The millionaire's tax might not have made it into the budget, but 71 percent of New Yorkers polled by the Siena Research Institute want it to be adopted in the future.
“Now that the proposal to continue the personal income tax surcharge on the wealthiest New Yorkers is a true millionaire’s tax, support has continued to grow, with 71 percent agreeing with Assembly Democrats that the surcharge on millionaires should be continued,” said Siena Pollster Steve Greenberg. “A majority of every demographic group – including Republicans,conservatives and those earning more than $100,000 a year – supports a higher tax for millionaires.”
This should create an interesting battle going forward, as the Senate may be forced to deal with this issue because it was introduced by Republican Maverick John Bonacic. It is not clear what sort of support he has from his own caucus, with Senators George Maziarz and Roy McDonald possibly on his side, but he would most likely have the 26 Democrats and maybe even the 4 Independent Senate Democrats on his side.
Going hand in hand with this proposal is a strong opposition to cuts in education that have been advanced by the governor, with only 21 percent endorsing his plan. These cuts have since been softened, with over $200 million restored in education aid and New Yorkers seem to like this.
Voters Want the Legislature to Restore Even More Money to Education than They Have Proposed "One-quarter of voters want to see the Legislature add back a few hundred million dollars, as each house did in its one-house budget resolutions," said Greenberg. "And 50 percent of voters want to see the Legislature restore even more money for education.”
If there are cuts, though, there are likely to be layoffs, and 78 percent of New Yorkers polled want them to be based on performance and not seniority.Greenberg said, “Voters are clear and strong in their belief that LIFO must go despite teachers’ union support and any concern over arbitrary firings.
The next big fight, having been left out of the budget, will be on the property tax cap and rent regulation, which have each passed one house. These two issues are both very important to very specific constituents, with upstate wanting a property tax cap and constituents in the city demanding rent regulation.
Support for the property tax cap is at 73 percent and rent regulation is supported by 63 percent of those polled.
Much less important is the call for ethics reform from New York voters, who believe their legislators are basically corrupt, but want them to work on passing a budget first and foremost.
“Only 34 percent of voters think that a new ethics reform law is such a priority that it needs to be enacted as quickly as possible. The majority, 61 percent, says that while it’s important it can wait until after the budget. At least 57 percent of voters from every region, party and ideology agree that it can wait,” Greenberg said.
“At the same time, only a small majority of voters, 55 percent, believe that ‘most state legislators are honest, working hard for their constituents.’ But more than two in five voters, 42 percent, believe that ‘most legislators are corrupt, it’s surprising more haven’t been caught.’"
Showing posts with label Siena Poll. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Siena Poll. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
New Yorkers on an On-Time Budget and the Players
With the budget deadline looming two-thirds of voters polled by the Siena Research Institute say they would prefer an on-time budget or budget extenders than a budget shutdown.
“Voters think an on-time budget is important by a nine-to-one margin," added Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg. “If the budget deadline passes and the Governor sends the Legislature an emergency appropriation bill that not only keeps government running but also includes his entire proposed budget, voters strongly urge the Legislature to pass that budget and not let state government shut down."
This sign of strong support for the governor's agenda comes at a time while he is still extremely popular, even though his favorable ratings have dropped since the last Siena poll in February. Cuomo has a postive rating from 69 percent of voters polled and has negative rating of only 20 percent. These numbers represent a 8 percentage point drop in favortability and a three percentage point increase in his negative perception. At the same time his job performance review has dropped six points to 51 percent of New Yorkers feeling he is doing an excellent or good job.“While Cuomo has fallen below 70 percent, more than two-thirds of voters still view him favorably, including two-thirds of Republicans and more than half of conservatives,” said Greenberg.
The view of the governor is in sharp contrast to the Senate's negative rating, which is at 60 percent, and the Assembly's negative rating, which is at 56 percent. Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, R-Rockville Centre, recently addressed the unfavorable perception of the legislature by nothing that each member is popular in their district. These ratings most likely have to do with the budget process, as a majority of voters view the legislature's performance as fair or poor.
“Who do voters most trust to do the right thing for New York in crafting a responsible state budget? It’s not even close, with 72 percent saying they trust Cuomo, and Skelos and Silver both getting single digits,” Greenberg said. “In fact both legislative leaders have less support than ‘none of the above.’
One possible explanation for Cuomo's popularity could be due to the fact that he is viewed as a moderate by 60 percent of voters. It's because of this perception that the governor is in the middle of the road New Yorkers are twice as likely to blame the Senate or the Assembly for a late budget compared to Cuomo.
“Voters think an on-time budget is important by a nine-to-one margin," added Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg. “If the budget deadline passes and the Governor sends the Legislature an emergency appropriation bill that not only keeps government running but also includes his entire proposed budget, voters strongly urge the Legislature to pass that budget and not let state government shut down."
This sign of strong support for the governor's agenda comes at a time while he is still extremely popular, even though his favorable ratings have dropped since the last Siena poll in February. Cuomo has a postive rating from 69 percent of voters polled and has negative rating of only 20 percent. These numbers represent a 8 percentage point drop in favortability and a three percentage point increase in his negative perception. At the same time his job performance review has dropped six points to 51 percent of New Yorkers feeling he is doing an excellent or good job.“While Cuomo has fallen below 70 percent, more than two-thirds of voters still view him favorably, including two-thirds of Republicans and more than half of conservatives,” said Greenberg.
The view of the governor is in sharp contrast to the Senate's negative rating, which is at 60 percent, and the Assembly's negative rating, which is at 56 percent. Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, R-Rockville Centre, recently addressed the unfavorable perception of the legislature by nothing that each member is popular in their district. These ratings most likely have to do with the budget process, as a majority of voters view the legislature's performance as fair or poor.
“Who do voters most trust to do the right thing for New York in crafting a responsible state budget? It’s not even close, with 72 percent saying they trust Cuomo, and Skelos and Silver both getting single digits,” Greenberg said. “In fact both legislative leaders have less support than ‘none of the above.’
One possible explanation for Cuomo's popularity could be due to the fact that he is viewed as a moderate by 60 percent of voters. It's because of this perception that the governor is in the middle of the road New Yorkers are twice as likely to blame the Senate or the Assembly for a late budget compared to Cuomo.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
New Yorkers Endorse Cuomo's Agenda
On Tuesday the Siena Research Institute released a poll that surveyed New Yorkers on a variety of issues supported by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
His most popular position is closing the $10 billion budget deficit without borrowing money or raising taxes, with 87 percent of those polled in his corner. One can only imagine how well other imaginary positions would have polled, like a Championship for the Knicks...
Luckily the poll avoided the hard question New YOrkers don't want to face, which is whether they support cutting services to close the budget deficit. I'm guessing people wouldn't endorse that one with the same tenacity as their support for impossible positions.
Here is a list of the other issues that were raised and the results (you need to actually click on it to see the numbers. Whoops!):
To the poll's credit, though, it does ask voters how likely it is that the government will realize Cuomo's agenda.
Most likely because of the GOP controlled Senate and Cuomo's fiscal conservatism, 68 percent of New Yorkers believe the state will become more business friendly. What that really means is that people think there won't be new regulations, fees or taxes on business, but I digress.
The property tax cap is also viewed as a real possibility, with 60 percent of voters believing in its likelihood. It stands to reason that the other 40 percent have met the New York State Assembly.
The big issue, of new taxes to close the budget deficit, is one that New Yorkers oppose, but believe will happen. Only 43 percent of voters believe that there will be no new tax increases in the budget, compared to 38 percent thinking taxes are likely going to be raised and 19 percent believing with certainty that there will be tax hikes.
Oddly enough 51 percent of voters believed that nonpartisan redistricting is likely to become law, which makes me believe that 51 percent of people polled don't know what the word "self-interest" means.
His most popular position is closing the $10 billion budget deficit without borrowing money or raising taxes, with 87 percent of those polled in his corner. One can only imagine how well other imaginary positions would have polled, like a Championship for the Knicks...
Luckily the poll avoided the hard question New YOrkers don't want to face, which is whether they support cutting services to close the budget deficit. I'm guessing people wouldn't endorse that one with the same tenacity as their support for impossible positions.
Here is a list of the other issues that were raised and the results (you need to actually click on it to see the numbers. Whoops!):
To the poll's credit, though, it does ask voters how likely it is that the government will realize Cuomo's agenda.
Most likely because of the GOP controlled Senate and Cuomo's fiscal conservatism, 68 percent of New Yorkers believe the state will become more business friendly. What that really means is that people think there won't be new regulations, fees or taxes on business, but I digress.
The property tax cap is also viewed as a real possibility, with 60 percent of voters believing in its likelihood. It stands to reason that the other 40 percent have met the New York State Assembly.
The big issue, of new taxes to close the budget deficit, is one that New Yorkers oppose, but believe will happen. Only 43 percent of voters believe that there will be no new tax increases in the budget, compared to 38 percent thinking taxes are likely going to be raised and 19 percent believing with certainty that there will be tax hikes.
Oddly enough 51 percent of voters believed that nonpartisan redistricting is likely to become law, which makes me believe that 51 percent of people polled don't know what the word "self-interest" means.
Monday, January 17, 2011
You Really Like Me!
A poll from the Siena Research Institute that was released on Monday reveals that Gov. Andrew Cuomo has a 70 percent positive rating among New Yorkers and that 66 percent of voters in the state trust the new governor to do the right thing.
“After two weeks as Governor, Cuomo’s honeymoon is in full swing, as he gets strong marks from voters by every measure. For the first time in more than a year, 70 percent of voters have a favorable view of Cuomo, while only 17 percent view him unfavorably, the lowest since August 2009. He is viewed favorably by 78 percent of Democrats and 60 percent of Republicans; 73 percent of downstaters and 65 percent of upstaters; and even 53 percent of conservatives,” said Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg. “A plurality of voters, 44 percent, says he’s doing an excellent or good job as governor, compared to 28 percent who say he’s doing a fair or poor job.
Cuomo's ratings represent a stark contrast with the state's view of the state senate, which is viewed positively by 33 percent of New Yorkers, and the assembly, which is viewed positively by 29 percent of the state.
Part of Cuomo's strength lies in the perception held by a majority of New Yorkers that he is a moderate political figure. This label is not likely to last very long, though, as Cuomo is it is a product of his limited actions as governor. Give him time and he'll be viewed as just another liberal by people he angers.
So far his actions, which have been primarily symbolic have been well received. People apparently like his metaphorical openness and see meaning in his five percent executive chamber budget cut.
“Symbolism matters. By a better than two-to-one margin, voters agree with Cuomo’s decision to reduce his and his staff’s pay by five percent. They call it a good example, not grandstanding. At least two-thirds of voters from every region and party concur,” Greenberg said. “And nearly half of voters – including a majority of Democrats, women and downstaters – believe that in one year Cuomo will have succeeded in making Albany considerably less dysfunctional and getting Republicans and Democrats to work better together. However, a nearly equal number, 46 percent, think that Albany will still be way too dysfunctional, despite Cuomo’s good intentions.”
“After two weeks as Governor, Cuomo’s honeymoon is in full swing, as he gets strong marks from voters by every measure. For the first time in more than a year, 70 percent of voters have a favorable view of Cuomo, while only 17 percent view him unfavorably, the lowest since August 2009. He is viewed favorably by 78 percent of Democrats and 60 percent of Republicans; 73 percent of downstaters and 65 percent of upstaters; and even 53 percent of conservatives,” said Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg. “A plurality of voters, 44 percent, says he’s doing an excellent or good job as governor, compared to 28 percent who say he’s doing a fair or poor job.
Cuomo's ratings represent a stark contrast with the state's view of the state senate, which is viewed positively by 33 percent of New Yorkers, and the assembly, which is viewed positively by 29 percent of the state.
Part of Cuomo's strength lies in the perception held by a majority of New Yorkers that he is a moderate political figure. This label is not likely to last very long, though, as Cuomo is it is a product of his limited actions as governor. Give him time and he'll be viewed as just another liberal by people he angers.
So far his actions, which have been primarily symbolic have been well received. People apparently like his metaphorical openness and see meaning in his five percent executive chamber budget cut.
“Symbolism matters. By a better than two-to-one margin, voters agree with Cuomo’s decision to reduce his and his staff’s pay by five percent. They call it a good example, not grandstanding. At least two-thirds of voters from every region and party concur,” Greenberg said. “And nearly half of voters – including a majority of Democrats, women and downstaters – believe that in one year Cuomo will have succeeded in making Albany considerably less dysfunctional and getting Republicans and Democrats to work better together. However, a nearly equal number, 46 percent, think that Albany will still be way too dysfunctional, despite Cuomo’s good intentions.”
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