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FOR INFORMATION: Dr. Bruce Merrill at 602-618-1320 or Dr. Tara Blanc at 602-542-6392 - Arizona voters overwhelmingly against funding cuts for
education, all-day kindergarten - Many Arizonans unfamiliar with governor; majority of
those with an opinion approve job she is
doing - Voters support temporary sales tax increase to balance
budget - Majority support Obama; have confidence economic
policies will work - Arizonans hit hard by economic downturn; not much
optimism for next year TEMPE, Ariz. ––More than two-thirds of Arizona voters say that education is the one area in the state budget that should not be cut, according to a new statewide Cronkite/Eight poll. The poll, conducted April 23-26, found that 69 percent of Arizona voters are against any cuts in education funding. Another 10 percent don’t want cuts made in funding for law enforcement and public safety, and 3 percent say no cuts should be made in funding for the Border Patrol, children’s services or healthcare, respectively. The poll also found overwhelming support for all-day kindergarten. When asked about areas in which they think cuts could be made, cutting administrative costs (8 percent), roads and transportation (6 percent) and salaries for top executives and officials (4 percent) were mentioned most frequently. Nearly half of those interviewed (46 percent) could not mention a single area in which they thought spending could be reduced. More than one-third of Arizona voters (35 percent) said they did not know enough about Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer to rate the job she is doing. However, among those with an opinion, 56 percent approve of the job she is doing. A majority (58%) of those with an opinion also said they have a great deal (9%) or some confidence (49%) that Brewer is making the right decisions to pull the state out of its economic problems. Brewer does have support among Arizona voters for a proposed tax increase, as the poll also found that 60 percent of the state’s voters would support a temporary one-percent state sales tax increase being proposed by the governor to help offset the current budget deficit. Fifty-three percent of all Arizona voters (60% of those with an opinion), give President Barack Obama a positive job performance rating, 36 percent disapprove of the job he is doing and 11 percent have no opinion. Support for Obama divides strongly along partisan lines. While 87 percent of the Democrats and 68 percent of political independents give the president positive ratings, only 32 percent of Republicans say he is doing a good job. Sixty percent of those interviewed say they have a great deal (27 percent) or some (33 percent) confidence that Obama is making the right decisions to pull the country out of the current economic crisis. Forty-eight percent of Arizona voters think the way Obama has conducted foreign affairs since he was elected has improved the image of the United States abroad while 27 percent say his actions have worsened the country’s image abroad and 19 percent say Obama has made little difference in this area. The survey also found that Arizonans have been hit hard by the economic downturn. More than three-quarters of those interviewed said the downturn has affected them a great deal (28 percent) or somewhat (48 percent); 24 percent say they have not really been affected. The poll also found that 27 percent of those interviewed believe that their own financial situation will improve during the next year, 20 percent said it will get worse and 49 percent said it will probably stay about the same. The statewide sample of 390 registered voters was 40 percent Republican, 34 percent Democrat and 26 percent Independent. Fifty-eight percent of the interviews were conducted in Maricopa County, 18 percent in Pima County and 24 percent in Arizona’s other counties. Fifty percent of the voters interviewed are men and 50 percent are women. The sampling error for the survey was plus or minus 5 percent. Question wording: 1. First, overall, do you approve or disapprove of the job Barack Obama is doing as president of the United States? Total With opinion approve 53% 60% disapprove 36% 40% no opinion 11% ---- 2. Would you say the current financial crisis has affected you and your family a great deal, somewhat or really not much? a great deal 28% somewhat 48% really not much 24% 3. Thinking about the next year or so, do you think your financial situation will stay about the same, get better or get worse? stay about the same 49% get better 27% get worse 20% no opinion 4% 4. How much confidence do you have that President Obama is making the right decisions to pull the country out of our current economic crisis? Do you have a great deal of confidence in what he is doing, some confidence or not much confidence? Total With opinion a great deal of confidence 27% 28% some confidence 33% 34% not much confidence 37% 38% no opinion 3% --- 5. Do you think the way President Obama has conducted foreign affairs since he has been in office has improved the image of the United States abroad, worsened our image or made little difference? Total With opinion improved 48% 51% worsened 27% 29 little difference 19% 20 no opinion 6% --- 6. Next, we’d like to know how you would rate the job that Jan Brewer is doing as governor of Arizona. Overall, do you approve or disapprove of the job she is doing? Total With opinion approve 37% 56% disapprove 28% 44% no opinion 35% ---- 7. How much confidence do you have that Governor Brewer is making the right decisions to pull the state out of the current economic crisis? Do you have a great deal of confidence in what she is doing, some confidence or not much confidence? Total With opinion a great deal of confidence 7% 9% some confidence 40% 49% not much confidence 34% 42% no opinion 19% --- 8. Arizona is facing a large budget deficit for the next fiscal year and some programs and services will have to be cut in order to balance the budget. Please finish this sentence for me: The one area in which I think cuts COULD be made is: Administration 8% Roads/transportation 6% Salaries of top officials 4% Government spending 3% Don’t cut anything 3% Welfare 3% Education 3% Elected officials 2% Social services 2% Benefits/services for illegals 2% Prison system/jails 2% Other 16% No answer 46% 9. Now, please finish this sentence: The one area in which I do NOT think cuts should be made is: Education 69% Public safety 10% Healthcare 3% Children’s services 3% Border patrol 3% Other 5% No answer 7% 10. Governor Brewer has proposed a temporary one-percent sales tax increase to help offset the deficit in the state’s budget. Would you support or oppose this proposal? Total With opinion support 60% 63% oppose 35% 37% no opinion 5% --- 11. How important is it to you that Arizona schools provide all-day kindergarten? Is it very important somewhat important or not very important? very important 41% somewhat important 25% not very important 30% no opinion 4% |
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