46% 51% 38% Expected more decrease 50 47 57 46 37 51 DK/NA 10 13 5 8 12 11
34. Over the next year or so, do you think this new law will have a major impact on lowering property insurance rates in Florida, a minor impact, or no impact on lowering property insurance rates?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Major impact 11% 9% 12% 11% 11% 11% 7% Minor impact 51 55 50 49 52 49 55 No impact 27 26 26 31 30 25 20 DK/NA 11 10 13 9 7 15 18 Home North/ Owners PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Major impact 10% 11% 8% 9% 9% 15% Minor impact 52 52 49 49 51 52 No impact 30 23 33 29 23 26 DK/NA 8 14 10 12 18 7
35. Who do you think will benefit more from this new law - insurance companies or property owners?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Insurance companies 65% 60% 70% 66% 63% 67% 64% Property owners 23 27 19 24 27 20 22 VOL (NEITHER) 2 2 1 2 3 1 2 DK/NA 10 11 9 8 8 11 13 Home North/ Owners PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Insurance companies 68% 62% 69% 67% 61% 65% Property owners 22 24 24 21 21 25 VOL (NEITHER) 2 2 1 1 6 1 DK/NA 8 12 7 11 13 8
36. Have you heard or read anything about a website called ShopAndCompareRates.com run by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation to help homeowners compare insurance costs?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Yes 20% 21% 17% 24% 21% 19% 24% No 79 79 80 76 77 80 76 DK/NA 1 - 3 - 1 1 - Home North/ Owners PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Yes 22% 22% 22% 16% 27% 19% No 78 78 76 84 73 79 DK/NA - - 2 1 - 1
36a. (If heard or read) Have you visited this website or not?
Tot Yes 16% No 83 DK/NA -
37. As you may know, the state also passed a new property tax law cutting property taxes this year by an average of about 3 to 9 percent depending on where you live. Is this year's cut in property taxes too large, not large enough, or about right?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Too large 8% 7% 13% 4% 9% 8% 8% Not large enough 47 48 44 49 49 45 48 About right 29 32 26 31 30 28 28 DK/NA 16 13 18 16 12 19 16 Home North/ Owners PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Too large 7% 11% 8% 7% 2% 10% Not large enough 48 39 52 43 46 52 About right 31 32 25 32 30 26 DK/NA 15 18 16 17 22 12 HOME OWNERS........................ YEARS IN CURRENT HOME PlanToMove <5yrs 5-10 >10yrs InFewYears Too large 6% 6% 8% 6% Not large enough 52 50 43 55 About right 30 30 32 28 DK/NA 12 14 18 11
38. Voters will have the the option in a referendum next January to vote on a constitutional amendment creating additional property tax cuts in the form of a "Super Homestead Exemption". How much have you heard or read about this proposal? A lot, some, only a little or nothing at all?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl A lot 14% 17% 11% 15% 18% 11% 11% Some 26 25 25 30 24 28 31 Only a little 30 30 29 31 32 28 28 Nothing at all 27 24 32 24 25 30 26 DK/NA 2 3 3 - 2 3 4 Home North/ Owners PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE A lot 17% 8% 14% 12% 16% 21% Some 29 21 30 22 30 30 Only a little 30 29 30 34 24 28 Nothing at all 23 41 23 29 30 19 DK/NA 2 1 3 3 - 2 HOME OWNERS........................ YEARS IN CURRENT HOME PlanToMove <5yrs 5-10 >10yrs InFewYears A lot 16% 15% 19% 15% Some 29 30 29 32 Only a little 26 34 29 28 Nothing at all 27 21 21 24 DK/NA 2 - 2 1
39. In general do you support or oppose the Super Homestead Exemption plan?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Support 57% 63% 53% 54% 57% 56% 60% Oppose 17 12 19 19 21 13 13 DK/NA 26 24 28 27 22 30 27 Home North/ Owners PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Support 60% 53% 61% 57% 52% 57% Oppose 18 19 18 16 14 16 DK/NA 22 28 21 27 34 26 HOME OWNERS........................ YEARS IN CURRENT HOME PlanToMove <5yrs 5-10 >10yrs InFewYears Support 63% 57% 60% 60% Oppose 12 23 19 16 DK/NA 24 20 21 23
40. At this point in time what comes closest to your view about the details of this plan -- A) It has been clearly explained. B) It could use a little more explanation. OR C) It could use a lot more explanation.
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl A) Clearly explained 5% 4% 6% 3% 5% 5% 5% B) Needs a little more 21 23 19 21 20 21 25 C) Needs a lot more 67 68 66 71 68 67 62 DK/NA 7 6 9 5 7 7 9 Home North/ Owners PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE A) Clearly explained 5% 3% 7% 3% 10% 5% B) Needs a little more 21 19 22 19 14 25 C) Needs a lot more 71 70 66 71 60 66 DK/NA 4 8 5 7 16 4 HOME OWNERS........................ YEARS IN CURRENT HOME PlanToMove <5yrs 5-10 >10yrs InFewYears A) Clearly explained 6% 2% 5% 5% B) Needs a little more 23 22 19 24 C) Needs a lot more 68 70 73 67 DK/NA 3 5 4 4
41. Under the Super Homestead Exemption plan homeowners would not have to pay taxes on 75 percent of the first $200,000 of their home's value and would not have to pay taxes on 15 percent of the next $300,000 of their home's value. In general, do you think this proposed tax cut is too large, not large enough, or about right?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Too large 20% 18% 24% 19% 23% 18% 20% Not large enough 13 13 15 11 16 11 13 About right 52 56 45 57 52 51 53 DK/NA 15 13 17 14 9 20 14 Home North/ Owners PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Too large 21% 23% 24% 20% 16% 18% Not large enough 12 11 9 14 15 16 About right 53 51 54 52 55 49 DK/NA 14 15 14 14 15 17 HOME OWNERS........................ YEARS IN CURRENT HOME PlanToMove <5yrs 5-10 >10yrs InFewYears Too large 13% 23% 26% 12% Not large enough 12 11 12 16 About right 62 49 49 59 DK/NA 12 16 14 12
42. Some local government's officials, government employee unions and others are opposed to this plan saying that the proposal would deprive local governments of tax revenue they need to provide necessary services to residents. Which of the following comes closer to your view -- A) That is a valid concern and a reason to vote against the proposal. B) This is a valid concern but not a reason to vote against the proposal. OR C) This is not a valid concern.
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl A) Valid/Vote against 21% 20% 24% 20% 23% 20% 19% B) Valid/Not vote agnst 40 43 38 40 35 44 46 C) Not valid concern 28 28 24 32 37 20 24 DK/NA 11 9 15 8 5 16 11 Home North/ Owners PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE A) Valid/Vote against 21% 25% 19% 22% 17% 20% B) Valid/Not vote agnst 39 36 38 43 49 39 C) Not valid concern 29 23 32 25 26 31 DK/NA 11 16 11 10 7 10 HOME OWNERS........................ YEARS IN CURRENT HOME PlanToMove <5yrs 5-10 >10yrs InFewYears A) Valid/Vote against 14% 25% 24% 19% B) Valid/Not vote agnst 46 39 34 42 C) Not valid concern 32 26 29 31 DK/NA 7 10 13 8