New Jersey (NJ) Poll * January 24, 2007 * New Jersey Voters Aren't Banki - Quinnipiac University

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January 24, 2007 - New Jersey Voters Aren't Banking On Property Tax Cuts, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Don't Sell The Turnpike, Voters Say

Meaningful property tax cuts this year are "not too likely" or "not likely at all," 67 percent of New Jersey voters say in a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Only 30 percent say property tax cuts are "very likely" or "somewhat likely."
A proposed 20 percent cut in property taxes is the "right amount," 49 percent of New Jersey voters tell the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll, while 29 percent say it is "too little," and 10 percent say it is "too much."
Voters give New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine a split 42 - 42 percent overall approval and a negative 30 - 51 percent approval on his handling of the property tax issue. The State Legislature gets a negative 27 - 54 percent overall approval and an even bigger negative 16 - 62 percent approval for its handling of the property tax issue.
"New Jersey voters are clearly skeptical that Gov. Corzine and the State Legislature will provide meaningful property tax relief this year. Despite apparent agreement on a plan, only about a third of voters say property tax reform is likely this year and a majority disapprove of the way both the Governor and Legislature are handling the issue," said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
"Nearly a majority say the 20 percent property tax credit being discussed is about the right amount."
New Jersey voters support 54 - 34 percent a plan to cap property tax hikes at 4 percent per year. Among those who support the 4 percent cap, support drops to 53 - 41 percent if it leads to layoffs and cuts in services such as public safety and trash collection.
Voters split 46 - 46 percent on requiring public employees to pay more into their health insurance plans and to accept a reduction in retirement benefits.
Voters oppose 53 - 34 percent a proposal to sell or lease the New Jersey Turnpike or the Garden State Parkway as a way to reduce state debt and provide money for property tax relief.
"Garden State motorists have little love for the Turnpike or the Parkway, but they want to keep these famous - or infamous - toll roads in public hands," Richards said.
Civil Unions
Voters support 54 - 41 percent New Jersey's new law establishing civil unions for same sex couples. By a narrow 49 - 45 percent margin, voters do not think mayors, county clerks and judges should be legally required to perform civil union ceremonies. And voters agree 75 - 18 percent that religious officials who perform marriages should not be required to perform civil union ceremonies.
Death Penalty
Voters oppose 53 - 41 percent a proposal to eliminate the death penalty in New Jersey.
When asked which penalty they prefer for people convicted of murder, 51 percent choose life with no chance of parole and 41 percent choose the death penalty.
"Voters are split on the death penalty. While a majority oppose a commission report to repeal the death penalty, there is narrow preference for life in prison without parole instead of death as the maximum sentence for convicted murders," Richards said.
From January 16 - 22, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,310 New Jersey voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.7 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio and nationally as a public service and for research. For more data -- www.quinnipiac.edu and click on Institutes and Centers, or call (203) 582-5201.
14. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jon Corzine is handling his job as Governor?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 42% 24% 55% 44% 43% 41% Disapprove 42 64 26 40 42 41 DK/NA 16 13 18 16 14 18 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 53% 45% 36% 39% 37% Disapprove 24 41 48 46 46 DK/NA 23 14 16 15 17
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jon Corzine is handling his job as Governor?
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Jan 24 Dec 7 Sep 20 Jul 14 Jun 16 Dec 7 Apr 26 2007 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 Approve 42 49 45 44 39 49 35 Disapprove 42 32 36 43 41 32 42 DK/NA 16 19 19 13 20 19 23
15. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 27% 20% 38% 23% 26% 28% Disapprove 54 67 40 59 59 50 DK/NA 19 13 22 18 15 22 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 33% 30% 26% 25% 20% Disapprove 47 50 57 59 61 DK/NA 21 20 17 17 19
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job?
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Jan 24 Dec 7 Sep 20 Jul 14 Jun 16 Jan 26 Jul 14 2007 2006 2006 2006 2006 2005 2006 Approve 27 31 27 20 27 44 20 Disapprove 54 50 55 71 53 31 71 DK/NA 19 19 18 10 19 25 10
23. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Governor Corzine is handling property taxes?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 30% 18% 44% 29% 32% 28% Disapprove 51 69 35 53 53 50 DK/NA 19 13 22 17 15 22 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 39% 32% 29% 26% 22% Disapprove 43 47 54 51 62 DK/NA 18 20 17 22 15
24. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling property taxes?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 16% 10% 23% 17% 16% 16% Disapprove 62 75 50 63 68 56 DK/NA 22 14 27 20 16 28 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 22% 16% 17% 18% 10% Disapprove 51 61 66 60 69 DK/NA 27 23 17 21 21
25. How likely do you think it is that meaningful property tax reduction will be approved in New Jersey this year? Very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, or not likely at all?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Very likely 4% 2% 6% 4% 4% 4% Smwht likely 26 19 32 25 24 27 Not too likely 33 32 34 35 30 36 Not likely at all 34 44 25 34 39 29 DK/NA 3 3 3 2 2 4 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Very likely 3% 4% 2% 7% 4% Smwht likely 35 28 23 22 21 Not too likely 31 30 37 34 37 Not likely at all 28 34 34 34 37 DK/NA 3 3 3 4 2
26. The property tax plan now being considered would eliminate property tax rebates for all but senior citizens and in return give a property tax credit of up to 20 percent to most New Jersey homeowners. Do you think a 20 percent property tax cut is too much, too little, or about the right amount?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Too much 10% 8% 13% 9% 11% 9% Too little 29 33 21 31 29 28 Right amount 49 48 52 49 51 46 DK/NA 12 11 14 11 8 16 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Too much 15% 10% 10% 7% 10% Too little 24 25 31 34 32 Right amount 46 53 50 45 47 DK/NA 16 12 8 14 11
27. The New Jersey State Legislature is proposing a four percent annual cap on property tax increases. Do you support or oppose a four percent annual property tax cap?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 54% 55% 52% 58% 60% 50% Oppose 34 36 34 31 32 35 DK/NA 12 9 14 11 9 15 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Support 42% 54% 56% 60% 56% Oppose 41 33 38 26 34 DK/NA 17 13 6 14 10
28. (If support q27) Some mayors and other officials say that a four percent cap would lead to lay offs and cuts in services like public safety and trash pick ups. Would you support or oppose a 4 percent cap if it led to these cuts?
IF SUPPORT Q27. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 53% 60% 45% 57% 60% 45% Oppose 41 35 49 36 33 49 DK/NA 6 4 6 7 6 6 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Support 58% 58% 48% 53% 45% Oppose 35 37 43 42 47 DK/NA 7 4 8 5 8
29. Do you support or oppose selling or leasing the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway as a way of reducing New Jersey's debt and possibly providing money for tax relief?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 34% 30% 42% 31% 36% 33% Oppose 53 58 47 57 56 51 DK/NA 12 11 11 12 7 17 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Support 40% 29% 30% 41% 36% Oppose 46 57 59 46 55 DK/NA 14 14 11 13 9
30. As part of the overall plan to cut budget expenses in New Jersey, do you support or oppose requiring public employees to pay a higher proportion of their health insurance plans and accept a reduction in future retirement benefits?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 46% 60% 33% 50% 52% 40% Oppose 46 34 59 42 42 49 DK/NA 8 5 8 8 6 11 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Support 29% 49% 57% 40% 48% Oppose 64 41 35 50 47 DK/NA 7 10 8 10 5
31. Do you approve or disapprove of New Jersey's new law establishing civil unions for same sex couples, giving them the same legal rights as married couples?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 54% 37% 58% 61% 49% 58% Disapprove 41 59 36 34 45 38 DK/NA 5 4 6 5 6 5 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 63% 55% 57% 42% 54% Disapprove 33 41 35 51 42 DK/NA 4 4 8 7 5
32. The attorney general stated that mayors, county clerks, and judges who perform marriages must also perform civil union ceremonies for same sex couples. Do you support or oppose requiring these public officials to also perform civil union ceremonies?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 45% 30% 52% 49% 44% 46% Oppose 49 66 42 45 51 47 DK/NA 6 4 6 6 5 7 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Support 52% 46% 45% 41% 44% Oppose 40 48 47 52 54 DK/NA 8 7 8 8 3
33. The attorney general stated that ministers and other religious officials who perform marriages are not required to perform civil union ceremonies for same sex couples. Do you support or oppose not requiring these religious officials to perform civil union ceremonies?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 75% 83% 70% 76% 79% 72% Oppose 18 13 24 17 16 20 DK/NA 7 4 7 7 5 8 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Support 70% 76% 77% 72% 77% Oppose 24 17 15 18 19 DK/NA 6 6 7 10 4
34. As you may know there is a proposal in New Jersey to eliminate the death penalty. Do you support or oppose eliminating the death penalty in New Jersey?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 41% 28% 49% 43% 37% 44% Oppose 53 66 44 50 57 49 DK/NA 7 6 7 7 6 7 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Support 49% 45% 34% 38% 36% Oppose 41 50 61 54 59 DK/NA 10 6 6 8 5
35. Which punishment do you prefer for people convicted of murder: the death penalty or life in prison with no chance of parole?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Death penalty 41% 57% 31% 40% 48% 35% Life/No parole 51 38 60 52 46 55 DK/NA 8 6 9 8 7 9 Philly Urban SubUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Death penalty 16% 41% 46% 50% 48% Life/No parole 75 52 44 43 45 DK/NA 9 7 10 8 7
TREND: Which punishment do you prefer for people convicted of murder: the death penalty or life in prison with no chance of parole?
Jan 24 Mar 18 2007 2003 Death penalty 41 49 Life/No parole 51 45 DK/NA 8 5