Poll: California voters oppose 5 of 6 measures
By JUDY LIN Associated Press Writer
SACRAMENTO—Just three weeks before California's special election, a poll released Wednesday finds Californians opposed to five of the six ballot measures.
The Field Poll suggests Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Democratic legislative leaders face a significant hurdle in persuading voters to support their complicated budget plan. The half-dozen measures were the result of a bipartisan budget package to deal with the state's $42 billion shortfall through June 2010.
"It appears that most likely voters are now on the 'No' side on each of the propositions, from 1A through 1E. None of them are getting more than 40 percent support," said Field Poll Director Mark DiCamillo. "They each have a long way to go."
Only Proposition 1F, which would prohibit elected state officers from receiving raises during deficit years, was the only measure supported by likely voters, with 71 percent in favor. Less than a quarter were opposed.
The poll found likely voters skeptical that the centerpiece of the budget package will solve the state's roller coaster budget cycles by creating a state spending cap and strengthening a rainy day fund. Proposition 1A trails among likely voters, with 49 percent opposed and 40 percent in support.
The survey yielded the same results for Proposition 1B, which would provide public schools and community colleges $9.3 billion in future years to make up for recent reductions. Forty-nine percent opposed Proposition 1B, while 40 percent supported it.
The Field Poll surveyed 901 registered voters in English and Spanish from April 16-26. Out of those, 422 were considered to be likely voters. The sampling error for the likely voters was plus or minus 4.9 percentage points.
Wednesday's results were similar to a poll taken in March by the Public Policy Institute of California, which found voters divided on propositions 1A through 1E.
Proponents of the May 19 special election package have been pitching the spending cap and rainy day fund contained in Proposition 1A as a way to stabilize the state treasury. Complicating their task is that approval of the measure would trigger an extension of the tax hikes the Legislature approved in February.
With expected low turnout, DiCamillo said the special election will be decided by an older voting block composed evenly of Democrats and Republicans despite a Democratic voter registration edge in the state.
"The average age of voters appears to be 55, 10 years older than the overall electorate's age," DiCamillo said.
read more..........
mercurynews.com |
