On the heels of the Field poll showing lots of “don’t knows” on Gov. Brown’s performance, out comes the PPIC poll showing slightly declining support for his potential tax extension measures.
Californians’ support for a special election has dropped across parties since January, when majorities favored the idea (73% Democrats, 64% independents, 55% Republicans). Today, 64 percent of Democrats, 57 percent of independents, and just 34 percent of Republicans say it is a good idea.
Support has also declined since January for the package that voters would be considering-a five-year extension of temporary increases in income and sales taxes and the vehicle license fee to avoid additional budget cuts. Today, less than half (46% all adults and likely voters) favor the governor’s proposal, a decline of 7 points among all adults and 8 points among likely voters. (PPIC)
The protracted debate has clearly taken a toll, with the Republican message basically just being an un-nuanced no. However, I think you have to take most of these numbers with something of a grain of salt at this point. The public at large is generally not that well informed on the issues being presented. I think as we head into an election, the messages being distributed will be stark enough that the undecideds break heavily in one direction or another.
Which direction that will be remains to be seen. Oh, and that whole if/when thing is still lingering.
This same poll has over 70% of adults saying we need to go to a 401k system instead of public pensions, including 56% of public employees?! We just went through an economic disaster that wiped out 401k accounts, a conservative wave election that still couldn’t find any traction in California, yet 70%+ supposedly buy the right wing policy approach? Something had to have gone seriously wrong with that poll. Perhaps if the question was “do we need pension reform?” I could buy these numbers, but arguing for 401ks just doesn’t make sense. So is the argument that despite the Midwest banking left from attacks on public unions, the one state that rejected the conservative wave is now suddenly banking right?
I don’t know about all public employees. But teachers, at least, don’t receive Social Security. The pension is instead of that. So that’s why it’s a big deal to change it. It’s really all they get.