March 21, 2012 - Connecticut Voters Back Med Marijuana, Sunday Liquor, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Malloy's Approval Rating Improves, Almost Even Word format Connecticut voters support 68 - 27 percent a proposal to allow adults to use marijuana for medical purposes, with a physician's prescription, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. There is no gender, partisan, income, age or education group opposed. By a smaller 54 - 42 percent margin, voters want liquor stores to sell alcoholic beverages on Sunday, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. There are gender and partisan differences: Men support Sunday sales 60 - 37 percent while women are divided 48 - 48 percent. Support is 56 - 41 percent among Democrats and 57 - 40 percent among independent voters, while Republicans split 47 - 48 percent. Connecticut voters oppose 63 - 35 percent allowing convenience stores at gas stations to sell beer. There is no group in favor of this idea. Voters, however, would like more choice in alcoholic beverages at the supermarket: 32 percent say supermarkets should sell only beer, as they do now; 43 percent say supermarkets should be allowed to sell beer and wine; 20 percent say supermarkets should be allowed to sell beer, wine and liquor. "Connecticut may be the land of steady habits but no Sunday liquor sales is one habit voters are ready to kick," said Quinnipiac University Poll Director Douglas Schwartz, PhD. "Voters would like supermarkets to be allowed to sell wine, but don't want to see convenience stores at gas stations sell beer. Perhaps this is out of concern for making it too easy to drink and drive. "Medical marijuana is supported by Connecticut voters across the board." Connecticut voters give Gov. Dannel Malloy an almost-even 44 - 45 percent approval rating, his best score ever. Disapproval is 66 - 24 percent among Republicans and 48 - 40 percent among independent voters while Democrats approve 64 - 27 percent. Men are divided 46 - 46 percent while women disapprove 45 - 41 percent. Voters support Gov. Malloy's proposal to limit teacher tenure 54 - 35 percent. Support is 51 - 38 percent among Democrats and 47 - 41 percent among voters in union households. Voters have an overwhelming 66 - 12 percent favorable opinion of public school teachers, but have a 32 - 27 percent unfavorable opinion of the teachers' unions. Teachers who do an outstanding job should get merit pay, voters say 67 - 28 percent, and it should be easier to fire bad teachers, voters say 62 - 31 percent. Voters in union households support both measures. "Gov. Dannel Malloy's overall approval rating is up slightly because he is doing better with Democrats. This lukewarm 44 - 45 percent score is not bad for a governor who raised the income tax across the board his first year to deal with an inherited deficit," Dr. Schwartz said. A legislative proposal to abolish the death penalty is a "bad idea," Connecticut voters say 62 - 31 percent. Women say keep the death penalty 58 - 33 percent, while men support the death penalty 66 - 29 percent. Democrats back repeal of the death penalty 48 - 44 percent, as do self-described liberals 48 - 45 percent. No other group is against the death penalty. And if the death penalty is abolished, those already sentenced to death should still be executed, voters say 58 - 35 percent. "As we've seen in past Quinnipiac University polls, Connecticut voters still think abolishing the death penalty is a bad idea," Schwartz said. "No doubt the gruesome Cheshire murders still affect public opinion regarding convicts on death row." From March 14 - 19, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,622 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.4 percentage points. Live interviewers call landlines and cell phones. The Quinnipiac University Poll conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio, Virginia, 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. 20. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Dannel Malloy is handling his job as Governor? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Lib Mod Con Approve 44% 24% 64% 40% 46% 41% 65% 46% 24% Disapprove 45 66 27 48 46 45 23 45 66 DK/NA 11 9 10 12 8 14 12 10 10 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Dannel Malloy is handling his job as Governor? Mar 21 Sep 15 Jun 15 Mar 09 2012 2011 2011 2011 Approve 44 41 38 35 Disapprove 45 48 44 40 DK/NA 11 11 18 25 21. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Lib Mod Con Approve 35% 19% 50% 33% 34% 36% 53% 38% 15% Disapprove 50 69 30 56 57 45 30 48 72 DK/NA 15 12 20 12 10 20 17 14 13 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job? APPROVE....... High Low Mar 21 Sep 15 Jun 15 Jul 16 Jun 10 Jun 3 Sep 15 2012 2011 2011 2010 2010 2004 2011 Approve 35 27 33 28 29 48 27 Disapprove 50 57 50 58 57 33 57 DK/NA 15 16 17 14 14 19 16 25. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Dannel Malloy is handling education? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Lib Mod Con Approve 36% 30% 45% 33% 41% 32% 44% 39% 27% Disapprove 41 53 30 42 41 41 32 40 51 DK/NA 23 18 25 24 18 27 24 21 22 Union HAVE KIDS AREA............... HsHlds <18 PubSch City Suburb Rural Approve 36% 37% 40% 40% 34% 37% Disapprove 47 48 46 35 44 42 DK/NA 17 15 13 25 22 21 26. How would you rate the quality of Connecticut's public schools; very good, fairly good, fairly bad, or very bad? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Lib Mod Con Very good 17% 14% 19% 16% 17% 16% 19% 15% 18% Fairly good 60 60 60 60 62 57 61 63 54 Fairly bad 12 15 10 13 12 13 10 11 17 Very bad 4 4 3 4 3 4 3 4 4 DK/NA 7 8 8 7 5 9 7 7 8 Union HAVE KIDS AREA............... HsHlds <18 PubSch City Suburb Rural Very good 21% 21% 22% 12% 18% 18% Fairly good 59 61 62 60 60 62 Fairly bad 12 12 12 16 12 10 Very bad 2 3 1 5 4 2 DK/NA 6 3 2 7 7 8 TREND: How would you rate the quality of Connecticut's public schools? Very good, fairly good, fairly bad, or very bad? Mar 21 May 9 Nov 19 2012 2007 1997 Very good 17 16 11 Fairly good 60 58 58 Fairly bad 12 11 18 Very bad 4 5 6 DK/NA 7 9 7 27. How would you rate the quality of the public schools in your community; very good, fairly good, fairly bad, or very bad? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Lib Mod Con Very good 41% 45% 39% 40% 41% 40% 39% 42% 39% Fairly good 44 42 43 46 46 43 46 43 45 Fairly bad 8 7 9 9 8 8 7 9 9 Very bad 4 4 4 3 2 5 4 3 4 DK/NA 3 3 4 3 2 4 3 3 3 Union HAVE KIDS AREA............... HsHlds <18 PubSch City Suburb Rural Very good 43% 45% 49% 21% 45% 52% Fairly good 42 41 42 55 41 39 Fairly bad 9 7 5 11 8 6 Very bad 4 5 2 9 3 1 DK/NA 2 1 1 4 3 3 TREND: How would you rate the quality of the public schools in your community? Very good, fairly good, fairly bad, or very bad? Mar 21 May 9 2012 2007 Very good 41 40 Fairly good 44 43 Fairly bad 8 9 Very bad 4 4 DK/NA 3 4 28. Is your opinion of Connecticut's public school teachers favorable, unfavorable, or haven't you heard enough about them? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Lib Mod Con Favorable 66% 63% 69% 66% 66% 67% 77% 67% 56% Unfavorable 12 17 8 11 14 9 8 9 20 Hvn't hrd enough 20 19 21 20 19 22 14 22 24 REFUSED 2 1 1 3 1 3 1 2 1 Union HAVE KIDS AREA............... HsHlds <18 PubSch City Suburb Rural Favorable 72% 76% 81% 62% 68% 71% Unfavorable 11 12 11 12 11 12 Hvn't hrd enough 16 11 7 25 19 16 REFUSED 1 1 1 2 2 1 29. Is your opinion of the state's teachers' unions favorable, unfavorable, or haven't you heard enough about them? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Lib Mod Con Favorable 27% 18% 36% 25% 30% 24% 40% 27% 16% Unfavorable 32 50 18 34 37 28 17 31 49 Hvn't hrd enough 39 31 44 41 32 47 41 41 33 REFUSED 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 Union HAVE KIDS AREA............... HsHlds <18 PubSch City Suburb Rural Favorable 43% 30% 30% 36% 24% 26% Unfavorable 28 33 31 28 34 35 Hvn't hrd enough 28 35 38 35 41 38 REFUSED 1 1 1 1 1 1 30. Some people say that public school teachers who do an outstanding job should be rewarded with additional pay, so-called merit pay. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Lib Mod Con Good idea 67% 68% 69% 64% 70% 64% 67% 71% 61% Bad idea 28 28 26 31 25 31 27 25 33 DK/NA 5 4 5 5 5 5 6 4 6 Union HAVE KIDS AREA............... HsHlds <18 PubSch City Suburb Rural Good idea 61% 69% 68% 72% 66% 64% Bad idea 34 26 28 25 29 29 DK/NA 5 5 4 3 5 7 31. Some people have suggested that firing public school teachers should be made easier. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Lib Mod Con Good idea 62% 71% 52% 66% 65% 59% 55% 67% 64% Bad idea 31 25 39 27 30 33 36 27 31 DK/NA 7 4 9 7 5 8 9 7 5 Union HAVE KIDS AREA............... HsHlds <18 PubSch City Suburb Rural Good idea 55% 66% 68% 55% 63% 68% Bad idea 39 30 27 39 30 27 DK/NA 7 4 5 6 7 5 32. Governor Malloy wants to limit teacher tenure. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Lib Mod Con Good idea 54% 56% 51% 56% 56% 51% 54% 55% 54% Bad idea 35 34 38 33 36 34 38 35 33 DK/NA 11 10 11 11 8 15 8 10 13 Union HAVE KIDS AREA............... HsHlds <18 PubSch City Suburb Rural Good idea 47% 54% 54% 44% 57% 57% Bad idea 41 36 35 40 33 35 DK/NA 11 10 11 17 10 8 33. Currently, Connecticut liquor stores are not allowed to sell alcohol on Sunday. Do you think Connecticut liquor stores should be allowed to sell alcohol on Sunday or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Lib Mod Con Yes 54% 47% 56% 57% 60% 48% 64% 56% 45% No 42 48 41 40 37 48 32 40 51 DK/NA 4 5 4 3 3 4 4 3 4 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YRS....... ANNUAL HsHOLD INCOME Yes No 18-44 45-64 65+ <50K 50-100 >100K Yes 64% 47% 70% 54% 36% 47% 56% 65% No 33 49 28 42 59 51 40 32 DK/NA 3 4 2 4 5 3 4 3 TREND: Currently, Connecticut liquor stores are not allowed to sell alcohol on Sunday. Do you think Connecticut liquor stores should be allowed to sell alcohol on Sunday or not? Mar 21 Mar 10 Mar 18 Mar 10 2012 2011 2010 2009 Yes 54 66 56 54 No 42 31 39 44 DK/NA 4 3 5 2 34. Currently, convenience stores at gas stations in Connecticut are not allowed to sell beer. Do you think convenience stores at gas stations in Connecticut should be allowed to sell beer or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Lib Mod Con Yes 35% 27% 38% 37% 43% 28% 47% 36% 27% No 63 72 60 60 56 69 51 62 71 DK/NA 2 1 2 3 2 3 2 2 2 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YRS....... ANNUAL HsHOLD INCOME Yes No 18-44 45-64 65+ <50K 50-100 >100K Yes 40% 32% 49% 35% 21% 30% 36% 43% No 57 66 48 64 77 68 62 54 DK/NA 3 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 35. Connecticut supermarkets are currently allowed to sell beer. Do you think that supermarkets in Connecticut should be allowed to sell only beer, to sell beer and wine, or to sell beer, wine, and liquor? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Lib Mod Con Only beer 32% 36% 31% 32% 32% 32% 27% 31% 38% Beer and wine 43 44 46 41 41 45 45 47 37 Beer/wine/liquor 20 16 18 22 23 17 24 17 19 DK/NA 5 4 4 6 4 6 5 4 6 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YRS....... ANNUAL HsHOLD INCOME Yes No 18-44 45-64 65+ <50K 50-100 >100K Only beer 24% 38% 22% 33% 43% 38% 34% 24% Beer and wine 47 40 43 46 38 38 46 48 Beer/wine/liquor 24 16 32 16 12 17 18 25 DK/NA 4 6 3 5 8 8 2 3 36. There is a proposal in the state legislature that would allow adults to legally use marijuana for medical purposes if their doctor prescribes it. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Lib Mod Con Good idea 68% 51% 75% 71% 69% 67% 82% 72% 51% Bad idea 27 46 21 23 28 27 14 23 46 DK/NA 4 2 5 5 3 6 3 5 4 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YRS....... ANNUAL HsHOLD INCOME Yes No 18-44 45-64 65+ <50K 50-100 >100K Good idea 68% 68% 75% 71% 59% 69% 73% 68% Bad idea 27 28 22 26 35 26 22 30 DK/NA 5 4 4 3 6 5 5 2 TREND: There is a proposal in the state legislature that would allow adults to legally use marijuana for medical purposes if their doctor prescribes it. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea? Mar 21 Mar 10 2012 2011 Good idea 68 79 Bad idea 27 17 DK/NA 4 3 37. There is a proposal in the state legislature to abolish the death penalty. Do you think abolishing the death penalty in Connecticut is a good idea or a bad idea? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Lib Mod Con Good idea 31% 15% 48% 29% 29% 33% 48% 31% 18% Bad idea 62 82 44 63 66 58 45 61 80 DK/NA 7 3 8 8 5 9 7 8 3 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YRS....... ANNUAL HsHOLD INCOME Yes No 18-44 45-64 65+ <50K 50-100 >100K Good idea 38% 27% 28% 32% 36% 32% 34% 31% Bad idea 55 66 66 60 58 62 59 64 DK/NA 7 7 7 7 5 7 7 4 Union HAVE KIDS AREA............... HsHlds <18 PubSch City Suburb Rural Good idea 34% 29% 29% 38% 29% 28% Bad idea 59 65 63 54 64 66 DK/NA 6 6 7 8 7 6 38. If Connecticut abolishes the death penalty, do you think those who have already been sentenced to the death penalty should still be executed or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Lib Mod Con Yes 58% 72% 45% 61% 61% 56% 44% 58% 73% No 35 22 44 34 35 35 50 35 21 DK/NA 7 6 10 5 4 9 6 7 5 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YRS....... ANNUAL HsHOLD INCOME Yes No 18-44 45-64 65+ <50K 50-100 >100K Yes 54% 61% 54% 62% 58% 57% 57% 62% No 39 32 40 32 34 36 39 33 DK/NA 6 7 6 6 8 6 4 5 Union HAVE KIDS AREA............... HsHlds <18 PubSch City Suburb Rural Yes 62% 63% 62% 52% 59% 64% No 34 32 33 40 34 31 DK/NA 4 5 6 8 7 5 Demographic Summary
