New Jersey (NJ) Poll * November 24, 2009 * New Jersey Voters Say 3-1 Free - Quinnipiac University

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November 24, 2009 - New Jersey Voters Say 3-1 Freeze State Worker Wages, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Voters Back Layoffs Almost 2-1

Word format New Jersey voters support 75 - 21 percent, including 70 - 26 percent among Democrats, a wage freeze for state workers to help balance the state budget, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today, three weeks after Christopher Christie toppled Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine. A wage freeze wins 75 - 20 percent support from independent voters and 79 - 16 percent backing from Republicans. Voters in union households back a wage freeze 62 - 33 percent.
Garden State voters also support 61 - 33 percent layoffs for state workers to help balance the state budget, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. Support ranges from 50 - 43 percent among Democrats to 65 - 29 percent among independent voters to 69 - 25 percent among Republicans. Voters in union households split 49 - 48 percent.
A total of 97 percent of New Jersey voters say the state's budget problems are "very serious" or "somewhat serious."
Cut programs and services to balance the budget, 68 percent say, as 23 percent say raise taxes instead. Service cuts win 46 - 43 percent support from Democrats, 73 - 18 percent backing from independent voters and 86 - 8 percent backing from Republicans.
"If Governor-elect Christopher Christie wants to consider a wage freeze, New Jersey voters, even Democrats and union households, say send out for ice," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
"And if he's thinking about swinging the ax, voters will help sharpen it.
"Garden State voters agree with their new Governor - overwhelmingly - that the state's in a fiscal mess. And they agree he should use the ax, not the tax, to solve the problem."
A total of 73 percent of New Jersey voters are "somewhat dissatisfied" or "very dissatisfied" with the way things are going in the state, the worst satisfaction rate ever measured in the Garden State. And incumbents are paying the price of this dissatisfaction, several with the lowest job approvals ever measured, as New Jersey voters:
Approve 51 - 42 percent of President Barack Obama, a new low; Disapprove 59 - 31 percent of Gov. Corzine, his lowest ever as he walks out the door; Disapprove 65 - 21 of the State Legislature as it begins a new term; Split 40 - 41 percent in their approval of U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, his worst ever; Split 36 - 37 percent on U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez.
While voters were not asked a job approval rating for Governor-elect Christie, he gets a mixed 36 - 25 percent favorability rating, with 37 percent who don't know enough about him to form an opinion.
The top target for budget cuts is economic development, 41 percent of voters say, followed by 30 percent for social services, 11 percent for education and 7 percent for health care.
If taxes must be raised, start with tolls, 30 percent say, followed by 28 percent for raising sales taxes, 15 percent for gas taxes and 13 percent for income taxes.
Voters give conflicting messages on other budget measures: 60 percent say keep state aid to local government and schools the same, as 20 percent say increase it and 16 percent say cut it; 45 percent say keep tax rebates the same, as 29 percent say increase them and 21 percent say cut; 62 - 37 percent oppose hiking the gas tax for road and transit improvements.
New Jersey voters oppose school vouchers 54 - 43 percent and oppose expanding charter schools 55 - 38 percent, but they support 51 - 45 percent expanding state-funded early childhood education. Republican voters support vouchers 52 - 45 percent and oppose expanding charters 53 - 41 percent.
"Christie backs vouchers and charter schools, but voters don't. Even Republicans are lukewarm on vouchers and opposed to expanding charter schools," Carroll said.
From November 17 - 22, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,615 New Jersey voters, with a margin of error of +/- 2.4 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 or RSS feed- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter.
1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jon Corzine is handling his job as Governor?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 31% 6% 60% 26% 28% 34% 24% 59% Disapprove 59 88 28 64 64 55 67 23 DK/NA 10 6 12 10 9 11 8 18 Union HvKids Philly Hshlds PubSch Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 37% 36% 52% 32% 23% 30% 22% Disapprove 55 54 35 57 71 59 71 DK/NA 8 10 13 11 6 11 7
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jon Corzine is handling his job as Governor?
APPROVE.... DIS... High Low High Nov 24 Jun 10 May 20 Apr 22 Apr 18 Nov 24 Nov 24 2009 2009 2009 2009 2007 2009 2009 Approve 31 36 38 37 51 31 31 Disapprove 59 56 53 54 36 59 59 DK/NA 10 9 9 8 13 10 10
2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 21% 10% 36% 17% 20% 22% 16% 33% Disapprove 65 78 46 71 70 59 71 47 DK/NA 15 12 18 12 10 19 13 20 Union HvKids Philly Hshlds PubSch Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Approve 24% 20% 39% 20% 13% 25% 14% Disapprove 65 73 52 62 77 63 69 DK/NA 10 8 10 18 10 13 17
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job?
APPROVE....... DIS.. High Low High Nov 24 Jun 10 May 20 Apr 22 Jan 26 Jul 14 Jul 14 2009 2009 2009 2009 2005 2006 2006 Approve 21 28 28 29 44 20 20 Disapprove 65 56 55 57 31 71 71 DK/NA 15 16 17 14 25 10 10
3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Frank Lautenberg is handling his job as United States Senator?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 40% 20% 60% 37% 37% 42% 36% 66% Disapprove 41 58 22 44 45 37 47 15 DK/NA 20 22 18 18 18 21 17 19
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Frank Lautenberg is handling his job as United States Senator? (*High approve also 55% Sep 1999 & Jul 1999)
APPROVE....... DIS... High Low High Nov 24 Jun 10 May 20 Apr 22 Jul 27 Feb 20 Nov 24 2009 2009 2009 2009 2000* 2008 2009 Approve 40 44 46 47 55 39 40 Disapprove 41 36 37 38 22 31 41 DK/NA 20 19 18 15 23 29 20
4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Robert Menendez is handling his job as United States Senator?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 36% 14% 60% 34% 36% 37% 30% 58% Disapprove 37 55 18 39 42 32 42 14 DK/NA 27 31 22 27 23 31 27 29
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Robert Menendez is handling his job as United States Senator?
APPROVE....... DIS.. High Low High Nov 24 Jun 10 May 20 Apr 22 Feb 4 Feb 20 Jul 9 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2008 2007 Approve 36 40 41 41 42 30 31 Disapprove 37 31 32 32 30 31 39 DK/NA 27 28 27 26 28 39 31
5. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 51% 17% 86% 47% 46% 57% 42% 93% Disapprove 42 79 10 43 46 38 52 3 DK/NA 7 5 4 10 8 5 6 5
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President?
APPROVE....... DIS... High Low High Nov 24 Aug 12 Jun 10 May 20 Jun 10 Nov 24 Nov 24 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 Approve 51 56 68 67 68 51 51 Disapprove 42 39 25 27 25 42 42 DK/NA 7 5 7 6 7 7 7
6. Is your opinion of - Christopher Christie favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Favorable 36% 64% 17% 33% 39% 34% 40% 22% Unfavorable 25 6 41 25 21 29 24 33 Hvn't hrd enough 37 28 40 39 38 36 33 44 REFUSED 2 2 2 2 3 2 3 1 Union HvKids Philly Hshlds PubSch Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Favorable 29% 40% 34% 35% 44% 28% 39% Unfavorable 39 28 33 23 22 29 22 Hvn't hrd enough 29 28 32 39 32 40 35 REFUSED 2 4 1 2 2 3 3
TREND: Is your opinion of - Christopher Christie favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? (*High also 36% Jun 2009)
FAVORABLE..... High Low Nov 24 Jun 10 May 20 Apr 22 Mar 12 Nov 24 Aug 12 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2008 Favorable 36 36 33 31 31 36 21 Unfavorable 25 16 11 11 7 25 7 Hvn't hrd enough 37 46 54 56 61 37 69 REFUSED 2 2 2 1 2 2 2
7. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in New Jersey today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Very satisfied 1% 1% 2% - 2% 1% 1% - Smwht satisfied 24 9 38 24 23 25 18 49 Smwht dissatisfied 31 30 36 29 29 34 31 28 Very dissatisfied 42 58 22 46 45 39 48 19 DK/NA 1 1 2 - 1 1 1 3
TREND: In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in New Jersey today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? (*High also 71% Feb 1999)
VERY+SMWHT.... High Low Nov 24 Jul 15 Jun 10 May 20 Apr 22 Dec 26 Nov 24 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2000* 2009 Very satisfied 1 3 3 2 2 10 1 Smwht satisfied 24 30 29 33 33 61 24 Smwht dissatisfied 31 33 34 31 29 21 31 Very dissatisfied 42 33 33 32 35 7 42 DK/NA 1 1 1 2 1 1 1
8. Do you think Governor-elect Christie and the state legislature will be able to work together to solve the state's problems?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 49% 67% 38% 47% 46% 51% 48% 47% No 37 23 44 38 42 32 38 33 DK/NA 15 10 18 15 12 17 13 20
9. How serious do you think New Jersey's budget problems are - very serious, somewhat serious, not too serious, or not at all serious?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Very serious 83% 87% 73% 89% 83% 83% 86% 67% Smwht serious 14 10 22 10 13 14 13 22 Not too serious 1 2 2 - 1 2 1 7 Not at all serious - - - - 1 - - - DK/NA 2 - 3 1 2 1 1 4
TREND: How serious do you think New Jersey's budget problems are - very serious, somewhat serious, not too serious, or not at all serious?
VERY+SMWHT.... High Low Nov 24 Aug 12 Jun 11 Jun 16 Apr 26 Nov 24 Dec 11 2009 2008 2008 2006 2006 2009 2002 Very serious 83 67 66 58 56 83 35 Somewhat serious 14 28 29 34 35 14 51 Not too serious 1 2 2 4 5 1 10 Not at all serious - - 1 1 1 - 1 DK/NA 2 3 2 3 3 2 3
10. To balance the state budget, if you had to choose, would you prefer - raising taxes or cutting government programs and services?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Raising taxes 23% 8% 43% 18% 18% 27% 17% 48% Cutting services 68 86 46 73 73 63 74 40 DK/NA 9 6 11 9 9 10 8 12
TREND: To balance the state budget, if you had to choose, would you prefer raising taxes or cutting government programs and services?
Nov 24 Mar 16 Jan 26 Apr 2 Dec 12 2009 2006 2006 2003 2002 Raising taxes 23 29 28 32 28 Cutting services 68 58 57 54 61 DK/NA 9 13 16 14 12
11. If it is necessary to raise new revenues, which of the following would be your first choice to raise - tolls, gas taxes, income taxes or sales taxes?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Tolls 30% 31% 31% 32% 25% 35% 29% 27% Gas taxes 15 11 15 18 18 11 17 10 Income taxes 13 8 15 14 14 12 13 16 Sales taxes 28 32 29 26 27 29 27 34 DK/NA 14 19 10 11 15 12 14 14 Union HvKids Philly Hshlds PubSch Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Tolls 36% 30% 36% 26% 34% 33% 29% Gas taxes 15 15 15 13 16 14 16 Income taxes 9 14 16 12 10 15 13 Sales taxes 31 29 20 36 25 24 28 DK/NA 8 12 13 13 15 14 14
TREND: If it is necessary to raise new revenues, which of the following would be your first choice to raise - tolls, gas taxes, income taxes, or sales taxes?
Nov 24 Feb 20 2009 2008 Tolls 30 23 Gas taxes 15 13 Income taxes 13 13 Sales taxes 28 31 DK/NA 14 20
12. To balance the state budget, if you had to choose, where do you think state spending should be decreased - health care, education, economic development, or social services?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Health care 7% 8% 6% 7% 7% 6% 5% 14% Education 11 15 8 11 12 11 12 7 Economic dev 41 31 56 36 35 47 38 47 Social services 30 37 20 34 36 25 33 21 DK/NA 11 10 11 11 10 12 12 11 Union HvKids Philly Hshlds PubSch Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Health care 5% 11% 7% 7% 7% 6% 6% Education 8 7 10 11 14 8 13 Economic dev 44 44 48 40 39 39 39 Social services 34 34 27 29 32 35 29 DK/NA 9 5 9 13 8 12 12
13. To help balance the state budget do you support or oppose - layoffs or furloughs for state employees?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Support 61% 69% 50% 65% 67% 56% 66% 48% Oppose 33 25 43 29 29 37 28 45 DK/NA 6 6 7 5 4 7 6 7 Union HvKids Philly Hshlds PubSch Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Support 49% 63% 55% 60% 71% 59% 61% Oppose 48 33 38 34 25 37 29 DK/NA 3 4 7 5 4 4 9
14. To help balance the state budget, do you support or oppose a wage freeze for state workers?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Support 75% 79% 70% 75% 78% 72% 80% 47% Oppose 21 16 26 20 19 23 16 45 DK/NA 4 5 3 5 3 5 4 8 Union HvKids Philly Hshlds PubSch Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Support 62% 70% 70% 75% 82% 69% 77% Oppose 33 27 27 21 16 27 14 DK/NA 5 2 3 4 2 3 8
15. Do you think state aid to local governments and school districts should be increased, decreased, or kept about the same?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Increased 20% 15% 28% 18% 17% 23% 18% 38% Decreased 16 26 6 18 22 10 17 6 Kept the same 60 57 62 60 57 63 61 50 DK/NA 4 2 4 4 4 4 3 7 Union HvKids Philly Hshlds PubSch Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Increased 25% 23% 31% 21% 10% 25% 17% Decreased 14 14 9 15 21 13 22 Kept the same 59 60 59 59 66 60 56 DK/NA 1 3 1 6 2 2 4
16. Do you think state aid to your local government and your school district should be increased, decreased, or kept about the same?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Increased 21% 17% 25% 21% 18% 23% 19% 30% Decreased 15 23 8 16 20 11 16 10 Kept the same 62 58 65 61 59 64 63 57 DK/NA 2 2 2 2 3 2 2 4 Union HvKids Philly Hshlds PubSch Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Increased 22% 24% 33% 21% 12% 23% 16% Decreased 16 13 7 16 20 12 17 Kept the same 61 62 58 58 67 62 65 DK/NA - 1 2 4 - 2 2
17. Do you think state aid to urban local governments and urban school districts should be increased, decreased, or kept about the same?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Increased 24% 8% 36% 25% 21% 27% 20% 38% Decreased 21 30 10 24 27 15 24 4 Kept the same 51 57 51 48 49 53 52 51 DK/NA 4 5 3 4 4 5 4 7 Union HvKids Philly Hshlds PubSch Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Increased 27% 26% 36% 24% 19% 31% 13% Decreased 22 23 11 18 32 19 25 Kept the same 51 49 52 53 48 47 52 DK/NA 1 2 2 5 - 3 10
18. Do you think tax rebates should be increased, decreased, or kept about the same?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Increased 29% 28% 29% 27% 29% 28% 24% 53% Decreased 21 22 16 27 26 17 24 8 Kept the same 45 46 52 41 40 50 48 37 DK/NA 5 4 2 6 4 5 5 2 Union HvKids Philly Hshlds PubSch Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Increased 21% 33% 33% 33% 23% 26% 23% Decreased 21 23 14 23 25 21 19 Kept the same 55 41 51 39 49 49 46 DK/NA 4 2 3 4 2 3 11
19. To help finance road improvements and mass transportation, would you support or oppose an increase in the gasoline tax?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Support 37% 31% 41% 38% 40% 34% 38% 35% Oppose 62 68 57 59 58 65 60 62 DK/NA 2 1 2 2 2 1 2 3 Union HvKids Philly Hshlds PubSch Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Support 35% 36% 41% 38% 37% 33% 35% Oppose 65 63 58 60 62 66 63 DK/NA - 1 1 2 2 1 2
TREND: To help finance road improvements and mass transportation, would you support or oppose an increase in the gasoline tax? (*Jan 2005 question did not include "and mass transportation")
Nov 24 Dec 11 Mar 16 Jan 26 Jan 27 2009 2007 2006 2006 2005 Support 37 24 31 27 39 Oppose 62 74 67 69 57 DK/NA 2 2 3 3 4
20. One recommendation to raise the money needed to fund a cut in property taxes is to merge neighboring municipal governments and school districts. Would you support or oppose merging school districts or governments in the county in which you live if it meant lowering your property taxes?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Support 73% 70% 72% 76% 78% 68% 75% 68% Oppose 22 24 23 20 17 27 22 21 DK/NA 5 5 5 4 5 5 3 11 Union HvKids Philly Hshlds PubSch Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Support 75% 67% 70% 72% 75% 76% 72% Oppose 22 29 29 20 22 20 22 DK/NA 4 4 1 8 3 4 6
TREND: One recommendation to raise the money needed to fund a cut in property taxes is to merge neighboring municipal governments and school districts. Would you support or oppose merging school districts or governments in the county in which you live if it meant lowering your property taxes?
Nov 24 Dec 6 2009 2006 Support 73 61 Oppose 22 31 DK/NA 5 8
21. Do you favor or oppose providing parents with tax money in the form of school vouchers to help pay for their children to attend private or religious schools?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Favor 43% 52% 36% 41% 46% 40% 40% 51% Oppose 54 45 59 58 52 56 57 45 DK/NA 3 4 5 1 2 4 2 5 Union HvKids Philly Hshlds PubSch Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Favor 35% 43% 43% 41% 45% 43% 45% Oppose 63 56 54 55 54 55 51 DK/NA 2 1 3 4 1 2 3
TREND: Do you favor or oppose providing parents with tax money in the form of school vouchers to help pay for their children to attend private or religious schools?
Nov 24 Jul 3 2009 2001 Favor 43 50 Oppose 54 43 DK/NA 3 7
22. As you may know, charter schools are operated by private or non-profit organizations. The schools are paid for with tax dollars. Do you think there should be an expansion of charter schools in New Jersey or not?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 38% 41% 37% 39% 39% 38% 32% 61% No 55 53 56 55 55 55 61 30 DK/NA 7 7 7 6 6 7 7 10 Union HvKids Philly Hshlds PubSch Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Yes 33% 38% 51% 38% 39% 34% 33% No 65 58 43 55 56 61 58 DK/NA 3 4 7 7 5 6 8
23. Do you think there should be an expansion of state funded early childhood education in New Jersey or not?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 51% 33% 71% 48% 47% 54% 41% 86% No 45 63 25 48 47 43 55 11 DK/NA 4 4 4 3 5 3 4 3 Union HvKids Philly Hshlds PubSch Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Yes 55% 57% 73% 52% 36% 50% 44% No 43 40 25 43 60 47 52 DK/NA 2 3 2 5 5 3 4