|
Table 1
| Question:
Do you believe the budget deficit is as large as Governor McGreevey
says, or is the deficit actually much smaller as others say? |
| |
All |
Democrats |
Independents |
Republicans |
| Deficit
is as large |
42% |
52% |
45% |
22% |
| Deficit
is much smaller |
39% |
27% |
38% |
60% |
| Don't
know |
19% |
21% |
17% |
18% |
Table 2
| Question: Who or
what do you think is most responsible for the budget deficit…?
|
|
|
All
|
Democrats
|
Independents |
Republicans
|
| The
terrorist attacks on September 11th |
9% |
9% |
6% |
9% |
| Poor
economic performance |
25% |
20% |
21% |
35% |
| Governor
McGreevey |
3% |
3% |
1% |
7% |
| Previous
Governor Whitman |
35% |
42% |
42% |
20% |
| Previous
Acting Governor DiFrancesco |
4% |
4% |
4% |
5% |
| The
Republican Legislature |
7% |
9% |
7% |
4% |
| Other |
6% |
5% |
5% |
10% |
| Don't
know |
11% |
9% |
14% |
10% |
Table 3
| Question: How much
have you heard or read about the Governor's proposed state budget?
|
|
|
All
|
Dem
|
Ind |
Rep
|
Vote
every year
|
Vote
most years
|
Vote
every few years or rarely
|
Male
|
Female
|
| Nothing
at all |
14% |
14% |
14% |
13% |
10% |
14% |
27% |
12% |
16% |
| Not
very much |
20% |
22% |
18% |
18% |
16% |
22% |
30% |
19% |
21% |
| Only
a little |
20% |
20% |
19% |
23% |
19% |
26% |
17% |
20% |
20% |
| Some |
28% |
27% |
29% |
27% |
32% |
26% |
23% |
25% |
31% |
| Quite
a bit |
12% |
11% |
15% |
11% |
15% |
9% |
4% |
17% |
8% |
| A
great deal |
6% |
6% |
6% |
7% |
8% |
4% |
0% |
7% |
5% |
Table 4
| Question:
If you had to choose, would you prefer…? |
| |
All |
Democrats |
Independents
|
Republicans |
| A
budget that increases or improves state programs and services and
raises some taxes and fees |
40% |
52% |
39% |
24% |
| A
budget that reduces state programs and services and cuts some taxes
and fees |
45% |
34% |
43% |
64% |
| Don't
know |
16% |
14% |
18% |
12% |
Table 5
| Question: In order
to raise money and close the budget deficit, a number of proposals
have been discussed. For each of these proposals, can you tell me
whether you think it's a good idea or a bad idea, or are you unsure?
|
|
|
All
|
Democrats
|
Independents |
Republicans
|
| Raising
cigarette taxes by 50 cents per pack? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Good
idea |
74% |
75% |
73% |
75% |
|
|
Bad
idea |
21% |
19% |
22% |
22% |
|
|
Unsure |
4% |
5% |
5% |
3% |
| Doubling
fees for auto registration and inspection? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Good
idea |
14% |
16% |
14% |
15% |
|
|
Bad
idea |
81% |
79% |
83% |
82% |
|
|
Unsure |
4% |
5% |
3% |
4% |
| Extending
the sales tax to include the complimentary
rooms and meals that Atlantic City
casinos give to their high rollers? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Good
idea |
67% |
66% |
69% |
65% |
|
|
Bad
idea |
25% |
23% |
25% |
28% |
|
|
Unsure |
8% |
11% |
6% |
6% |
| Increasing
revenues raised from business taxes from 700 million dollars to
1.7 billion dollars? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Good
idea |
36% |
44% |
36% |
26% |
|
|
Bad
idea |
43% |
31% |
43% |
59% |
|
|
Unsure |
19% |
23% |
19% |
14% |
| Increasing
the gasoline tax? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Good
idea |
22% |
23% |
24% |
18% |
|
|
Bad
idea |
73% |
71% |
72% |
77% |
|
|
Unsure |
5% |
7% |
3% |
4% |
| Borrowing
up to $1 billion against money New Jersey and other states are expecting
from their successful law suit against the tobacco companies? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Good
idea |
30% |
34% |
32% |
25% |
|
|
Bad
idea |
54% |
46% |
53% |
65% |
|
|
Unsure |
14% |
19% |
13% |
8% |
| Using
some surplus money in the unemployment insurance trust fund and
the teachers' health insurance trust fund? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Good
idea |
17% |
19% |
15% |
16% |
|
|
Bad
idea |
72% |
69% |
77% |
73% |
|
|
Unsure |
10% |
12% |
8% |
9% |
Table 6
| Question: In order
to close the budget deficit, a number of proposals to hold back
spending have also been discussed. For each of these proposals,
tell me whether you think each is good idea, a bad idea, or are
you unsure. |
|
|
All
|
Democrats
|
Independents |
Republicans
|
Eliminating
an expected increase in funds for higher education?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Good
idea |
18% |
13% |
18% |
26% |
|
Bad
idea |
72% |
77% |
74% |
64% |
|
Unsure |
10% |
10% |
8% |
9% |
Eliminating
an expected increase in state aid to school districts?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Good
idea |
15% |
10% |
15% |
20% |
|
|
Bad
idea |
78% |
83% |
79% |
70% |
|
|
Unsure |
7% |
7% |
6% |
9% |
Eliminating
an expected increase in state aid to municipalities?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Good
idea |
24% |
25% |
23% |
22% |
|
|
Bad
idea |
55% |
53% |
55% |
58% |
|
|
Unsure |
21% |
22% |
20% |
19% |
Reducing
the state workforce through attrition and early retirement incentives?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Good
idea |
62% |
60% |
62% |
65% |
|
|
Bad
idea |
24% |
24% |
25% |
23% |
|
|
Unsure |
13% |
15% |
13% |
11% |
Eliminating
the property tax rebate for those families earning 200,000 dollars
a year?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Good
idea |
65% |
66% |
65% |
62% |
|
|
Bad
idea |
28% |
27% |
28% |
33% |
|
|
Unsure |
7% |
7% |
7% |
5% |
Table 7
| Question:
Do you agree, or disagree, that if state government was better run,
the state budget could be balanced without either raising taxes
and fees or reducing state programs and services? |
| |
All |
Democrats |
Independents |
Republicans |
| Agree |
73% |
68% |
75% |
79% |
| Disagree |
18% |
20% |
16% |
17% |
| Don't
know |
9% |
13% |
10% |
4% |
Contacts: Bruce Larson, survey analyst: 973-443-8727.
Rick Thigpen, academic associate, 609-394-0888.
Steve Salmore, research professor of political science: 973-292-3633.
Peter Woolley, coordinator: 973-443-8725
Radio actuality line: (201) 692-2846.
For more information, please call (201) 692-7032.
|
see also:
Larson's
Analysis
Salmore's Analysis
Thigpen's Analysis
Survey Details
|