Maurice Carroll, Director,

Quinnipiac University Polling

Institute
(203) 582-5334

Rubenstein Associates, Inc.

Public Relations
Contact: Pat Smith
FOR RELEASE: (212)
JUNE 843-
2, 2011

NEW YORKERS BACK NEW PROPERTY TAX CAP PLAN 2-1,

QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY POLL FINDS;
SUPPORT FOR SAME-SEX MARRIAGE INCHES UP TO NEW HIGH
New York State voters support 60 – 30 percent a cap on property taxes proposed by Gov.
Andrew Cuomo and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, with 54 – 35 percent support among
Democrats and 56 – 37 percent backing among voters in union households, according to a
Quinnipiac University poll released today.
Voters also support another bread-and-butter issue, rent regulation, 62 – 31 percent, the
independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. Support is 51 – 41 percent
among Republicans, 74 – 22 percent among Democrats and 55 – 37 percent among independent
voters. New York City voters support rent regulation 71 – 25 percent, while suburban voters
back it 61 – 35 percent and upstate voters are for it 54 – 35 percent.
Support for legislation allowing same-sex couples to marry is 58 – 36 percent, higher
than ever while statistically unchanged from 56 – 38 percent April 14. Support is 72 – 23
percent among Democrats and 58 – 34 percent among independent voters, while Republicans are
opposed 64 – 34 percent. There is little gender gap: men support same-sex marriage 58 – 37
percent, while women back it 59 – 34 percent.
“New Yorkers support same-sex marriage, but their top priorities are the property tax cap
and ethics reform,” said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
“In three Quinnipiac University polls earlier this year, we asked New Yorkers about a
property tax cap in a simple question with no conditions or qualifiers. Support was at about 80
percent. Now that we’ve got a real piece of legislation, with some limits as the result of
compromise between Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, support drops
to 60 percent. But 60 percent is not chopped liver.”
-more-
Quinnipiac University Poll/June 2, 2011 – page 2
New York State voters say 52 – 41 percent that state legislators who practice law should
be required to name their clients.
On drawing the district lines from which state legislators and members of Congress are
elected:
• 46 percent favor an independent commission with no connection to the legislature;
• 31 percent would allow some legislative input;
• 13 percent want to keep the current system where legislators draw the lines.
Voters oppose 49 – 45 percent public financing for governor and other statewide offices
and for members of the State Legislature.
Setting legislative priorities:
• 82 percent say ethics reform is “very” or “somewhat” important;
• 79 percent of voters say a property tax cap is “very important” or “somewhat important;”
• 65 percent say strengthening New York City rent regulations are “very” or “somewhat”
important;
• 65 percent say non-partisan redistricting is “very” or “somewhat” important;
• 51 percent say legalizing same-sex marriage is “very” or “somewhat” important.
Given an “either-or” choice, New York State voters say 82 – 13 percent that teacher
layoffs should be based on performance rather than seniority. But offered another choice, 50
percent say teacher layoffs should be based on a combination of performance and seniority, with
40 percent opting for performance only and 7 percent opting for seniority only.
A total of 70 percent of voters are “very concerned” or “somewhat concerned” that
transferring state obligations to local government will lead to reduced services.
“We’ve found in past polls that voters endorsed tightening fiscal controls,” Carroll said,
“but they’re worried that state budget cuts will hurt local schools, local services and Medicaid.
“We did a split sample about teacher layoffs and found that, if it wasn’t a straight choice
between seniority and performance, lots of New Yorkers thought both factors should count.”
From May 24 – 30, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,257 registered voters with a margin
of error of +/- 2.8 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.

2
18. As you may know, there is a proposal to cap local property tax increases at 2 percent
annually in New York State. The tax cap could be overridden with 60 percent of a local
school district vote. Do you support or oppose this proposal capping local property tax
increases at 2 percent annually in New York State?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk

Support 60% 74% 54% 61% 65% 56% 67% 35%

Oppose 30 23 35 28 28 31 24 49
DK/NA 10 3 11 11 6 13 9 16

Union Own Rent

UpStat NYC Sub HsHld Home Home

Support 67% 53% 61% 56% 67% 49%

Oppose 24 35 30 37 25 38
DK/NA 8 12 8 7 8 13

19. Do you think state legislators who are practicing lawyers should be required to
publicly disclose their client list or not?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Yes 52% 56% 46% 59% 58% 46%

No 41 37 46 37 37 45
DK/NA 7 7 8 5 5 8

Union
UpStat NYC Sub HsHlds

Yes 52% 46% 61% 55%

No 41 46 35 40
DK/NA 8 8 3 5

TREND: Do you think state legislators who are practicing lawyers should be required to
publicly disclose their client lists or not? (* "disclose their clients")

Jun 02 Apr 14 Jan 27

2011 2011* 2011*

Yes 52 55 48
No 41 40 42
DK/NA 7 6 9

20. Do you support or oppose public financing of campaigns for governor, other statewide
offices and the state legislature?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Support 45% 35% 54% 44% 49% 42%

Oppose 49 60 40 53 46 52
DK/NA 5 6 6 3 5 5

Union
UpStat NYC Sub HsHlds

Support 40% 48% 49% 42%

Oppose 53 47 48 54
DK/NA 7 5 3 4

3
TREND: Do you support or oppose public financing of campaigns for governor, other
statewide offices and the state legislature?

Jun 02 Apr 14 Jan 27

2011 2011 2011

Support 45 41 40
Oppose 49 52 51
DK/NA 5 7 9

21. Who do you think should draw the district lines by which members of the state
legislature and Congress are elected - the state legislature, or a commission that
has no connection to the state legislature, or an independent commission with some
legislative input?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

State legislature 13% 17% 16% 9% 12% 15%

Commissn/No connect 46 48 43 48 50 42
Commissn/legis input 31 32 28 34 30 31
DK/NA 10 3 12 9 8 12

Union
UpStat NYC Sub HsHlds

State legislature 11% 18% 9% 14%

Commissn/No connect 48 40 52 47
Commissn/legis input 31 32 30 32
DK/NA 10 10 9 6

TREND: Who do you think should draw the district lines by which members of the state
legislature and Congress are elected: the state legislature, a commission that has
no connection to the state legislature, or an independent commission with some
legislative input?

Jun 02 Apr 14
2011 2011

State legislature 13 12
Commissn/No connect 46 51
Commissn/legis input 31 29
DK/NA 10 7

22. Would you support or oppose a law that would allow same-sex couples to get married?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Support 58% 34% 72% 58% 58% 59%

Oppose 36 64 23 34 37 34
DK/NA 6 3 6 8 5 7

Union
UpStat NYC Sub HsHlds

Support 55% 61% 59% 63%

Oppose 40 33 33 33
DK/NA 5 5 8 4

4
TREND: Would you support or oppose a law that would allow same-sex couples to get married?

SUPPORT...
High Low
Jun 02 Apr 14 Feb 24 Jan 27 Dec 16 Jun 02 Apr 15
2011 2011 2011 2011 2009 2011 2004

Support 58 56 54 56 47 58 37
Oppose 36 38 39 37 46 36 66
DK/NA 6 5 7 7 7 6 8

23. Do you support or oppose rent regulation, which controls the amount of
rent a landlord can charge a tenant?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk

Support 62% 51% 74% 55% 60% 64% 59% 63%

Oppose 31 41 22 37 34 28 33 34
DK/NA 6 8 4 8 6 7 8 4

Union Own Rent

UpStat NYC Sub HsHld Home Home

Support 54% 71% 61% 65% 58% 70%

Oppose 35 25 35 31 34 28
DK/NA 11 4 4 5 9 2

TREND: Do you support or oppose rent regulation, which controls the amount of
rent a landlord can charge a tenant?

Jun 02 Apr 14
2011 2011

Support 62 59
Oppose 31 33
DK/NA 6 8

24. (Introduction for questions 24a-24e) For each of the following issues, please tell
me how important it is to you, if at all, that the state legislature pass legislation on
this issue this year. Is it very important, somewhat important, not too important, or
not important at all?

24a) Strengthening rent regulation

24b) Legalizing same sex marriage
24c) Pass property tax cap
24d) Pass ethics reform
24e) Pass non-partisan redistricting

Rent Gay Tax Ethcs Re-

Cntrl Marg Cap Refrm disticting

Very important 38% 28% 53% 53% 27%

Somewhat important 27 23 26 29 38
Not too important 16 16 8 7 18
Not important at all 14 24 9 4 7
DON'T PASS IT(VOL) 1 7 2 - -
DK/NA(VOL) 5 2 2 6 9

5
24a. How important, if at all, is it to you that the state legislature pass
legislation strengthening New York City rent regulation this year? Very important,
somewhat important, not too important, or not important at all?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Very important 38% 22% 50% 30% 36% 39%

Somewhat important 27 29 27 27 24 29
Not too important 16 19 11 22 17 16
Not important at all 14 24 7 17 18 10
DON'T PASS IT(VOL) 1 1 1 1 1 -
DK/NA(VOL) 5 6 5 4 4 6

Union
UpStat NYC Sub HsHlds

Very important 20% 60% 27% 41%

Somewhat important 26 24 32 24
Not too important 24 7 19 16
Not important at all 20 6 16 16
DON'T PASS IT(VOL) - - 2 -
DK/NA(VOL) 9 2 3 3

24b. How important, if at all, is it to you that the state legislature pass
legislation legalizing same sex marriage this year? Very important, somewhat important,
not too important, or not important at all?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Very important 28% 12% 43% 20% 25% 31%

Somewhat important 23 16 21 30 24 22
Not too important 16 16 15 18 16 15
Not important at all 24 43 14 26 27 21
DON'T PASS IT(VOL) 7 11 5 5 6 7
DK/NA(VOL) 2 2 2 1 1 4

Union
UpStat NYC Sub HsHlds

Very important 24% 32% 29% 33%

Somewhat important 23 24 23 26
Not too important 15 15 18 14
Not important at all 29 21 21 20
DON'T PASS IT(VOL) 7 6 7 6
DK/NA(VOL) 2 2 3 1

6
24c. How important, if at all, is it to you that the state legislature pass a
property tax cap this year? Very important, somewhat important, not too important,
or not important at all?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Very important 53% 64% 50% 52% 56% 52%

Somewhat important 26 23 25 29 25 26
Not too important 8 6 9 8 8 8
Not important at all 9 6 9 9 9 9
DON'T PASS IT(VOL) 2 1 2 1 1 2
DK/NA(VOL) 2 - 4 1 1 4

Union
UpStat NYC Sub HsHlds

Very important 52% 50% 62% 52%

Somewhat important 28 26 22 26
Not too important 8 9 6 8
Not important at all 8 10 7 11
DON'T PASS IT(VOL) 1 2 2 1
DK/NA(VOL) 3 4 - 1

24d. How important, if at all, is it to you that the state legislature pass ethics
reform this year? Very important, somewhat important, not too important, or
not important at all?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Very important 53% 52% 53% 52% 59% 48%

Somewhat important 29 39 25 29 28 30
Not too important 7 3 9 8 6 8
Not important at all 4 3 3 6 3 5
DON'T PASS IT(VOL) - - - - - -
DK/NA(VOL) 6 3 9 5 4 8

Union
UpStat NYC Sub HsHlds

Very important 52% 54% 52% 53%

Somewhat important 32 24 33 32
Not too important 6 9 7 8
Not important at all 3 4 7 3
DON'T PASS IT(VOL) - - - -
DK/NA(VOL) 6 9 2 4

7
24e. How important, if at all, is it to you that the state legislature pass
non-partisan redistricting this year? Very important, somewhat important,
not too important, or not important at all?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Very important 27% 24% 29% 28% 31% 24%

Somewhat important 38 41 35 42 38 39
Not too important 18 19 20 15 17 18
Not important at all 7 9 6 7 8 7
DON'T PASS IT(VOL) - 1 - - - -
DK/NA(VOL) 9 6 11 7 6 11

Union
UpStat NYC Sub HsHlds

Very important 27% 30% 23% 28%

Somewhat important 41 33 44 40
Not too important 17 18 20 17
Not important at all 7 6 10 8
DON'T PASS IT(VOL) - - - -
DK/NA(VOL) 8 13 3 7

25. Is your opinion of New York State's public school teachers favorable,
unfavorable, or haven't you heard enough about them?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Favorable 54% 45% 63% 48% 52% 55%

Unfavorable 21 31 14 26 22 21
Hvn't hrd enough 21 19 20 21 22 20
REFUSED 4 4 3 5 4 4

Union HvKidsIn
UpStat NYC Sub HsHlds PubSch

Favorable 51% 57% 53% 61% 60%

Unfavorable 25 18 20 18 19
Hvn't hrd enough 20 20 24 17 17
REFUSED 5 4 3 4 3

TREND: Is your opinion of New York State's public school teachers favorable,
unfavorable, or haven't you heard enough about them?

Jun 02 Apr 14 Feb 24

2011 2011 2011

Favorable 54 49 50%
Unfavorable 21 25 22
Hvn't hrd enough 21 22 25
REFUSED 4 3 3

8
26. Generally speaking, do you believe the teachers' unions are playing a positive
or a negative role in improving New York State's educational system?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Positive 43% 24% 57% 36% 42% 43%

Negative 48 69 34 53 49 47
DK/NA 10 7 9 11 9 10

Union HvKidsIn
UpStat NYC Sub HsHlds PubSch

Positive 39% 51% 36% 54% 50%

Negative 49 41 58 39 45
DK/NA 12 9 7 7 5

TREND: Generally speaking, do you believe the teachers' unions are playing a positive
or a negative role in improving New York State's educational system?

Jun 02 Apr 14 Feb 24 Apr 15

2011 2011 2011 2004

Positive 43 42 39 48
Negative 48 49 51 35
DK/NA 10 9 10 17

27. 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

Good idea 68% 68% 69% 66% 69% 67%

Bad idea 28 30 26 29 28 28
DK/NA 4 2 5 5 4 5

Union HvKidsIn
UpStat NYC Sub HsHlds PubSch

Good idea 64% 70% 69% 57% 66%

Bad idea 30 26 29 39 31
DK/NA 6 4 2 4 3

TREND: 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?

Jun 02 Apr 14 Feb 24

2011 2011 2011

Good idea 68 67 64
Bad idea 28 30 33
DK/NA 4 3 3

9
28. 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

Good idea 63% 76% 53% 68% 66% 60%

Bad idea 31 22 39 26 30 33
DK/NA 6 2 8 6 5 7

Union HvKidsIn
UpStat NYC Sub HsHlds PubSch

Good idea 65% 56% 71% 57% 61%

Bad idea 29 37 26 39 34
DK/NA 6 7 3 4 6

TREND: 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?

Jun 02 Apr 14 Feb 24

2011 2011 2011

Good idea 63 64 62
Bad idea 31 31 33
DK/NA 6 5 5

29a. (Split Sample A) If public school administrators need to lay off teachers, do you
think they should lay off teachers based on their performance or based on seniority?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Seniority 13% 10% 17% 9% 14% 12%

Performance 82 87 78 86 82 82
DK/NA 5 3 5 5 5 6

Union
UpStat NYC Sub HsHlds

Seniority 14% 10% 15% 19%

Performance 83 83 77 77
DK/NA 3 6 8 4

TREND: If public school administrators need to lay off teachers, do you think they
should lay off teachers based on their performance or based on seniority?

Jun 02 Apr 14 Feb 24

2011 2011 2011

Seniority 13 14 12
Performance 82 82 85
DK/NA 5 4 4

10
29b. (Split Sample B) If public school administrators need to lay off teachers, do you
think they should lay off teachers based solely on their performance, based solely on
seniority, or based on a combination of performance and seniority?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Seniority 7% 5% 9% 5% 7% 6%
Performance 40 45 37 46 36 44
Combination of both 50 46 51 46 53 47
DK/NA 3 4 3 3 4 2

Union
UpStat NYC Sub HsHlds

Seniority 6% 6% 8% 14%
Performance 39 39 45 32
Combination of both 52 52 43 53
DK/NA 3 3 4 1

30. Do you think government workers should have to wait until they are 65 to collect
their pensions or not?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Yes 56% 69% 50% 55% 58% 54%

No 39 26 44 39 37 40
DK/NA 5 4 5 6 5 6

Union HvKidsIn
UpStat NYC Sub HsHlds PubSch

Yes 55% 50% 67% 42% 51%

No 38 45 29 53 45
DK/NA 6 5 4 5 4

TREND: Do you think government workers should have to wait until they are 65 to collect
their pensions or not?

Jun 02 Feb 23
2011 2011

Yes 56 63
No 39 33
DK/NA 5 4

11
31. How concerned are you that - the school aid cuts will negatively affect local
education? Very concerned, somewhat concerned, not too concerned, or not concerned
at all?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Very concerned 47% 34% 64% 34% 43% 51%

Somewhat concerned 28 28 24 34 28 28
Not too concerned 12 19 6 17 16 10
Not concerned at all 10 18 4 14 13 9
DK/NA 1 1 2 1 - 2

Union HvKidsIn
UpStat NYC Sub HsHlds PubSch

Very concerned 39% 62% 38% 55% 70%

Somewhat concerned 35 20 32 26 17
Not too concerned 14 8 17 11 6
Not concerned at all 11 9 12 8 7
DK/NA 2 1 1 - -

32. How concerned are you that - the Medicaid cuts will negatively affect health care?
Very concerned, somewhat concerned, not too concerned, or not concerned at all?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Very concerned 56% 40% 70% 46% 48% 64%

Somewhat concerned 26 28 23 29 28 24
Not too concerned 10 14 4 15 15 5
Not concerned at all 7 16 2 9 8 6
DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 1

Union
UpStat NYC Sub HsHlds

Very concerned 49% 69% 47% 57%

Somewhat concerned 28 20 31 27
Not too concerned 11 5 15 9
Not concerned at all 10 5 6 6
DK/NA 2 1 1 -

33. How concerned are you that - the state transferring obligations to localities
will lead to government services suffering? Very concerned, somewhat concerned,
not too concerned, or not concerned at all?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Very concerned 34% 25% 41% 30% 33% 36%

Somewhat concerned 36 35 36 40 34 38
Not too concerned 16 22 14 15 20 13
Not concerned at all 9 15 4 10 9 8
DK/NA 4 4 4 5 4 5

Union
UpStat NYC Sub HsHlds

Very concerned 29% 42% 31% 36%

Somewhat concerned 39 34 36 37
Not too concerned 19 13 17 17
Not concerned at all 9 6 13 6
DK/NA 5 5 4 3
12
13