December 24, 2008 - New Yorkers, Even Diet Drinkers, Oppose Fat Tax, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Voters Back Millionaires Tax 6 - 1 Word format New York State voters oppose the so-called 'Fat Tax' on non-diet soft drinks 60 - 37 percent, as even those who prefer diet soft drinks oppose the measure 58 - 39 percent, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. People who prefer non-diet or regular soft drinks oppose the 'Fat Tax' 64 - 31 percent, as do Democrats 54 - 43 percent, Republicans 72 - 27 percent and independent voters 59 - 39 percent. Results among men and women are similar, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe- ack) University poll finds. Independent voters are the most weight conscious on the political spectrum as 37 percent prefer diet soft drinks, compared to 27 percent of Republicans and 30 percent of Democrats. New York State voters approve 53 - 29 percent of the job Gov. David Paterson is doing, but disapprove 46 - 40 percent of the way he is handling the state budget. Still voters say 54 - 33 percent Paterson has the leadership ability to solve the state's budget problems. Voters agree with Paterson 88 - 8 percent that the state has a budget crisis. In another question, 96 percent of voters say the state's budget problems are "somewhat serious" or "very serious, with 3 percent saying the problems are "not too serious." By a 53 - 36 percent margin, voters would rather cut services than raise taxes. But voters support 84 - 13 percent raising the state income tax on people who make more than $1 million per year. Even Republicans back this millionaires tax 72 - 27 percent. "Voters aren't swallowing the proposal to tax non-diet soft drinks, the so-called Fat Tax," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "But Gov. David Paterson has won the bigger argument: Almost everyone agrees the state is in lousy shape. Overwhelmingly, they buy the governor's characterization: We're in a 'crisis,'" "Now comes the hard part - deciding what to do. Most New Yorkers would sooner cut services than raise taxes," Carroll added. "With one easy exception - we'd hit the rich. Remember that verse: Don't tax you; don't tax me; tax the guy behind the tree? Particularly if the guy behind the tree has a lot of money, we say: Go for it." Looking at what services to cut to balance the state budget: 65 percent say cut economic development aid; 10 percent say cut education funding; 10 percent say cut health care funding. Looking at what taxes to raise, if taxes must be raised: 44 percent say increase auto registration fees; 31 percent say raise sales taxes; 14 percent say raise the income tax. New York State voters oppose 79 - 19 percent raising taxes on gasoline, with strong opposition across the political spectrum. But voters support 73 - 26 percent increasing taxes on cigarettes and 67 - 32 percent increasing taxes on alcoholic beverages. "Voters would rather tax booze than soft drinks. Is this blue state also a blue nose state?" Carroll asked. A total of 70 percent of New York State voters are "somewhat dissatisfied" or "very dissatisfied" with the way things are going in the state today, while 30 percent are "very satisfied" or "somewhat satisfied." This is the lowest satisfaction rate ever measured for the state. Looking at their own finances, 51 percent of New Yorkers describe them as "not so good" or "poor," while 5 percent say "excellent" and 43 percent say "good." Things got worse for them in the last year, 60 percent say, as 18 percent say things got better and 21 percent say things stayed the same. Only 24 percent expect things to get better in the next year, as 22 percent say things will get worse and 50 percent say things will stay the same. From December 17 - 21, Quinnipiac University surveyed 834 New York State registered voters, with a margin of error of +/- 3.4 percentage points. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and nationwide as a public service and for research. For more data or RSS feed - http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, or call (203) 582-5201. 1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way David Paterson is handling his job as Governor? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 53% 41% 61% 50% 57% 50% Disapprove 29 38 23 32 28 29 DK/NA 18 21 17 18 16 21 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Approve 53% 43% 45% 62% 55% Disapprove 36 35 36 25 22 DK/NA 11 22 20 14 23 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way David Paterson is handling his job as Governor? Dec 24 Aug 6 Jun 12 Apr 17 2008 2008 2008 2008 Approve 53 64 56 50 Disapprove 29 14 17 10 DK/NA 18 22 27 39 5. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 30% 29% 32% 29% 29% 31% Disapprove 55 57 50 59 58 52 DK/NA 15 14 18 13 13 17 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Approve 14% 27% 24% 35% 33% Disapprove 70 62 64 48 49 DK/NA 15 11 12 17 18 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job? (* also 26% 8/11/2004) Highest Lowest Approve Approve Dec 24 Aug 6 Jun 12 Apr 17 Oct 2 Apr 4 Aug 6 2008 2008 2008 2008 2007 2007 2008 * Approve 30 26 29 32 30 34 26 Disapprove 55 55 55 51 52 43 55 DK/NA 15 18 16 17 18 23 18 6. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Thomas DiNapoli is handling his job as State Comptroller? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 33% 33% 34% 34% 38% 30% Disapprove 20 18 22 17 20 20 DK/NA 47 49 44 49 42 50 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Approve 33% 36% 35% 31% 33% Disapprove 18 19 18 24 16 DK/NA 49 46 46 45 51 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Thomas DiNapoli is handling his job as State Comptroller? Highest Lowest Approve Approve Dec 24 Aug 6 Jun 12 Apr 17 Oct 2 Jul 31 Apr 4 2008 2008 2008 2008 2007 2007 2007 Approve 33 25 30 27 30 34 24 Disapprove 20 16 13 16 12 15 13 DK/NA 47 59 57 57 58 51 63 8. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Sheldon Silver is handling his job as State Assembly Speaker? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 38% 38% 43% 30% 39% 37% Disapprove 34 36 30 39 39 30 DK/NA 28 26 27 32 23 33 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Approve 24% 30% 29% 49% 37% Disapprove 48 38 40 30 28 DK/NA 28 32 31 21 35 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Sheldon Silver is handling his job as State Assembly Speaker? Highest Lowest Approve Approve Dec 24 Aug 6 Jun 12 Apr 17 Oct 2 Dec 24 Aug 11 2008 2008 2008 2008 2007 2008 2004 Approve 38 31 32 34 29 38 26 Disapprove 34 31 31 31 35 34 33 DK/NA 28 38 37 35 36 28 41 9. Is your opinion of Barack Obama favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Favorable 74% 45% 92% 71% 74% 74% Unfavorable 12 31 3 11 13 12 Hvn't hrd enough 11 22 3 15 11 12 REFUSED 2 2 1 3 2 2 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Favorable 73% 63% 65% 84% 75% Unfavorable 12 17 16 8 13 Hvn't hrd enough 14 16 16 6 11 REFUSED 1 3 3 2 1 TREND: Is your opinion of -- Barack Obama favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? FAVORABLE..... Highest Lowest Dec 24 Jun 11 Apr 18 Mar 21 Oct 3 Dec 24 Feb 14 2008 2008 2008 2008 2007 2008 2007 Favorable 74 55 50 56 54 74 44 Unfavorable 12 28 31 25 20 12 9 Hvn't hrd enough 11 14 18 17 24 11 46 REFUSED 2 3 1 2 3 2 1 16. 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? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Very satisfied 3% 2% 4% 2% 3% 3% Smwht satisfied 27 22 30 28 24 29 Smwht dissatisfied 34 39 35 28 36 32 Very dissatisfied 36 37 31 40 37 35 DK/NA 1 - - 1 - 1 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Very satisfied 1% 2% 1% 4% 4% Smwht satisfied 19 18 18 34 32 Smwht dissatisfied 31 32 32 34 38 Very dissatisfied 48 48 48 28 24 DK/NA 1 1 1 - 1 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? Dec 24 Aug 6 Jun 12 Apr 17 Mar 24 Dec 12 May 17 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2007 2006 Very satisfied 3 3 3 3 3 5 3 Smwht satisfied 27 34 37 38 34 44 36 Smwht dissatisfied 34 38 34 33 37 33 35 Very dissatisfied 36 25 25 24 23 18 26 DK/NA 1 1 1 2 2 1 - 17. What do you think is the most important problem facing New York State today? Tot Economy Total 43% Economy general 15 Unemployment/jobs 23 Stock market 1 Cost of living 2 Business leaving/Outsourcing 1 Economy other 1 Taxes Total 19% Taxes general 13 Property tax 5 Cigarette tax 1 Budget Total 17% Budget general 6 Budget cuts/Cuts in services 2 Budget deficits 6 Gov too big/Gov spending 2 Budget priorities 1 Education Total 4% Education general 2 Funding education 2 Politicians Total 3% Politicians/Campaigns general 1 Political corruption 1 Governor/State leadership 1 Healthcare/Costs/Ins/HMO's 2 Crime/Violence general 1 Housing general 1 Poverty/Homeless 1 Immigration 1 Other 4 DK/NA 2 TREND: What do you think is the most important problem facing New York State today? (To save space sub category rows showing 1% or less in current study may have been removed. Total rows are accurate for date specified.) Dec 24 May 17 Mar 29 Jan 19 Feb 10 2008 2006 2006 2006 2005 Budget/Spending Total 17% 4% 6% 5% 7% Budget general 6 2 3 2 3 Budget cuts/Cuts in services 2 - - - 1 Budget deficits 6 1 1 - 1 Government too big/Gov spending 2 - 1 1 1 Budget priorities 1 1 1 1 - Crime Total 1% 3% 2% 2% 3% Crime/Violence general 1 2 2 2 2 Economy Total 43% 16% 17% 19% 23% Economy general 15 6 4 5 4 Unemployment/jobs 23 6 10 9 15 Stock market 1 - - - - Cost of living 2 3 2 3 2 Businesses leaving/Outsourcing 1 1 1 1 1 Economy other 1 - - - - Education Total 4% 11% 14% 11% 11% Education general 2 8 9 7 7 Funding education 2 3 5 3 4 Healthcare Total 2% 5% 6% 6% 9% Healthcare/Costs/Insurance/HMO's 2 5 5 5 6 Housing Total 1% 2% 3% 3% 2% Housing general 1 - 1 1 1 Immigration 1 3 1 2 1 Politicians/Campaigns Total 3% 3% 5% 5% 3% Politicians/Campaigns general 1 1 1 - 1 Political corruption 1 1 1 2 1 Governor/State leadership 1 1 3 2 1 Poverty/Homeless 1 1 - 1 2 Taxes Total 19% 28% 24% 25% 18% Taxes general 13 19 18 19 13 Property tax 5 7 5 5 4 Cigarette tax 1 - - - - Other 4 4 5 3 4 DK/NA 2 4 6 6 5 18. Would you describe the state of the nation's economy these days as excellent, good, not so good, or poor? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Excellent - - - - - - Good 3 6 2 2 4 2 Not so good 27 37 19 31 31 24 Poor 70 56 79 67 65 73 DK/NA - - 1 - - 1 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Excellent - - - - - Good 4 3 3 1 6 Not so good 31 29 29 25 27 Poor 65 69 68 73 67 DK/NA - - - - 1 TREND: Would you describe the state of the nation's economy these days as excellent, good, not so good, or poor? Dec 24 Nov 15 Apr 26 2008 2001 2001 Excellent - 1 2 Good 3 29 46 Not so good 27 54 41 Poor 70 14 9 DK/NA - 1 2 19. Would you describe the state of New York's economy these days as excellent, good, not so good, or poor? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Excellent - - - - - - Good 6 7 4 10 8 5 Not so good 43 42 46 39 44 42 Poor 51 50 49 50 49 52 DK/NA 1 - - 1 - 1 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Excellent - - - - - Good 7 5 6 4 12 Not so good 37 35 35 48 48 Poor 57 59 58 48 39 DK/NA - 1 1 - 1 TREND: Would you describe the state of New York State's economy these days as excellent, good, not so good, or poor? COMBINED EXCLNT&GOOD High Low Dec 24 Aug 6 Jun 12 Apr 17 Mar 29 Mar 29 Dec 24 2008 2008 2008 2008 2006 2006 2008 Excellent - - - 1 2 2 - Good 6 12 21 20 35 35 6 Not so good 43 48 48 53 40 40 43 Poor 51 38 28 25 22 22 51 DK/NA 1 1 3 1 2 2 1 20. Would you describe the state of your own personal finances these days as excellent, good, not so good, or poor? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Excellent 5% 8% 4% 4% 4% 6% Good 43 49 40 42 48 38 Not so good 35 32 37 39 33 38 Poor 16 12 18 15 15 17 DK/NA 1 - 1 1 1 1 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Excellent 5% 6% 5% 5% 5% Good 55 43 45 41 42 Not so good 25 36 34 37 36 Poor 15 15 15 17 16 DK/NA - 1 1 - 2 TREND: Would you describe the state of your own personal finances these days as excellent, good, not so good, or poor? Dec 24 Jan 23 Nov 15 2008 2002 2001 Excellent 5 9 8 Good 43 53 59 Not so good 35 28 25 Poor 16 8 6 DK/NA 1 1 2 21. Would you say that you are better off or worse off financially than you were a year ago? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Better off 18% 19% 18% 20% 19% 18% Worse off 60 61 60 59 60 60 SAME(VOL) 21 20 21 20 20 21 DK/NA 1 1 1 2 1 2 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Better off 21% 19% 19% 20% 14% Worse off 54 60 59 59 64 SAME(VOL) 25 20 21 20 21 DK/NA - 1 1 2 1 TREND: Would you say that you are better off or worse off financially than you were a year ago? Dec 24 Mar 29 2008 2006 Better off 18 39% Worse off 60 37 SAME(VOL) 21 22 DK/NA 1 1 22. During the next 12 months, do you think your own personal finances will get better, get worse, or stay about the same? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Get better 24% 23% 27% 20% 30% 20% Get worse 22 21 19 29 19 25 Stay the same 50 49 52 49 45 53 DK/NA 4 7 2 3 5 2 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Get better 24% 18% 19% 31% 24% Get worse 22 27 26 18 23 Stay the same 53 51 51 50 46 DK/NA 1 4 4 2 7 TREND: During the next 12 months, do you think your own personal finances will get better, get worse, or stay about the same? Dec 24 Jan 23 Nov 15 2008 2002 2001 Get better 24 41% 35 Get worse 22 6 7 Stay the same 50 51 55 DK/NA 4 2 3 23. By the end of Barack Obama's term in office, do you expect the economy to be better than it is today, worse than it is today, or about the same? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Better 70% 49% 85% 68% 72% 69% Worse 6 11 3 8 7 6 Same 17 30 10 19 14 20 DK/NA 6 10 3 6 7 5 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Better 70% 67% 68% 76% 67% Worse 4 9 8 5 5 Same 24 17 18 15 19 DK/NA 2 7 6 5 9 24. Do you approve or disapprove of the way David Paterson is handling the state budget? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 40% 35% 42% 40% 46% 35% Disapprove 46 50 42 49 44 48 DK/NA 14 15 16 11 11 17 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Approve 41% 37% 37% 40% 43% Disapprove 50 51 51 47 35 DK/NA 9 12 12 13 21 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way David Paterson is handling the state budget? (*handled the state budget) Dec 14 Apr 17 2008 2008* Approve 40 52% Disapprove 46 18 DK/NA 14 29 25. How serious do you think New York State's budget problems are - very serious, somewhat serious, not too serious, or not at all serious? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Very serious 71% 71% 70% 71% 68% 73% Smwht serious 25 28 26 24 28 23 Not too serious 3 1 2 5 3 3 Not at all serious - - - - - - DK/NA 1 - 1 1 1 1 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Very serious 82% 74% 76% 69% 65% Smwht serious 17 22 21 27 32 Not too serious 1 3 2 3 4 Not at all serious - - - - - DK/NA - 1 1 1 - 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? Dec 24 Aug 6 Nov 6 Feb 12 Dec 18 2008 2008 2003 2003 2002 Very serious 71 63 62 57 48 Smwht serious 25 32 30 37 44 Not too serious 3 2 5 3 5 Not at all serious - 1 1 1 1 DK/NA 1 2 1 1 3 26. Do you believe that New York State's budget problems are serious enough that it is necessary to have a tax increase? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 40% 28% 47% 41% 40% 40% No 53 65 44 55 55 51 DK/NA 7 7 9 4 5 9 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Yes 40% 35% 36% 45% 41% No 54 58 57 50 48 DK/NA 6 7 7 5 11 27. Do you believe that New York State's budget problems are serious enough that it is necessary to cut some state services? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 73% 74% 72% 73% 79% 67% No 23 23 24 22 20 26 DK/NA 4 3 4 4 1 7 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Yes 79% 79% 79% 66% 71% No 11 19 18 29 23 DK/NA 10 2 3 4 6 28. To balance the state budget, if you had to choose, would you prefer - raising taxes or cutting government programs and services? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Raising taxes 36% 19% 48% 33% 31% 40% Cutting services 53 73 39 59 61 47 DK/NA 11 8 13 8 9 12 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Raising taxes 21% 25% 24% 49% 39% Cutting services 70 64 65 40 52 DK/NA 10 11 11 11 10 TREND: To balance the state budget, if you had to choose, would you prefer - raising taxes or cutting government programs and services? Dec 24 Aug 6 2008 2008 Raising taxes 36 32 Cutting services 53 56 DK/NA 11 12 29. If a tax increase is needed, which would you prefer - raising the state sales tax, raising the state income tax or increasing the fee for auto registration? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Raise sales tax 31% 36% 26% 35% 31% 31% Raise income tax 14 13 15 12 17 11 Increase autoreg.fee 44 36 51 42 39 49 DK/NA 11 15 8 10 13 9 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Raise sales tax 25% 34% 33% 29% 31% Raise income tax 19 17 18 12 9 Increase autoreg.fee 39 35 36 52 49 DK/NA 17 13 14 8 11 30. There is a proposal to raise the state income tax paid by people who earn more than a million dollars a year. Do you support or oppose this proposal? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 84% 72% 93% 81% 82% 87% Oppose 13 27 5 15 17 11 DK/NA 2 1 2 4 1 3 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Support 81% 83% 83% 88% 81% Oppose 18 14 15 11 14 DK/NA 1 2 2 1 5 TREND: There is a proposal to raise the state income tax paid by people who earn more than a million dollars a year. Do you support or oppose this proposal? Dec 24 Aug 6 2008 2008 Support 84 78 Oppose 13 18 DK/NA 2 4 31. There is a proposal for an "obesity tax" or a "fat tax" on non-diet sugary soft drinks. Do you support or oppose such a measure? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 37% 27% 43% 39% 36% 38% Oppose 60 72 54 59 60 59 DK/NA 3 1 3 2 3 3 UpState..... UpState SOFT DRINK OF CHOICEq32 Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Diet Regular Support 35% 32% 32% 39% 44% 39% 31% Oppose 60 65 64 57 55 58 64 DK/NA 6 3 4 4 2 3 4 32. Which would you say that you drink more often - diet soft drinks or regular, non-diet soft drinks? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Diet 31% 27% 30% 37% 31% 31% Regular 38 42 39 34 39 36 DK/NA 31 31 31 29 30 33 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Diet 25% 34% 32% 27% 35% Regular 38 35 36 41 37 DK/NA 37 31 32 33 28 33. Do you support or oppose increasing taxes on gasoline? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 19% 10% 25% 18% 22% 17% Oppose 79 89 72 79 77 80 DK/NA 2 - 3 3 1 3 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Support 19% 11% 13% 29% 15% Oppose 81 87 85 68 83 DK/NA - 2 2 3 2 34. Do you support or oppose increasing taxes on alcoholic beverages? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 67% 53% 76% 64% 56% 76% Oppose 32 44 23 35 43 23 DK/NA 1 2 1 1 1 1 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Support 61% 63% 62% 72% 67% Oppose 37 36 36 27 33 DK/NA 3 2 2 1 - 35. Do you support or oppose increasing taxes on cigarettes? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 73% 69% 79% 67% 73% 73% Oppose 26 30 19 33 27 25 DK/NA 1 1 1 - 1 2 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Support 70% 66% 66% 78% 76% Oppose 28 33 32 21 22 DK/NA 2 2 2 - 2 36. Governor Paterson says New York State has a budget crisis. Do you agree or disagree? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Agree 88% 84% 89% 88% 89% 87% Disagree 8 8 7 10 9 7 DK/NA 4 8 4 2 3 6 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Agree 90% 89% 89% 88% 87% Disagree 8 9 9 9 4 DK/NA 2 3 3 3 10 TREND: Governor Paterson says New York State has a budget crisis. Do you agree or disagree? Dec 24 Aug 6 2008 2008 Agree 88 86 Disagree 8 8 DK/NA 4 6 37. Do you think Governor Paterson has the leadership ability to solve the state's budget problems? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 54% 43% 63% 50% 55% 53% No 33 40 25 41 34 33 DK/NA 13 17 12 9 11 14 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Yes 56% 50% 51% 55% 58% No 31 38 37 32 28 DK/NA 13 12 12 13 14 TREND: Do you think Governor Paterson has the leadership ability to solve the state's budget problems? Dec 24 Aug 6 2008 2008 Yes 54 54 No 33 22 DK/NA 13 24 38. Do you think Governor Paterson and the state legislature will be able to work together to solve the state's budget problems? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 60% 52% 65% 58% 62% 59% No 30 36 24 33 29 30 DK/NA 10 12 11 9 9 12 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Yes 54% 49% 50% 70% 64% No 38 41 40 20 24 DK/NA 8 10 10 10 12 TREND: Do you think Governor Paterson and the state legislature will be able to work together to solve the state's budget problems? Dec 24 Aug 6 2008 2008 Yes 60 57 No 30 26 DK/NA 10 16 39. To balance the state budget, if you had to choose, where do you think state spending should be decreased - health care, education or economic development? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Health care 10% 10% 10% 10% 16% 4% Education 10 12 8 12 11 9 Economic development 65 67 66 63 60 70 DK/NA 15 11 16 15 13 17 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Health care 14% 9% 9% 13% 5% Education 11 14 13 7 8 Economic development 65 60 61 67 72 DK/NA 11 18 17 13 15
