Pennsylvania (PA) Poll * February 11, 2009 * Pennsylvania Voters Oppose Cou - Quinnipiac University

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February 11, 2009 - Pennsylvania Voters Oppose County Sales Tax Hike 2-1, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Back Rendell On Cigarette Tax, Video Poker

Word format Seven out of 10 Pennsylvania voters oppose a proposal by Gov. Ed Rendell to allow counties to raise the sales tax by one percent and keep the revenue for local government, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
Opposition statewide is 69 - 28 percent and is consistent in Philadelphia and Allegheny County, where the sales tax could rise to eight percent, and in the rest of the state, where sales taxes could rise to seven percent. Opposition to the measure is 72 - 25 percent among Republicans, 62 - 34 percent among Democrats and 73 - 25 percent among independent voters, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN uh-pe-ack) University poll finds.
Voters do support 67 - 28 percent Gov. Rendell's proposal to increase cigarette taxes 10 cents a pack, with solid support among every group. And voters back 62 - 34 percent Rendell's plan to legalize video poker machines in bars, using the money for tuition assistance at state and community colleges. Again, there is support across the political spectrum.
Despite bleak economic news and tough budget decisions, Rendell gets an overall 47 - 38 percent job approval rating. Republicans disapprove 51 - 31 percent but the Governor is backed 63 - 25 percent among Democrats and 44 - 41 percent among independent voters.
Voters split 42 - 43 percent in their approval of Rendell's handling of the state budget and give him a negative 42 - 47 percent approval for the way he is handling the economy.
"Pennsylvania's weak economy takes a toll on Gov. Rendell, who gets a negative score for the way he is handling the economy," said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
"But voters split right down the middle in their approval of the way Rendell is handling his new budget," Richards added.
"On his specific proposals, they reject overwhelmingly the idea of giving local governments the right to raise the sales tax while embracing his proposals for a cigarette tax and allowing state taxed video poker machines in bars and private clubs. His plan for a big cut in state jobs also gets a sharply divided opinion."
Voters narrowly oppose, 47 - 44 percent the Governor's proposal to cut 2,600 state jobs, with 51 - 41 percent support from Republicans and 51 - 40 percent support from independent voters. Democrats oppose the cuts 58 - 32 percent.
Pennsylvania voters approve 56 - 30 percent of the job Sen. Arlen Specter is doing, with Democratic approval at 62 - 26 percent, higher than the Republican support of 55 - 33 percent and 49 - 35 percent backing from independent voters.
But by a narrow 43 - 40 percent margin, voters say Sen. Specter does not deserve to be reelected. Republicans split 42 - 42 percent, as do Democrats 41 - 42 percent, while independent voters say no 45 - 36 percent.
"Pennsylvania voters are sharply divided over whether Sen. Arlen Specter should be reelected next year, with Republicans almost as negative as Democrats, probably because the GOP Senator is one of only three from the party supporting President Barack Obama's Stimulus Package," Richards said.
"But Specter always has been politically controversial and has needed votes from both parties to stay in office."
From February 4 - 9, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,490 Pennsylvania voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.5 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.
1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Ed Rendell is handling his job as Governor?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 47% 31% 63% 44% 45% 49% Disapprove 38 51 25 41 43 33 DK/NA 15 19 12 15 12 18 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Approve 44% 70% 39% 66% 33% 33% 35% Disapprove 43 20 42 19 50 45 51 DK/NA 12 10 19 15 17 22 15
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 11 Nov 26 Aug 5 Feb 28 Nov 7 Feb 7 Apr 5 2009 2008 2008 2008 2007 2007 2006* Approve 47 55 54 52 53 61 46 Disapprove 38 34 37 34 36 30 37 DK/NA 15 12 9 13 11 9 17
2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 39% 33% 47% 34% 37% 40% Disapprove 42 46 34 47 49 35 DK/NA 20 20 20 19 14 25 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Approve 31% 51% 43% 44% 35% 39% 31% Disapprove 54 30 33 34 45 47 49 DK/NA 16 19 24 22 20 14 21
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job?
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Feb 11 Nov 26 Aug 5 Feb 28 Nov 7 Apr 10 Oct 5 2009 2008 2008 2008 2007 2003 2005 Approve 39 39 32 37 35 49 26 Disapprove 42 42 51 42 48 24 60 DK/NA 20 20 17 21 17 27 14
3. 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 56% 55% 62% 49% 56% 55% Disapprove 30 33 26 35 34 27 DK/NA 14 13 12 16 10 18 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Approve 49% 58% 57% 63% 52% 51% 54% Disapprove 43 32 31 25 31 36 26 DK/NA 8 9 13 12 17 12 20
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Arlen Specter is handling his job as United States Senator?
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Feb 11 Nov 26 Aug 5 Feb 28 Nov 8 Nov 26 Apr 22 2009 2008 2008 2008 2007 2008 2004 Approve 56 62 59 54 54 62 47 Disapprove 30 25 29 31 31 25 36 DK/NA 14 13 12 14 14 13 17
4. 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 54% 43% 71% 46% 53% 56% Disapprove 23 30 12 27 27 18 DK/NA 23 27 17 27 20 26 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Approve 55% 68% 59% 51% 48% 56% 50% Disapprove 25 15 23 22 20 24 25 DK/NA 20 17 18 27 32 20 25
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 11 Nov 26 Aug 5 Feb 28 Nov 8 Nov 26 Mar 28 2009 2008 2008 2008 2007 2008 2007 Approve 54 55 47 50 49 55 46 Disapprove 23 20 25 20 21 20 18 DK/NA 23 26 28 30 30 26 35
7. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in Pennsylvania today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Very satisfied 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% Smwht satisfied 46 39 53 43 46 45 Smwht dissatisfied 33 38 29 35 33 33 Very dissatisfied 17 18 14 18 17 17 DK/NA 1 2 1 1 2 1 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Very satisfied 1% 4% 2% 5% 1% - 3% Smwht satisfied 48 53 45 56 34 48 37 Smwht dissatisfied 34 26 32 29 47 29 37 Very dissatisfied 17 16 20 9 17 23 20 DK/NA - 1 1 1 1 - 3
TREND: In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in Pennsylvania today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? (*also combined sat=46% 10/05/2005)
VERY+SMWHT.... High Low Feb 11 Nov 26 Aug 5 Aug 22 May 12 Jun 5 Nov 26 2009 2008 2008 2007 2006 2002 2008* Very satisfied 3 3 4 4 5 8 3 Smwht satisfied 46 43 44 51 46 60 43 Smwht dissatisfied 33 34 32 31 28 22 34 Very dissatisifed 17 18 19 13 19 8 18 DK/NA 1 2 1 1 1 3 2
8. Looking ahead to the 2010 election for United States Senator, do you feel that Arlen Specter deserves to be reelected, or do you feel that he does not deserve to be reelected?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes/Deserves 40% 42% 41% 36% 41% 38% No/Does not 43 42 42 45 48 38 DK/NA 17 16 17 19 10 24 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Yes/Deserves 41% 38% 42% 43% 38% 32% 39% No/Does not 46 52 43 41 40 47 39 DK/NA 13 11 14 16 22 20 22
9. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Ed Rendell is handling the economy?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 42% 32% 55% 39% 42% 42% Disapprove 47 58 35 49 49 45 DK/NA 11 10 10 12 9 13 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Approve 41% 59% 35% 59% 30% 32% 33% Disapprove 53 32 48 29 59 57 56 DK/NA 6 9 17 12 11 10 12 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl College 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Approve 43% 43% 42% 42% 40% 51% 40% 48% Disapprove 44 46 47 47 49 38 49 41 DK/NA 13 11 11 11 11 11 11 11
12. Would you describe the state of Pennsylvania's economy these days as excellent, good, not so good, or poor?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Excellent - 1% - - - - Good 11 11 11 9 12 9 Not so good 50 50 47 53 53 47 Poor 38 37 41 37 34 42 DK/NA 1 - 1 1 1 1 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Excellent - 2% 2% - - - - Good 15 10 8 9 10 8 13 Not so good 50 40 44 60 49 55 47 Poor 33 49 44 30 40 37 40 DK/NA 2 - 2 1 1 - 1 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl College 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Excellent 1% - 1% 1% - - 1% - Good 8 10 12 10 12 9 11 9 Not so good 52 47 52 48 51 55 47 59 Poor 38 43 35 40 36 35 41 31 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 - 1 1
TREND: Would you describe the state of the Pennsylvania's economy these days as - excellent, good, not so good, or poor?
Exclnt+Good... High Low Feb 11 Jul 14 Jul 13 Jun 24 May 27 Jun 24 Feb 11 2009 2005 2004 2004 2004 2004 2009 Excellent - 1 1 1 1 1 - Good 11 41 41 42 38 42 11 Not so good 50 43 43 42 43 42 50 Poor 38 13 12 13 16 13 38 DK/NA 1 2 3 2 2 2 1
21. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Ed Rendell is handling the state budget?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 42% 31% 52% 39% 42% 41% Disapprove 43 52 35 48 46 41 DK/NA 15 17 13 13 12 18 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Approve 35% 61% 37% 63% 35% 29% 27% Disapprove 45 31 45 24 52 56 56 DK/NA 20 8 17 14 13 15 17
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Ed Rendell is handling the state budget?
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Feb 11 Aug 5 Aug 22 Apr 5 Jul 13 Jul 13 Apr 22 2009 2008 2007 2006 2004 2004 2004 Approve 42 40 43 35 45 45 31 Disapprove 43 47 44 45 38 38 43 DK/NA 15 13 12 19 17 17 26
22. Governor Rendell wants to increase the tax on cigarettes 10 cents a pack. Do you support or oppose this proposal?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 67% 66% 71% 68% 65% 69% Oppose 28 30 25 27 32 25 DK/NA 4 4 4 6 3 6 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Support 62% 72% 69% 76% 61% 61% 64% Oppose 32 26 31 20 31 36 30 DK/NA 7 3 1 4 8 3 6
40. Governor Rendell wants to increase the tax on cigarettes 10 cents a pack. Do you support or oppose this proposal?
Feb 11 Mar 28 2009 2007 Support 67 71 Oppose 28 24 DK/NA 4 5
23. Governor Rendell wants to legalize video poker machines in bars and private clubs and use the money generated for tuition assistance at state and community colleges in Pennsylvania. Do you support or oppose this proposal?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 62% 52% 72% 59% 62% 63% Oppose 34 45 23 38 35 33 DK/NA 4 2 4 3 3 4 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Support 68% 70% 65% 71% 48% 60% 54% Oppose 29 26 32 27 46 38 41 DK/NA 3 4 3 2 6 2 5
24. Governor Rendell wants to let counties raise the sales tax one percent and keep the revenues for local government. This would be a maximum of 7 percent sales tax statewide, except for Allegheny and Philadelphia counties which would be a maximum of 8 percent sales tax. Do you support or oppose this proposal?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 28% 25% 34% 25% 28% 29% Oppose 69 72 62 73 70 67 DK/NA 3 3 4 2 2 4 Rest of state Alghny Philly Combined Support 27% 30% 28% Oppose 69 67 69 DK/NA 4 3 3 REST OF STATE.................... NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Support 25% 31% 26% 27% 30% Oppose 73 67 71 70 67 DK/NA 2 2 3 3 4
25. Governor Rendell wants to reduce the number of state jobs by about 2,600 through layoffs and attrition. Do you support or oppose this proposal?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 44% 51% 32% 51% 53% 36% Oppose 47 41 58 40 40 54 DK/NA 9 8 9 9 7 11 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Support 54% 32% 39% 50% 40% 42% 44% Oppose 38 64 53 38 51 50 46 DK/NA 8 5 8 12 8 9 9