Maurice Carroll, Director,

Quinnipiac University Polling

Institute
(203) 582-5334

Rubenstein Associates, Inc.

Public Relations
Contact: Pat Smith
FOR RELEASE: (212) 843-
JANUARY 26, 2011

NEW YORKERS OPPOSE MANY BUDGET-CUTTING IDEAS,

QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY POLL FINDS;
BUT 3-1 SUPPORT FREEZING STATE WORKER PAY

New York State’s new governor, Andrew Cuomo, gets a 47 – 11 percent favorability rating from
voters, with 36 percent saying they don’t know enough about him to form an opinion, according
to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
While 77 percent of voters say New York State’s budget problems are “very serious,”
and 19 percent call them “somewhat serious,” voters oppose many of the possible budget cuts
that could help close the state’s deficit, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack)
University poll finds.
New York State voters support 75 – 20 percent a wage freeze for state workers, with
68 – 25 percent support among Democrats and 73 – 24 percent from voters with at least one
union member in the household. But a look at other budget-cutting measures shows:
• 45 – 47 percent split on layoffs of state workers;
• 52 – 30 percent support furloughs for state workers;
• 55 – 38 percent oppose reducing state worker pensions;
• 79 – 18 percent oppose cutting state aid to public schools;
• 69 – 28 percent oppose cutting Medicaid.
“In what is usually the ‘honeymoon’ for new officials, Gov. Andrew Cuomo gets a so-so
welcome. We didn’t ask about his job approval, since he’s been on the job less than a month, but
more New Yorkers give him a ‘favorable’ rating than an ‘unfavorable,’ meaning they like him.
Still, about a third are taking a wait-and-see attitude,” said Maurice Carroll, director of the
Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
“But the same voters who agree the state’s in horrendous fiscal shape reject many of the
standard remedies. Except when it comes to public employees. Gov. Cuomo has called for a
wage freeze and New Yorkers are with him more than 3–1, even those in union households.”
-more-
Quinnipiac University Poll/January 26, 2010 – page 2
“But that’s about where it stops. Layoffs? Voters are divided. Furloughs? A little more
support. School aid? Leave it alone. Medicaid? Don’t cut it,” Carroll added.
By an overwhelming 82 – 13 percent margin, New York State voters support a cap on
property tax increases, with strong support from every group.
In an open-ended question, allowing for any answer, 37 percent list economy or jobs as
the state’s most important problem, followed by 19 percent who cite the budget and 17 percent
who list taxes. No other issue gets more than 6 percent.
Given a choice between raising taxes or cutting services to balance the budget, New York
State voters prefer service cuts 60 – 27 percent. Democrats split 42 – 43 percent, while support
for service cuts is 82 – 8 percent among Republicans and 66 – 22 percent among independent
voters.
In a straight out “support” or “oppose” question, voters oppose 66 – 32 percent increasing
state taxes to balance the budget. Democrats oppose tax hikes 54 – 43 percent.
But voters say 74 – 19 percent that the state will increase taxes. The feeling that taxes are
going up is strong among all groups.
By a small 42 – 39 percent margin, voters say Cuomo and the State Legislature will be
able to solve New York State’s budget problems.
And by a larger 57 – 29 percent margin, voters are hopeful that Cuomo will be able to
open up the budget negations to more state legislators, breaking the long tradition of “three men
in a room,” the governor, the Assembly speaker and the State Senate majority leader, making
major budget decisions.
“New Yorkers are cynical about Albany. By 2-1, they don’t want tax increases but by
almost 4-1, voters think Albany will do it anyway,” Carroll said. “But most think Cuomo might
be able to end the infamous ‘three-men-in-a-room’ way of doing the public business.”
Andrew Cuomo will be a better governor than his father, Mario Cuomo, 26 percent of
voters say, while 5 percent give the nod to Mario Cuomo and 41 percent think father and son will
be about the same.
From January 18 – 24, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,436 registered voters with a
margin of error of +/- 2.6 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, 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. Is your opinion of Governor Andrew Cuomo favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard
enough about him?

Union
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds

Favorable 47% 34% 64% 39% 45% 50% 50%

Unfavorable 11 18 5 13 13 9 13
Hvn't hrd enough 36 40 26 43 36 35 29
REFUSED 6 8 5 5 5 6 7

UpStat NYC Sub

Favorable 40% 53% 52%

Unfavorable 12 10 11
Hvn't hrd enough 42 32 31
REFUSED 6 6 6

TREND: Is your opinion of Andrew Cuomo favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough
about him? (*High also 63% Apr 2009 and Feb 2009/**Added title "Governor Andrew Cuomo”)

FAVORABLE.....
High Low
Jan 26 Sep 01 Jun 22 Apr 13 Feb 3 Jun 24 Jan 26
2011** 2010 2010 2010 2010 2009* 2011**

Favorable 47 54 57 59 54 63 47
Unfavorable 11 21 18 19 16 15 11
Hvn't hrd enough 36 22 22 20 28 20 36
REFUSED 6 3 3 2 2 2 6

5. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in New York State
today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very
dissatisfied?

Union
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds

Very satisfied 2% 1% 2% 2% 2% 2% 1%
Smwht satisfied 26 11 39 21 20 31 23
Smwht dissatisfied 37 37 40 36 37 38 40
Very dissatisfied 33 48 17 39 38 29 33
DK/NA 2 2 2 3 3 1 2

TREND: In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in New York State
today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very
dissatisfied?

VERY+SMWHT SAT
High Low
Jan 26 Dec 08 Sep 01 Jul 28 Jun 23 Feb 25 Jun 23
2011 2010 2010 2010 2010 1998 2010

Very satisfied 2 2 1 3 1 13 1
Smwht satisfied 26 23 19 20 18 60 18
Smwht dissatisfied 37 31 31 32 33 20 33
Very dissatisfied 33 42 47 45 47 7 47
DK/NA 2 1 1 - 1 1 1

3
6. What do you think is the most important problem facing New York State today?

Tot

Economy Total 37%

Economy general 6
Unemployment/Jobs 27
Cost of living 2
Business leaving/
Outsourcing 1
Economy other 1

Budget Total 19%

Budget general 5
Budget cuts/Cuts in
services 2
Budget deficits 6
Gov too big/Gov spending 3
Budget priorities 2
State workers/Union
contracts too costly 1

Taxes Total 17%

Taxes general 11
Property tax 5
Income Tax 1

Politicians Total 6%
Politicians/Campaigns
general 1
Political corruption 2
Governor/State leadership/
Legislature 2
Politicians other 1

Education Total 5%
Education general 3
Funding education 1
Education other 1

Healthcare Total 3%
Healthcare/Costs/Ins/HMO's 2
Medicare 1

Crime Total 2%
Crime/Violence general 1
Crime other 1

Welfare 1%
Poverty/Homeless 1%
Senior issues 1%
Lack of ethics/Morality 1%
Mass Transit Total 1%
War (Iraq) 1%

Other 2%
DK/NA 3%

4
7. Do you think Andrew Cuomo will be a better governor than his father, Mario Cuomo, a
worse governor, or about the same?

Union
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds

Better 26% 33% 23% 26% 25% 27% 25%

Worse 5 7 4 6 6 5 7
About the same 41 37 45 39 42 41 43
DK/NA 27 23 28 28 27 28 25

UpStat NYC Sub

Better 26% 22% 32%

Worse 4 9 3
About the same 40 45 39
DK/NA 30 25 26

TREND: Do you think Andrew Cuomo would be a better governor than his father, Mario Cuomo,
a worse governor, or about the same? (* “will” be a better governor)

Jan 26 Jun 22
2011* 2010

Better 26 26
Worse 5 10
About the same 41 51
DK/NA 27 18

8. Would you describe the state of New York State's economy these days as; excellent,
good, not so good, or poor?

Union
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds

Excellent 1% 1% 1% - 1% 1% 1%
Good 10 5 15 8 10 9 8
Not so good 44 38 48 44 40 47 44
Poor 45 56 34 48 49 41 48
DK/NA 1 - 2 1 - 2 -

UpStat NYC Sub

Excellent 0% 1% 1%
Good 7 14 8
Not so good 37 48 48
Poor 55 36 41
DK/NA - 1 2

TREND: Would you describe the state of New York State's economy these days as -
excellent, good, not so good, or poor?

EXCLNT+GOOD...
High Low
Jan 26 Apr 07 Feb 19 Jan 15 Dec 24 Mar 29 Apr 07
2011 2009 2009 2009 2008 2006 2009

Excellent 1 - 1 - - 2 -
Good 10 4 4 7 6 35 4
Not so good 44 40 40 40 43 40 40
Poor 45 55 55 52 51 22 55
DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 2 1
5
9. Do you think New York State's economy is getting better, getting worse, or staying
about the same?

Union
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds

Better 16% 11% 24% 11% 17% 15% 16%

Worse 35 40 26 40 38 33 37
The same 46 44 48 46 43 49 45
DK/NA 3 4 2 3 3 3 2

UpStat NYC Sub

Better 12% 20% 17%

Worse 41 32 31
The same 45 46 48
DK/NA 3 2 4

TREND: Do you think New York State's economy is getting better, getting worse, or staying
about the same?

Jan 26 Apr 07
2011 2009

Better 16 5
Worse 35 56
The same 46 37
DK/NA 3 2

10. Would you describe the state of your own personal finances these days as; excellent,
good, not so good, or poor?

Union
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds

Excellent 4% 6% 3% 4% 4% 4% 5%
Good 49 57 45 48 53 45 57
Not so good 30 22 35 29 27 33 27
Poor 15 13 14 17 13 16 10
DK/NA 2 2 2 1 2 2 0

UpStat NYC Sub

Excellent 3% 3% 7%
Good 50 44 55
Not so good 27 36 26
Poor 18 14 10
DK/NA 2 2 2

TREND: Would you describe the state of your own personal finances these days as -
excellent, good, not so good, or poor?

Jan 26 Apr 07 Feb 19 Dec 24 Jan 23 Nov 15

2011 2009 2009 2008 2002 2001

Excellent 4 6 4 5 9 8
Good 49 48 44 43 53 59
Not so good 30 32 35 35 28 25
Poor 15 13 15 16 8 6
DK/NA 2 2 2 1 1 2

6
11. Do you think your personal finances are getting better, getting worse, or staying
about the same?

Union
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds

Better 13% 15% 14% 10% 16% 10% 14%

Worse 28 23 26 31 27 29 30
The same 58 61 59 58 57 59 55
DK/NA 1 2 - 1 - 1 -

UpStat NYC Sub

Better 13% 14% 12%

Worse 27 30 26
The same 59 56 60
DK/NA 1 1 1

TREND: Do you think your personal finances are getting better, getting worse, or staying
about the same?

Jan 26 Apr 07
2011 2009

Better 13 10
Worse 28 28
The same 58 60
DK/NA 1 2

12. How serious do you think New York State's budget problems are; very serious, somewhat
serious, not too serious, or not at all serious?

Union
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds

Very serious 77% 81% 73% 79% 81% 75% 78%

Smwht serious 19 18 22 17 16 21 19
Not too serious 1 - 2 2 2 1 2
Not at all serious 1 1 1 - - 1 -
DK/NA 2 - 3 1 1 2 1

UpStat NYC Sub

Very serious 80% 74% 79%

Smwht serious 17 20 19
Not too serious - 3 -
Not at all serious 1 - -
DK/NA 1 3 2

TREND: How serious do you think New York State's budget problems are – very serious,
somewhat serious, not too serious, or not at all serious?

VERY SERIOUS..
High Low
Jan 26 Dec 09 Feb 04 Aug 18 Feb 18 Feb 04 Dec 18
2011 2010 2010 2009 2009 2010 2002

Very serious 77 78 81 65 69 81 48
Smwht serious 19 19 15 28 26 15 44
Not too serious 1 1 3 5 4 3 5
Not at all serious 1 1 1 1 - 1 1
DK/NA 2 1 1 1 1 1 5
7
13. Do you think Governor Cuomo and the legislature will be able to solve New York
State's budget problems or not?

Union
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds

Yes 43% 36% 54% 37% 40% 46% 38%

No 39 45 29 45 46 34 43
DK/NA 17 19 17 19 14 20 19

UpStat NYC Sub

Yes 40% 43% 49%

No 45 37 33
DK/NA 15 19 18

TREND: Do you think Governor Cuomo and the legislature will be able to solve New York
State's budget problems or not?

Jan 26 Dec 09
2011 2010

Yes 43 38
No 39 46
DK/NA 17 16

14. To balance the state budget, if you had to choose, would you prefer; raising taxes or
cutting government programs and services?

Union
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds

Raising taxes 27% 8% 42% 22% 26% 28% 28%

Cutting programs/
Services 60 82 43 66 64 57 64
DK/NA 13 9 15 12 10 15 8

UpStat NYC Sub

Raising taxes 17% 41% 21%

Cutting programs/
Services 67 47 70
DK/NA 15 12 9

TREND: To balance the state budget, if you had to choose, would you prefer - raising
taxes or cutting government programs and services?

Jan 26 Dec 09 Feb 04 Aug 18 Feb 18 Jan 15 Dec 24

2011 2010 2010 2009 2009 2009 2008

Raising taxes 27 30 30 33 34 30 36
Cutting services 60 56 58 54 51 56 53
DK/NA 13 15 12 13 15 14 11

8
15. To help balance the state budget do you support or oppose - layoffs for state
employees?

Union
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds

Support 45% 60% 33% 49% 48% 43% 39%

Oppose 47 33 57 44 47 47 56
DK/NA 8 6 10 7 6 10 5

UpStat NYC Sub

Support 50% 36% 52%

Oppose 42 57 38
DK/NA 8 7 9

TREND: To help balance the state budget do you support or oppose - layoffs for state
employees?

Jan 26 Dec 09
2011 2010

Support 45 43
Oppose 47 52
DK/NA 8 6

16. To help balance the state budget do you support or oppose - furloughs for state
employees?

Union
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds

Support 52% 56% 47% 57% 52% 53% 54%

Oppose 30 30 33 28 33 29 33
DK/NA 17 14 20 15 16 19 13

UpStat NYC Sub

Support 52% 47% 61%

Oppose 31 36 21
DK/NA 18 17 18

TREND: To help balance the state budget do you support or oppose – furloughs for state
employees?

Jan 26 Dec 09
2011 2010

Support 52 56
Oppose 30 32
DK/NA 17 13

9
17. To help balance the state budget, do you support or oppose - a wage freeze for state
workers?

Union
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds

Support 75% 83% 68% 78% 74% 76% 73%

Oppose 20 14 25 18 21 19 24
DK/NA 5 3 7 3 5 6 2

UpStat NYC Sub

Support 78% 72% 74%

Oppose 17 23 20
DK/NA 5 5 7

TREND: To help balance the state budget, do you support or oppose a wage freeze for state
workers?

Jan 26 Dec 09 Feb 04 Dec 16

2011 2010 2010 2009

Support 75 72 75 68
Oppose 20 23 20 28
DK/NA 5 5 5 5

18. To help balance the state budget, do you support or oppose – reducing pension
benefits for state workers?

Union
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds

Support 38% 47% 30% 42% 45% 32% 30%

Oppose 55 45 64 49 49 59 66
DK/NA 7 9 6 8 6 9 3

UpStat NYC Sub

Support 41% 33% 43%

Oppose 52 59 51
DK/NA 7 8 7

TREND: To help balance the state budget, do you support or oppose – reducing pension
benefits for state workers?

Jan 26 Dec 09
2011 2010

Support 38 37
Oppose 55 56
DK/NA 7 7

10
19. To help balance the state budget, do you support or oppose - cutting state aid to
public schools?

Union
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds

Support 18% 26% 7% 26% 23% 14% 18%

Oppose 79 70 91 70 75 82 80
DK/NA 3 4 2 4 2 3 2

HvKidsIn
UpStat NYC Sub PubSch

Support 21% 13% 22% 15%

Oppose 76 84 75 84
DK/NA 3 2 3 2

TREND: To help balance the state budget, do you support or oppose cutting state aid to
public schools?

Jan 26 Dec 09 Feb 04

2011 2010 2010

Support 18 19 19
Oppose 79 78 78
DK/NA 3 3 2

20. To help balance the state budget, do you support or oppose - cutting state aid to
your local public schools?

Union
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds

Support 18% 24% 7% 27% 23% 14% 18%

Oppose 79 74 91 69 74 84 79
DK/NA 3 2 2 5 3 3 2

HvKidsIn
UpStat NYC Sub PubSch

Support 21% 13% 22% 17%

Oppose 76 85 74 81
DK/NA 3 2 4 2

21. To help balance the state budget, do you support or oppose – cutting Medicaid, which
is the government program which pays for health care for low income people?

Union
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds

Support 28% 44% 16% 29% 31% 25% 32%

Oppose 69 52 82 68 67 70 66
DK/NA 3 4 3 3 2 4 2

UpStat NYC Sub

Support 33% 20% 31%

Oppose 64 77 64
DK/NA 3 3 5

11
22. To help balance the state budget, do you support or oppose – increasing state taxes?

Union
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds

Support 32% 15% 43% 31% 34% 30% 38%

Oppose 66 82 54 67 65 66 62
DK/NA 2 3 3 2 1 4 1

UpStat NYC Sub

Support 25% 37% 35%

Oppose 73 60 63
DK/NA 2 3 2

TREND: To help balance the state budget, do you support or oppose – increasing state
taxes?

Jan 26 Dec 09
2011 2010

Support 32 31
Oppose 66 66
DK/NA 2 4

23. To help balance the state budget, do you think the state will increase taxes or not?

Union
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds

Yes 74% 76% 70% 75% 74% 74% 77%

No 19 16 22 17 20 18 20
DK/NA 7 7 8 8 6 9 3

UpStat NYC Sub

Yes 77% 72% 71%

No 16 20 23
DK/NA 7 9 6

TREND: To help balance the state budget, do you think the state will increase taxes or
not?

Jan 26 Dec 09
2011 2010

Yes 74 82
No 19 13
DK/NA 7 5

12
24. Should there be a cap on how much property taxes can be raised annually in New York
State or not?

Union
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds

Yes 82% 90% 78% 83% 83% 82% 84%

No 13 7 17 11 13 12 14
DK/NA 5 3 5 6 4 6 2

UpStat NYC Sub

Yes 85% 76% 88%

No 11 17 9
DK/NA 4 7 3

25. Historically, the Governor, the Senate Majority Leader, and the Assembly Speaker have
made all the big decisions in Albany with little input from state legislators. With
Andrew Cuomo as governor do you think that Albany's "three men in a room" decision-making
will continue or that other legislators will be more involved?

Union
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds

Three men continues 29% 35% 18% 34% 37% 21% 33%
Other legislators
involved 57 51 66 53 49 64 57
DK/NA 14 14 16 13 14 15 10

UpStat NYC Sub

Three men continue 33% 27% 23%

Other legislators
involved 55 54 66
DK/NA 12 19 11

26. Do you think the public-employee unions have too much political power,
too little political power, or about the right amount of political power?

Union
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds

Too much 50% 64% 36% 56% 51% 48% 37%

Too little 11 4 14 10 7 14 14
About right 29 22 37 27 36 24 46
DK/NA 10 10 13 7 6 14 4

UpStat NYC Sub

Too much 53% 45% 52%

Too little 10 14 7
About right 27 30 32
DK/NA 10 10 10

13