ct03092011

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FOR RELEASE: MARCH 9, 2011

NO HONEYMOON FOR CONNECTICUT’S NEW GOVERNOR,

QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY POLL FINDS;

VOTERS SAY BUDGET PLAN TAXES TOO MUCH, UNFAIR TO THEM

Connecticut’s new governor, Dannel Malloy, gets no honeymoon as voters disapprove 40 – 35

percent of the job he is doing, with 25 percent undecided, according to a Quinnipiac University

poll released today.

Voters are optimistic, 55 – 39 percent, about the next four years under Gov. Malloy, the

independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. And they say 89 – 7 percent

that Malloy’s town hall meetings to discuss the budget and the economy are a good idea.

But they disapprove 51 – 32 percent of the way he is handling the budget and turn thumbs

down on his budget plan:

• 66 percent say the plan increases taxes too much, as 3 percent say too little and 19 percentsay the tax level is about right;

• 39 percent say it cuts spending too little, with 17 percent saying too much and 29 percentsay about right;

• 16 percent say it increases taxes on the wealthy too much, as 48 percent say too little and24 percent say about right;

• 68 percent say it raises taxes on the middle class too much, with 1 percent saying too littleand 21 percent saying about right.

Malloy’s budget proposals are unfair to “people like you,” voters say 56 – 31 percent.

Democrats say “unfair” 45 – 41 percent and Republicans agree 65 – 25 percent and independent

voters agree 59 – 28 percent.

“Connecticut voters are in a grumpy mood. Nearly 70 percent are dissatisfied with the

way things are going in the state and no elected official in this survey has an approval rating

above 50 percent,” said Quinnipiac University Poll Director Douglas Schwartz, PhD.

“But it’s early. Dannel Malloy has been governor for only two months. The first

impression of him is decidedly mixed with many voters taking a wait and see attitude.”

-more-

Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D. Director,Quinnipiac University Poll (203) 582-5201

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Quinnipiac University Poll/March 9, 2011 – page 2

“What explains Malloy’s low approval rating? Only 32 percent approve of his handling

of the budget, while 51 percent disapprove,” Dr. Schwartz added. “Specifically, they think he is

raising taxes too much. While voters think he is raising taxes too much on the middle class, they

think he could raise taxes on the wealthy more.

“Most damaging is that by a big margin, voters say Malloy is unfair to them.”

By a narrow 50 – 46 percent margin, voters say a tax hike is necessary to balance the

budget. But voters say 54 – 18 percent that a tax hike will hurt the state economy and 69 percent

say a tax hike would be a “very serious” or “somewhat serious” problem for their families.

If public employee unions do not make concessions, Malloy should layoff state workers,

voters say 50 – 44 percent. Voters in union households disagree 58 – 37 percent. Voters also

support 68 – 27 percent a wage freeze for state workers and support 53 – 35 percent furloughs

for state workers.

Connecticut voters support 72 – 26 percent increasing cigarette taxes and 68 – 30 percent

increasing taxes on alcoholic beverages, but they reject other possible tax hikes:

• 69 – 29 percent against hiking income taxes on anyone making more than $50,000 a year;• 52 – 47 percent against increasing the state sales tax from 6 percent to 6.35 percent;

• 59 – 40 percent against expanding the sales tax to haircuts, car washes and other services;• 70 – 29 percent against charging sales tax on clothing and footwear under $50;• 74 – 20 percent against eliminating the $500 property tax credit on the state income tax;• 82 – 17 percent against increasing the gas tax 3 cents per gallon.

“Voters overwhelmingly disapprove of Malloy’s proposed increases in the income tax

and gas tax. They oppose eliminating the property tax credit and ending the sales tax exemption

for clothes under $50,” Schwartz said. “They do agree, however, with proposed increases in ‘sin

taxes’ on alcohol and cigarettes, and with wage freezes and furloughs for state employees and –

if necessary – layoffs.”

Connecticut voters give President Barack Obama a split 49 – 47 percent approval rating,

down from 50 – 44 percent July 16, 2010.

Voters disapprove 45 – 38 percent of the job U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman is doing. In his

first approval rating as a U.S. Senator, Richard Blumenthal scores a 49 – 25 percent approval.

From March 1 – 7, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,693 registered voters with a margin

of error of +/- 2.4 percentage points. Live interviewers call landlines and cell phones.

The Quinnipiac University Poll conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey,

Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and the nation 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.

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1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Dannel Malloy is handling his job as Governor?

Union

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds

Approve 35% 21% 51% 34% 35% 35% 36%

Disapprove 40 56 24 43 43 38 40

DK/NA 25 24 25 23 22 27 24

2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joe Lieberman is handling his job as UnitedStates Senator?

Union


Approve 38% 54% 32% 36% 38% 39% 39%

Disapprove 45 33 50 49 50 41 50

DK/NA 17 13 17 15 12 21 11

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joe Lieberman is handling his job as

United States Senator? (*Low also 38% Dec 2008)

APPROVE.......High Low

Mar 09 Jul 16 Jun 10 Mar 17 Jan 14 Sep 21 Mar 09

2011 2010 2010 2010 2010 2000 2011*

Approve 38 40 41 39 39 80 38

Disapprove 45 50 50 54 54 14 45

DK/NA 17 9 9 7 6 6 17

3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Richard Blumenthal is handling his job as

United States Senator?

Union


Approve 49% 31% 64% 49% 42% 55% 55%

Disapprove 25 45 10 26 34 18 18

DK/NA 26 25 26 24 24 27 27

4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President?

Union


Approve 49% 15% 80% 44% 44% 53% 54%

Disapprove 47 82 18 51 52 43 40DK/NA 4 4 2 5 4 4 6

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6. What do you think is the most important problem facing Connecticut today?

Tot

Economy Total 43%

Economy general 7

Unemployment/Jobs 32

Cost of living 2

Business leaving/

Outsourcing 2

Taxes Total 20%

Taxes general 15

Property tax 2

Gas tax 1

Income Tax 1

Taxes other 1

Budget Total 19%

Budget general 6

Budget cuts/Cuts in srvcs 1

Budget deficits 7

Gov too big/Gov spending 2Budget priorities 1

State workers/Union

contracts too costly 1

Budget other 1

Education Total 4%

Education general 1

Funding education 2

Education other 1

Crime Total 2%

Crime/Violence general 1

Crime other 1

Gas prices 1

Welfare 1

Class inequality 1

Healthcare/Costs/Ins/HMO's 1

Poor conditions

roads/highways 1

Politicians/

Campaigns general 1

Other 1

7. Are you generally optimistic or pessimistic about the next four years with DannelMalloy as Governor?

Union


Optimistic 55% 35% 74% 53% 55% 55% 60%

Pessimistic 39 58 23 39 40 38 37

DK/NA 6 7 3 8 5 7 4

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8. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Dannel Malloy is handling the budget?

Union


Approve 32% 17% 46% 31% 33% 31% 32%

Disapprove 51 69 39 52 52 51 49

DK/NA 16 14 15 16 15 18 19

9. Governor Malloy is holding a series of town hall style meetings across the state todiscuss the state's economic and budgetary issues with the state's residents face to face

- How much have you heard or read about these town hall style meetings? A lot, some, not

much, or nothing at all?

Union


A lot 17% 13% 20% 17% 18% 15% 21%

Some 35 36 29 37 36 33 35

Not much 23 23 24 23 23 24 19

Nothing at all 25 28 27 22 23 27 24

DK/NA - - - - - - -

10. Do you think these meetings are a good idea or a bad idea?

Union


Good idea 89% 87% 92% 88% 89% 89% 94%

Bad idea 7 8 5 8 8 7 4

DK/NA 4 5 2 4 3 4 2

11. How serious do you think Connecticut's budget problems are; very serious, somewhat

serious, not too serious, or not at all serious?

Union


Very serious 77% 82% 73% 76% 77% 76% 78%

Smwht serious 22 18 24 23 21 22 20

Not too serious 1 - 3 - 1 1 1

Not at all serious - - - - - - -

DK/NA - - - - - - 1

TREND: How serious do you think Connecticut's budget problems are – very serious,

somewhat serious, not too serious, or not at all serious?

Mar 09 Mar 10 Feb 10 Mar 132011 2009 2009 2003

Very serious 77 61 58 60

Smwht serious 22 34 36 35

Not too serious 1 3 3 4

Not at all serious - - - -

DK/NA - 2 2 1

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12. How much have you heard or read about Governor Malloy's plan to balance the state's

budget; a lot, some, not much, or nothing at all?

Union


A lot 39% 39% 41% 37% 42% 36% 40%

Some 44 48 40 45 42 45 47

Not much 13 11 12 13 13 13 9

Nothing at all 4 2 6 4 3 5 4

DK/NA - 1 - - 1 - -

13. Do you think Governor Malloy's plan to balance the state's budget - increases taxes

too much, too little, or by about the right amount?

Union


Too much 66% 83% 50% 68% 67% 64% 62%

Too little 3 1 5 3 3 4 3

About right 19 10 29 17 21 17 20

DK/NA 12 6 17 12 9 15 15

AGE..................... ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME

18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K

Too much 60% 71% 67% 63% 58% 71% 69% 61%

Too little 2 4 2 4 4 2 3 4

About right 22 16 22 17 16 16 20 24

DK/NA 16 9 9 15 22 11 8 11

14. Do you think Governor Malloy's plan to balance the state's budget – cuts spending too

much, too little, or by the right amount?

Union


Too much 17% 16% 21% 15% 15% 19% 20%

Too little 39 55 18 45 47 32 33

About right 29 20 42 24 28 29 31

DK/NA 15 9 19 15 10 19 16


18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K

Too much 18% 21% 16% 16% 26% 17% 17% 13%

Too little 31 41 46 35 19 36 45 46

About right 32 26 26 32 29 31 28 29

DK/NA 19 12 12 17 27 15 10 12

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on the wealthy too much, too little, or by about the right amount?

Union


Too much 16% 34% 5% 16% 20% 13% 9%

Too little 48 29 61 48 46 49 59

About right 24 25 22 25 27 22 21

DK/NA 12 12 12 11 8 16 11


18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K

Too much 16% 16% 16% 16% 12% 11% 13% 23%

Too little 44 51 53 40 46 56 53 39

About right 24 22 20 31 23 21 26 27

DK/NA 16 11 11 12 18 13 8 11


on the middle class too much, too little, or by about the right amount?

UnionTot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds

Too much 68% 76% 58% 73% 68% 69% 72%

Too little 1 - 2 1 1 1 -

About right 21 19 27 17 24 18 17

DK/NA 10 5 13 9 7 12 10


18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K

Too much 58% 73% 71% 69% 62% 77% 72% 61%

Too little 1 2 1 1 3 - 1 1

About right 26 17 20 22 19 15 22 28

DK/NA 15 8 8 9 16 8 6 10

17. Do you think Governor Malloy's plan to balance the state's budget – asks state

employees to make wage and benefit concessions that are too much, too little, or about

the right amount?

Union


Too much 25% 21% 35% 20% 22% 27% 39%

Too little 25 35 13 28 31 20 14

About right 36 35 36 37 37 36 29

DK/NA 14 9 16 14 10 17 18

18. Do you think the public employee unions will agree to Governor Malloy's proposed

state employee concessions or not?

Union


Yes 19% 14% 25% 18% 20% 18% 24%

No 66 78 56 68 67 66 58

DK/NA 14 9 20 14 12 16 18

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19. If the public employee unions do not agree to Governor Malloy's proposed state

employee concessions, do you think Governor Malloy should layoff state workers or not?

Union


Yes 50% 64% 33% 57% 60% 42% 37%

No 44 32 60 39 36 51 58

DK/NA 5 4 7 4 4 7 5

20. Do you think Governor Malloy's proposals to balance the state budget next year are

fair or unfair to people like you?

Union


Fair 31% 25% 41% 28% 34% 28% 27%

Unfair 56 65 45 59 55 57 57

DK/NA 13 10 14 13 11 15 16


18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K

Fair 37% 27% 30% 33% 26% 23% 30% 45%

Unfair 50 62 57 53 54 63 61 45

DK/NA 14 11 12 14 20 14 9 10

21. Do you think an increase in taxes is necessary to balance the budget or not?

Union


Yes 50% 40% 63% 49% 50% 50% 54%

No 46 59 32 46 46 45 39

DK/NA 4 1 5 5 4 4 7


18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K

Yes 52% 49% 51% 50% 43% 50% 51% 55%

No 44 47 47 42 48 47 45 42

DK/NA 4 4 2 8 9 2 4 3

TREND: Do you think an increase in taxes is necessary to balance the budget or not?

Mar 09 Jul 22 Mar 10

2011 2009 2009

Yes 50 48 32No 46 45 63

DK/NA 4 7 5

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22. Do you think that Governor Malloy's tax hikes will help Connecticut's economy, hurt

Connecticut's economy, or not make a difference?

Union


Help 18% 9% 29% 15% 17% 19% 20%

Hurt 54 72 36 56 58 50 46

No difference 23 16 29 23 21 25 26

DK/NA 5 3 6 6 4 7 8

23. Do you approve or disapprove of - raising the income tax on anyone making more than

$50,000 a year?

Union


Approve 29% 16% 41% 27% 27% 31% 27%

Disapprove 69 83 59 70 72 67 71

DK/NA 2 1 1 2 1 2 1


18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K

Approve 26% 30% 28% 32% 43% 36% 23% 23%

Disapprove 73 69 71 65 55 63 76 75

DK/NA - 1 1 3 2 1 1 1

24. Do you approve or disapprove of - raising the sales tax from 6% to 6.3%

Union


Approve 47% 40% 55% 46% 48% 46% 54%

Disapprove 52 59 43 53 51 53 44

DK/NA 2 1 2 1 2 1 2


18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K

Approve 43% 46% 50% 47% 39% 46% 50% 52%

Disapprove 56 53 48 51 57 52 49 47

DK/NA 1 2 2 1 4 2 1 1

25. Do you approve or disapprove of - applying the sales tax to currently exempt

services, such as haircuts and car washes?

Union


Approve 40% 40% 47% 36% 44% 37% 45%

Disapprove 59 59 51 62 55 62 55

DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 1 -


18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K

Approve 40% 43% 43% 33% 32% 33% 41% 52%

Disapprove 60 55 56 65 67 65 58 47

DK/NA - 2 1 1 2 1 1 1

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26. Do you approve or disapprove of - applying the sales tax to clothing and footwear

that costs less than $50?

Union


Approve 29% 24% 37% 26% 28% 29% 32%

Disapprove 70 75 62 73 70 70 65

DK/NA 1 - 1 1 2 - 3

AGE..................... ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K

Approve 30% 32% 29% 25% 20% 22% 31% 40%

Disapprove 70 67 70 73 77 75 69 60

DK/NA - 1 1 2 2 3 - -

27. Do you approve or disapprove of - raising the cigarette tax from $3 a pack to $3.40 a

pack?

Union


Approve 72% 66% 77% 72% 67% 76% 74%

Disapprove 26 32 22 26 31 22 23

DK/NA 2 2 1 2 2 1 3

28. Do you approve or disapprove of - increasing the gasoline tax 3 cents

a gallon?

Union


Approve 17% 11% 24% 15% 20% 15% 18%

Disapprove 82 89 75 85 79 85 80

DK/NA 1 - 1 1 1 - 2

29. Do you approve or disapprove of - increasing taxes on alcoholic beverages?

Union


Approve 68% 64% 78% 65% 61% 74% 71%

Disapprove 30 35 21 32 37 23 27

DK/NA 2 2 1 3 1 2 2

30. Do you approve or disapprove of - eliminating the $500 property tax credit on thestate income tax?

Union


Approve 20% 18% 22% 18% 21% 19% 19%

Disapprove 74 79 68 77 76 73 77

DK/NA 6 3 10 5 4 9 4

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31. Do you approve or disapprove of - taxing goods and services on their original cost

rather than the discounted cost that a coupon or sales promotion offers?

Union


Approve 19% 18% 22% 18% 21% 18% 19%

Disapprove 77 80 74 79 76 78 74

DK/NA 3 2 5 3 3 3 6

32. Do you approve or disapprove of - a wage freeze for state workers?

Union


Approve 68% 76% 57% 72% 74% 64% 58%

Disapprove 27 20 36 25 22 32 38

DK/NA 5 4 6 3 4 5 4

33. Do you approve or disapprove of - furloughs for state employees?

Union


Approve 53% 59% 46% 57% 56% 52% 51%

Disapprove 35 30 41 34 34 35 40

DK/NA 12 11 13 9 10 13 9

34. How much of a problem would Governor Malloy's tax increases be for you and your

family - a very serious problem, a somewhat serious problem, a not too serious problem,

or not a problem at all?

Union


Very serious 24% 25% 23% 22% 22% 26% 24%Smwht serious 45 49 40 48 41 48 44

Not too serious 23 21 27 23 28 19 20

Nt a problem 6 3 8 6 8 5 9

DK/NA 1 - 2 1 1 1 2


18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K

Very serious 19% 29% 26% 21% 39% 27% 22% 13%

Smwht serious 49 40 48 44 35 49 50 44

Not too serious 24 24 20 25 15 16 24 34

Nt a problem 8 4 6 9 7 8 3 10

DK/NA 1 2 - 1 3 - 1 -

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35. As a result of Governor Malloy's tax increase package, how likely are you to move out

of the state - very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, or not likely at all?

Union


Very likely, 11% 13% 11% 10% 12% 11% 12%

Smwht likely, 17 20 12 18 18 15 14

Not too likely 20 22 19 21 18 21 19

Not at all 52 45 57 51 52 52 54

DK/NA 1 - 1 - - 1 1


18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K

Very likely, 12% 11% 13% 9% 14% 10% 9% 10%

Smwht likely, 20 19 16 10 10 19 19 17

Not too likely 23 23 18 14 20 21 21 17

Not at all 45 47 53 66 54 50 50 55

DK/NA 1 1 - 1 2 - 1 -

36. Do you think that Governor Malloy's increase in income taxes for wealthier residents

would lead them to move out of Connecticut or not?

Union


Yes 33% 51% 20% 33% 37% 30% 29%

No 62 45 76 62 60 64 67

DK/NA 5 4 4 5 4 5 5


18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K

Yes 33% 32% 29% 41% 32% 36% 27% 36%

No 65 64 65 54 61 60 70 60

DK/NA 2 3 6 6 7 4 3 4

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