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