Maurice Carroll, Director, Quinnipiac University Polling Institute (203) 582-5334 Rubenstein Associates, Inc.

Public Relations Contact: Pat Smith (212) 843-8026

FOR RELEASE: FEBRUARY 12, 2014

NEW YORK VOTERS BACK CUOMOS NO-TAX PRE-K PLAN, QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY POLL FINDS; VOTERS CLOSER SOUL MATES TO GOV THAN MAYOR DE BLASIO
By a 47 37 percent margin, including 49 40 percent among New York City voters, all New York State voters back Gov. Andrew Cuomos plan for universal pre-kindergarten with no new taxes over New York City Mayor Bill de Blasios plan to fund pre-K with a city income tax hike on high-income families, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Voters support 76 20 percent state funding in general of universal pre-K, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds, with support at 59 35 percent among Republicans, 91 7 percent among Democrats and 73 23 percent among independent voters. A total of 78 percent of voters say universal pre-K would be very effective or somewhat effective in improving education for all New York State children. A total of 74 percent say universal pre-K would be very or somewhat effective in putting poor children on a path out of poverty. Voters say 55 42 percent that pre-kindergarten education should be optional, not mandatory. Women say optional 51 46 percent and men say optional 59 38 percent. Backing Gov. Cuomos no-tax pre-K plan are Republicans, 60 20 percent, independent voters 48 37 percent, men 44 37 percent, women, 49 37 percent, upstate voters 43 36 percent and suburban voters 50 34 percent. Democrats back de Blasios plan 49 39 percent. Just about everyone in this most liberal of states likes universal pre-kindergarten and they think overwhelmingly that kids will learn and that it will help them out of poverty, said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. But voters prefer Gov. Andrew Cuomos no-new-taxes approach to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasios tax-the-rich plan to pay for those new classes. -more-

Quinnipiac University Poll/February 12, 2014 page 2 The mayor made his argument again in his State-of-the-City speech. It will be interesting to see how a mayor elected with a huge margin of a small turnout fares with up-forelection state officials, Carroll added. In an open-ended question, allowing for any answer, a total of 28 percent of New York State voters list the economy or jobs or wages as the top priority for Gov. Cuomo and the State Legislature. A total of 18 percent list education or education funding. This group includes 1 percent who specifically said pre-Kindergarten or early childhood education. A total of 12 percent list priorities related to taxes and only 2 percent list income inequality or class inequality. Environmental concerns outweigh economic benefits as New York State voters oppose 45 41 percent drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale. Suburban voters support drilling by a slim 44 40 percent margin, while New York City voters are opposed 48 35 percent. Upstate voters are divided with 46 percent in favor of drilling and 45 percent opposed. Cuomo is dragging his feet to avoid making a decision on hydraulic fracturing, 35 percent of voters say, while 23 percent say he is carefully evaluating the issue, with 37 percent undecided. Upstate voters say 45 24 percent the governor is dragging his feet. Cuomo or de Blasio Gov. Cuomo most closely represents their political views, 44 percent of New York State voters say, while 27 percent line up with Mayor de Blasio, leaving 28 percent undecided. Cuomo wins more hearts and minds among every party, gender and regional group except New York City voters, who identify with de Blasio 44 38 percent. Who do voters feel more at home with philosophically? Cuomo has the edge over de Blasio, except in New York City, Carroll said. From February 6 10, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,488 New York State voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.5 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, Iowa, Ohio, Virginia, Colorado and the nation as a public service and for research. For more information, visit http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter.

8. Is your opinion of Bill de Blasio favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Favorable Unfavorable Hvn't hrd enough REFUSED 31% 24 44 2 Rep 13% 39 47 2 Dem 49% 9 41 1 Ind 23% 29 45 3 Men 34% 25 39 2 Wom 27% 22 48 2 AREA............. UpStat NYC Sub 13% 18 67 1 51% 22 24 3 28% 37 33 2

20. What do you think should be the top priority for Governor Cuomo and the State Legislature in 2014? Tot Economy(General) Jobs/Unemployment Wages/Minimum Wage Economy(Other) Income inequality Class inequality Budget(General) Government spending Taxes(General) Property taxes Taxes(Other) Education(General) Funding/Spending education Pre-K/Early childhood ed Education(Other) Unions (General) Crime/Safety Gun Issues/Policy/Control Healthcare Social Issues/Soc Services Poverty/Homelessness Housing/Affordable housing Marijuana Roads/Infrastructure Environment Hydro-fracking Caring about people Govt Corruption/Ethics Other DK/NA 5% 21 1 1 1 1 3 1 10 1 1 13 1 1 3 1 1 3 3 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 9 8

31. Who do you believe most closely represents your political views, Governor Andrew Cuomo or New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio? Tot Cuomo de Blasio DK/NA 44% 27 28 Rep 43% 13 44 Dem 45% 41 14 Ind 47% 22 31 Men 44% 29 28 Wom 45% 26 29 AREA............. UpStat NYC Sub 45% 16 39 38% 44 18 54% 19 27

32. Do you support or oppose the state government funding universal pre-K education, so that all New York State children can attend pre-school? Tot Support Oppose DK/NA 76% 20 4 Rep 59% 35 6 Dem 91% 7 3 Ind 73% 23 4 Men 75% 21 4 Wom 78% 18 4 AREA............. UpStat NYC Sub 73% 23 4 83% 13 4 72% 24 3

33. How effective do you think universal pre-K would be in improving education for New York State children; very effective, somewhat effective, not so effective, or not effective at all? Tot Very effective 44% Smwht effective 34 Not so effective 9 Not effective at all 10 DK/NA 3 Rep 26% 35 14 21 4 Dem 61% 31 4 2 2 Ind 38% 37 12 10 3 Men 36% 37 11 12 4 Wom 51% 31 8 7 2 AREA............. UpStat NYC Sub 41% 35 11 10 3 52% 30 7 7 4 38% 37 10 14 1

34. How effective do you think universal pre-K would be in helping to put poor children on a path out of poverty; very effective, somewhat effective, not so effective, or not effective at all? Tot Very effective Smwht effective Not so effective Not effective at all DK/NA 35% 39 10 13 3 Rep 21% 33 16 26 3 Dem 52% 39 4 3 2 Ind 27% 44 12 14 3 Men 33% 37 12 15 3 Wom 37% 41 8 10 3 AREA............. UpStat NYC Sub 31% 39 12 15 3 43% 39 6 9 3 32% 39 14 15 1

35. Governor Andrew Cuomo wants to pay for pre-K for all New York State children without raising taxes by using existing state funds. New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio wants to pay for pre-K for New York City children by raising New York City income taxes on households earning more than $500,000 saying that if state funding gets cut, pre-K for New York City children will still be funded. Do you think that New York City should raise these taxes to fund New York City pre-K or do you think that New York State should fund statewide pre-K without raising taxes? Tot NYC tax funds pre-K NYS funds w/no tax BOTH (VOL) NEITHER (VOL) DK/NA 37% 47 3 7 6 Rep 20% 60 2 13 4 Dem 49% 39 4 1 6 Ind 37% 48 2 8 5 Men 37% 44 3 9 6 Wom 37% 49 3 5 6 AREA............. UpStat NYC Sub 36% 43 3 10 8 40% 49 3 3 6 34% 50 3 8 5

36. Do you think pre-K education should be mandatory or optional? Tot Mandatory Optional DK/NA 42% 55 3 Rep 28% 68 4 Dem 57% 41 3 Ind 36% 61 3 Men 38% 59 3 Wom 46% 51 3 AREA............. UpStat NYC Sub 38% 59 4 48% 49 3 41% 57 2

37. Some people say there should be drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale because of the economic benefits. Others say there should not be drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale because of the environmental impact. Which comes closer to your point of view? Tot Drilling No drilling DK/NA 41% 45 14 Rep 66% 24 11 Dem 28% 56 15 Ind 41% 45 13 Men 50% 40 10 Wom 33% 49 17 AREA............. UpStat NYC Sub 46% 45 9 35% 48 17 44% 40 16

TREND: Some people say there should be drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale because of the economic benefits. Others say there should not be drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale because of the environmental impact. Which comes closer to your point of view? DRILLING...... High Low Aug 11 Mar 20 2011 2013 47 42 12 39 46 14

Feb 12 2014 Drilling No drilling DK/NA 41 45 14

Nov 27 2013 44 46 10

Jun 06 2013 46 44 9

Apr 18 2013 42 46 12

Mar 20 2013 39 46 14

38. Which comes closer to your point of view; Governor Cuomo is carefully evaluating the issue of hydro-fracking, or Governor Cuomo is dragging his feet and trying to avoid making a decision on the issue of hydro-fracking, or don't you have an opinion on that? Tot Carefully evaluating 23% Dragging his feet 35 No opinion 37 DK/NA 5 Rep 15% 49 31 5 Dem 31% 23 42 4 Ind 19% 38 37 6 Men 24% 41 30 5 Wom 22% 29 43 6 AREA............. UpStat NYC Sub 24% 45 27 4 22% 26 45 7 23% 32 39 6

TREND: Which comes closer to your point of view; Governor Cuomo is carefully evaluating the issue of hydro-fracking, or Governor Cuomo is dragging his feet and trying to avoid making a decision on the issue of hydro-fracking, or don't you have an opinion on that? Feb 12 2014 Carefully evaluating 23 Dragging his feet 35 No opinion 37 DK/NA 5 Nov 27 2013 21 39 38 3 Jun 06 2013 22 36 38 4 Apr 18 2013 24 32 41 3 Mar 20 2013 21 30 46 3 Dec 13 2012 26 25 44 4