Connecticut Survey of 500 Likely Voters
Conducted June 9, 2011
By Pulse Opinion Research for Yankee Institute for Public Policy
1. How would you rate the job Barack Obama has been doing as President… do you strongly approve, somewhat approve, somewhat disapprove, or strongly disapprove of the job he’s been doing?
36% Strongly approve 19% Somewhat approve 8% Somewhat disapprove 34% Strongly disapprove 2% Not sure
2. How would you rate the job Dan Malloy has been doing as Governor… do you strongly approve, somewhat approve, somewhat disapprove, or strongly disapprove of the job he’s been doing?
18% Strongly approve 24% Somewhat approve 22% Somewhat disapprove 34% Strongly disapprove 2% Not sure
3. How would you rate the job Joe Lieberman has been doing as Senator… do you strongly approve, somewhat approve, somewhat disapprove, or strongly disapprove of the job he’s been doing?
10% Strongly approve 42% Somewhat approve 28% Somewhat disapprove 18% Strongly disapprove 2% Not sure
4. How would you rate the job Richard Blumenthal has been doing as Senator… do you strongly approve, somewhat approve, somewhat disapprove, or strongly disapprove of the job he’s been doing?
23% Strongly approve 38% Somewhat approve 14% Somewhat disapprove 22% Strongly disapprove 2% Not sure
5. If President Obama runs for re-election in the year 2012, will you probably vote for President Obama or probably vote for the Republican candidate?
49% Probably vote for President Obama
41% Probably vote for the Republican candidate 10% Not sure
6. If Governor Malloy runs for re-election in the year 2014, how likely are you to vote to re-elect Dan Malloy for governor – do you think you will definitely vote for him, probably vote for him, probably not vote for him, or definitely not vote for him?
10% Definitely vote for him 29% Probably vote for him 25% Probably not vote for him 31% Definitely not vote for him 5% Not sure
7. Next, I’d like to get your overall opinion of some people in the news. As I read each name, please let me know if you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of this person. If you have never heard of them, that’s OK, just let me know.
First, Congressman Chris Murphy
48% Favorable
22% Unfavorable
15% You’ve heard of him 15% Not sure
8. Next, Former Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz
34% Favorable
43% Unfavorable
12% You’ve heard of her 10% Not sure
9. Okay, Businesswoman Linda McMahon
47% Favorable 48% Unfavorable 2% You’ve heard of her 4% Not sure
10. Next, Businessman Tom Foley
41% Favorable 37% Unfavorable 5% You’ve heard of him 16% Not sure
11. Okay, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo
50% Favorable 26% Unfavorable 9% You’ve heard of him 15% Not sure
12. Last one, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie
38% Favorable
32% Unfavorable
13% You’ve heard of him 17% Not sure
13. Next, let’s turn to Connecticut’s $40 billion, two-year state budget. Governor Malloy’s budget increases state spending by 5.8 percent and is balanced by a combination of $2.6 billion in tax increases and $1.6 billion in concessions by state employee unions. Does the budget spend too much and raise taxes too much, or is the budget about as good it could be expected given a weak economy?
57% The budget spends too much and raise taxes too much
39% The budget is about as good it could be expected given a weak economy 4% Not sure
14. The concessions by state employee unions include a two-year wage freeze and bigger contributions to health care and pension programs. The deal also includes promises of no layoffs for four years, no furloughs, no reductions in hours, and three years of three percent annual pay raises at the end of the deal. Did the unions not give enough and should have been asked for more, or did the unions give up a lot?
49% The unions did not give enough and should have been asked for more 36% The unions did give up a lot
15% Not sure
15. If the state employee unions reject the concessions packages, Governor Malloy has said he will have to lay off as many as 4,700 state workers. Would you favor or oppose laying off state employees?
50% Favor 36% Oppose 13% Not sure
16. If the state budget should fall into a deficit over the coming two years, which approach would you choose for dealing with the state’s budget shortfall … rely entirely on spending cuts with no tax increases … rely mainly on spending cuts, with some tax increases … have an even balance of spending cuts and tax increases … rely mainly on tax increases, with some spending cuts … or rely entirely on tax increases, with no spending cuts?
30% Rely entirely on spending cuts with no tax increases
28% Rely mainly on spending cuts, with some tax increases 30% Have an even balance of spending cuts and tax increases 9% Rely mainly on tax increases, with some spending cuts 2% Rely entirely on tax increases, with no spending cuts 2% Not sure
17. Governor Malloy has endorsed a plan to renovate and expand the UConn Health Center in Farmington. The project would cost $864 million, mostly paid for using state tax dollars and bonding. Supporters say the UConn Health Center expansion will create construction jobs now and will make UConn a leader in biosciences Opponents say the UConn Health Center has required multiple state bailouts in the past and will weaken other area hospitals. Is the UConn Health Center expansion a good use of taxpayer money, or is it a bad use of taxpayer money?
25% The UConn Health Center expansion is a good use of taxpayer money 56% The UConn Health Center expansion is a bad use of taxpayer money 19% Not sure
18. Governor Malloy has endorsed a plan to build a commuter busway connecting New Britain and Hartford. The busway would go 9.4 miles and cost $572 million, 80 percent of which would be paid for by the federal government. Supporters say the New Britain busway will create construction jobs, reduce highway congestion, and lead to economic development. Opponents say the project costs too much, will not attract many riders, and that the money could be put to better use for other things. Is the New Britain busway a good use of taxpayer money, or is it a bad use of taxpayer money?
30% The New Britain busway is a good use of taxpayer money 60% The New Britain busway is a bad use of taxpayer money 10% Not sure
19. Now, switching topics, say you have a friend who lives out of state and has a young family, but is thinking about moving to a different state and looking for a new job or starting a new business. Would you recommend that your friend move to Connecticut?
24% Yes 65% No
11% Not sure
20. Overall, do you think state employee unions are more interested in the quality and affordability of public services, or in protecting their members’ jobs?
14% You think state employee unions are more interested in the quality and affordability of public services
74% State employee unions are more interested in protecting their members’ jobs
12% Not sure
NOTE: Margin of Sampling Error, +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence
