{"id":40802207198,"date":"2008-03-09T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2008-03-09T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/polling-institute\/reports\/monmouthpoll_nj_030908\/"},"modified":"2019-07-29T13:07:42","modified_gmt":"2019-07-29T17:07:42","slug":"monmouthpoll_nj_030908","status":"publish","type":"poll","link":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/polling-institute\/reports\/monmouthpoll_nj_030908\/","title":{"rendered":"Debt Plan Takes Toll on Corzine\u2019s Job Rating"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Nearly two months after being unveiled, Governor Jon Corzine\u2019s plan to pay down state debt by raising tolls has not gained any new support among the New Jersey public.  The latest Monmouth University\/Gannett New Jersey Poll<\/em><\/strong> finds residents in agreement that the state\u2019s debt burden is a major problem, but most are unconvinced that the drastic action proposed by the governor is necessary.   The poll also finds that Governor Corzine\u2019s town hall meetings have not been an unqualified success, and that views of his overall job performance have reached an all-time low.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a Monmouth\/Gannett poll that was released just one week after the governor announced the toll road plan in his January 8th<\/sup> State of the State address, 56% of the public were opposed, 15% supported it and 29% had no opinion.  Two months and 13 town hall meetings later, absolutely nothing has changed.  The current poll finds an identical 56% of New Jerseyans who oppose the plan to raise tolls about 50 percent every four years for 14 years in order to reduce state debt and fund transportation projects.  Only 15% support it and 29% do not have an opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, the poll asked those who initially expressed no opinion in which direction they lean.  After combining these results with those who register an initial reaction, the poll found that fully 74% of the public either oppose or lean toward opposing the plan, compared to only 22% who are inclined to support it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The current poll also finds that just over half (54%) of state residents have read or heard about the series of town hall meetings Corzine held to explain his plan.  According to the poll, these meetings do not appear to have had the effect the governor intended.  Only 15% say they helped the governor\u2019s cause, 29% say they did more to hurt his cause, and 47% say they had no impact on moving public opinion of the toll road plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although the public opposes the governor\u2019s proposal, they do take the state\u2019s debt burden seriously.  Fully 77% of New Jerseyans say the amount of state indebtedness is a major problem.  In fact, the public as a whole is dead-on in estimating the actual amount of state debt.  The poll asked respondents to guess how much debt New Jersey currently carries.  The average among all responses was $31.6 billion \u2013 less than one billion shy of the actual mark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Governor Corzine contends that tamping down debt payments which have ballooned since 2006 is more urgent than controlling other sources of spending growth.  The public agrees with him to a point.  Specifically, more New Jerseyans say \u2013 by a 47% to 31% margin \u2013 that growth in state debt is a bigger problem than growth in state worker pensions and benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the public parts ways with the governor on the need to take drastic action now.  More New Jerseyans prefer the state continue making regularly scheduled payments until the debt is retired (51%) than feel we should try to pay off a big chunk of the principal in order to lower the annual debt service (37%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe poll shows that the public acknowledges the scope of the problem.  They just differ with Corzine on the solution,\u201d said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The governor has said he is willing to entertain alternatives to his plan and the poll asked New Jersey residents about three of these options.  A slim majority of the public say they would favor a smaller toll increase that would double tolls over the next ten years in order to pay down state debt \u2013 52% favor to 43% oppose.  They are split over leasing operation of the state lottery \u2013 42% favor to 40% oppose.  And they are decidedly negative on increasing the gas tax by 18 cents over the next three years to pay down debt \u2013 only 17% favor to 82% oppose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since revenues from the governor\u2019s initial toll hike plan were supposed to be used for both debt reduction and transportation projects, the poll asked whether any of these three alternatives should be used to create a dedicated transportation fund.  The poll came up with basically the same results as for debt reduction \u2013 50% favor to 41% oppose doubling the tolls over ten years, 34% favor to 44% oppose leasing the lottery, and 16% favor to 82% oppose raising the gas tax to fund transportation projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Governor Corzine\u2019s Job Performance<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While opposition to the toll road plan has changed little since Governor Corzine first announced it, his own job ratings have taken a steep dive since the beginning of the year.  Currently, a majority (52%) of the New Jersey public disapprove of the job Jon Corzine is doing as governor.  Only 37% approve and another 11% have no opinion.  This marks the highest job disapproval rating for Governor Corzine recorded by the Monmouth University\/Gannett New Jersey Poll<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Republicans (67% disapprove to 22% approve) and independents (57% disapprove to 32% approve) are similar in their negative views of the governor\u2019s job performance.  The governor has a net positive rating only among his fellow Democrats (51% approve to 39% disapprove).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jon Corzine is doing even worse among registered voters than he is with the general public as a whole.  This is important as he looks toward a potential re-election bid next year.  His current job rating among state voters stands at 34% approve to 55% disapprove.  Less than six months ago, this stood at 47% approve to 34% disapprove (October 2007). After his State of the State address in January, this fell to 42% approve to 46% disapprove.  Furthermore, a poll taken by Quinnipiac University in mid-February showed his job rating had declined to 37% approve to 52% disapprove among state voters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe saw public opinion of the governor take an immediate hit after his State of the State address.  It continued to decline as he went on the road to sell his toll hike plan, and has dropped even further since he unveiled his budget,\u201d said Murray.  [Note: The Monmouth University\/Gannett New Jersey Poll will release a poll on the budget plan tomorrow.]<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The state legislature fares no better than the governor in the public\u2019s eyes.  Currently, only 28% of New Jerseyans approve of the job the legislature is doing compared to 50% who disapprove.  This is down from the October 2007 poll, when 33% approved to 41% who disapproved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Monmouth University\/Gannett New Jersey Poll<\/em> was conducted by telephone with 805 New Jersey adults from March 4 to 6, 2008.  This sample has a margin of error of \u00b1 3.5 percent.  The poll was conducted by the Monmouth University Polling Institute and originally published by the Gannett New Jersey newspaper group (Asbury Park Press, Courier-Post, Courier News, Daily Journal, Daily Record, and Home News Tribune).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DATA TABLES<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The questions referred to in this release are as follows:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(* Some columns may not add to 100% due to rounding.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1.<\/span> Do you approve or disapprove of the job Jon Corzine is doing as governor?<\/span><\/p>\n
 <\/td>\n

TOTAL<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>

REGISTERED
VOTER<\/td>		\n

PARTY ID<\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

 <\/td> <\/strong><\/td>\n

Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>

No<\/td>Dem<\/td>Ind<\/td>\n

Rep<\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

 <\/td>Approve<\/td> <\/td>37%<\/strong><\/td>34%<\/td>51%<\/td>51%<\/td>32%<\/td>22%<\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>Disapprove<\/td> <\/td>52%<\/strong><\/td>55%<\/td>39%<\/td>39%<\/td>57%<\/td>67%<\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>(VOL) Don\u2019t know<\/td> <\/td>11%<\/strong><\/td>11%<\/td>10%<\/td>10%<\/td>11%<\/td>11%<\/td><\/tr>
 <\/em><\/td>Unwtd N<\/em><\/td> <\/em><\/td>\n

805<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>

719<\/em><\/td>86<\/em><\/td>261<\/em><\/td>302<\/em><\/td>\n

210<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n\n\n\n
  TREND: <\/strong><\/td>\n

March
2008<\/p>\n<\/td>

Jan.
2008<\/td>		Oct.
2007<\/td>		July
2007<\/td>		April
2007<\/td>		Feb.
2007<\/td>		Sept.
2006<\/td>		July
2006<\/td>		\n

April
2006<\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

  Approve<\/td>37%<\/td>40%<\/td>46%<\/td>46%<\/td>51%<\/td>44%<\/td>42%<\/td>37%<\/td>34%<\/td><\/tr>
  Disapprove<\/td>52%<\/td>44%<\/td>32%<\/td>36%<\/td>29%<\/td>34%<\/td>38%<\/td>43%<\/td>37%<\/td><\/tr>
  (VOL) Don\u2019t know<\/td>11%<\/td>16%<\/td>22%<\/td>18%<\/td>20%<\/td>22%<\/td>20%<\/td>20%<\/td>29%<\/td><\/tr>
  Unwtd N<\/em><\/td>\n

805<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td>

804<\/em><\/td>801<\/em><\/td>800<\/em><\/td>804<\/em><\/td>801<\/em><\/td>800<\/em><\/td>802<\/em><\/td>\n

803<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

2.<\/span> Do you approve or disapprove of the job the state legislature is doing?<\/span><\/p>\n
 <\/td>\n

TOTAL<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>

REGISTERED
VOTER<\/td>		\n

PARTY ID<\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

 <\/td> <\/strong><\/td>\n

Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>

No<\/td>Dem<\/td>Ind<\/td>\n

Rep<\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

 <\/td>Approve<\/td> <\/td>28%<\/strong><\/td>25%<\/td>47%<\/td>34%<\/td>27%<\/td>19%<\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>Disapprove<\/td> <\/td>50%<\/strong><\/td>53%<\/td>32%<\/td>40%<\/td>54%<\/td>64%<\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>(VOL) Don\u2019t know<\/td> <\/td>22%<\/strong><\/td>22%<\/td>21%<\/td>26%<\/td>19%<\/td>17%<\/td><\/tr>
 <\/em><\/td>Unwtd N<\/em><\/td> <\/em><\/td>\n

805<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>

719<\/em><\/td>86<\/em><\/td>261<\/em><\/td>302<\/em><\/td>\n

210<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n\n\n\n
  TREND: <\/strong><\/td>\n

March
2008<\/p>\n<\/td>

Oct.
2007<\/td>		\n

Feb.
2007<\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

  Approve<\/td>28%<\/td>33%<\/td>35%<\/td><\/tr>
  Disapprove<\/td>50%<\/td>41%<\/td>40%<\/td><\/tr>
  (VOL) Don\u2019t know<\/td>22%<\/td>26%<\/td>25%<\/td><\/tr>
  Unwtd N<\/em><\/td>\n

805<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td>

801<\/em><\/td>\n

801<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

3.<\/span> How much have you heard about the governor\u2019s plan to raise tolls about 50 percent every four years over the next 14 years in order to reduce state debt and fund transportation projects \u2013 a lot, a little, or nothing at all?<\/span><\/p>\n
 <\/td>\n

TOTAL<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>

REGISTERED
VOTER<\/td>		\n

PARTY ID<\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

 <\/td> <\/strong><\/td>\n

Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>

No<\/td>Dem<\/td>Ind<\/td>\n

Rep<\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

 <\/td>A lot<\/td> <\/td>53%<\/strong><\/td>57%<\/td>31%<\/td>46%<\/td>57%<\/td>65%<\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>A little<\/td> <\/td>31%<\/strong><\/td>29%<\/td>41%<\/td>35%<\/td>31%<\/td>25%<\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>Nothing at all<\/td> <\/td>\n

14%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>

12%<\/td>25%<\/td>19%<\/td>11%<\/td>\n

10%<\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

 <\/td>(VOL) Don\u2019t know<\/td> <\/td>\n

  1%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>

  1%<\/td>  3%<\/td>  1%<\/td>  1%<\/td>\n

  0%<\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

 <\/em><\/td>Unwtd N<\/em><\/td> <\/em><\/td>\n

805<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>

719<\/em><\/td>86<\/em><\/td>261<\/em><\/td>302<\/em><\/td>\n

210<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n\n\n\n
  TREND: <\/strong><\/td>\n

March
2008<\/p>\n<\/td>

\n

Jan.
2008<\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

A lot<\/td>53%<\/strong><\/td>57%<\/td><\/tr>
A little<\/td>31%<\/strong><\/td>30%<\/td><\/tr>
Nothing at all<\/td>\n

14%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>

\n

13%<\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

(VOL) Don\u2019t know<\/td>\n

1%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>

\n

n\/a<\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

Unwtd N<\/em><\/td>\n

805<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>

\n

804<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

4.<\/span> Based on what you have read or heard do you favor or oppose this plan, or do you have no opinion?<\/span><\/p>\n
 <\/td>\n

TOTAL<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>

REGISTERED
VOTER<\/td>		PARTY ID<\/td>\n

AWARENESS OF
PLAN<\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

 <\/td> <\/strong><\/td>\n

Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>

No<\/td>Dem<\/td>Ind<\/td>Rep<\/td>Lot<\/td>Little<\/td>\n

None<\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

 <\/td>Favor<\/td> <\/td>15%<\/strong><\/td>16%<\/td>  8%<\/td>18%<\/td>16%<\/td>12%<\/td>15%<\/td>18%<\/td>10%<\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>Oppose<\/td> <\/td>56%<\/strong><\/td>58%<\/td>47%<\/td>50%<\/td>56%<\/td>67%<\/td>70%<\/td>46%<\/td>32%<\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>No opinion<\/td> <\/td>29%<\/strong><\/td>25%<\/td>45%<\/td>32%<\/td>28%<\/td>21%<\/td>14%<\/td>36%<\/td>58%<\/td><\/tr>
 <\/em><\/td>Unwtd N<\/em><\/td> <\/em><\/td>\n

805<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>

719<\/em><\/td>86<\/em><\/td>261<\/em><\/td>302<\/em><\/td>210<\/em><\/td>484<\/em><\/td>227<\/em><\/td>\n

84<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n\n\n\n
TREND: <\/strong><\/td>\n

March
2008<\/p>\n<\/td>

\n

Jan.
2008<\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

Favor<\/td>15%<\/strong><\/td>15%<\/td><\/tr>
Oppose<\/td>56%<\/strong><\/td>56%<\/td><\/tr>
No opinion<\/td>29%<\/strong><\/td>29%<\/td><\/tr>
Unwtd N<\/em><\/td>\n

805<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>

\n

804<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n\n\n\n

[TOLL PLAN SUPPORT WHEN \u201cNO OPINION\u201d RESPONDENTS ARE ASKED TO CHOOSE A POSITION<\/em>:]  If you had to choose, as of right now, do you more favor or oppose the idea?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Support of plan
(includes leaners<\/em>)<\/td>		 <\/td>\n

Favor
<\/em>(from Q4)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td>

Lean
favor<\/td>		Oppose
<\/em>(from Q4)<\/em><\/td>		Lean
oppose<\/td>		No
opinion<\/td>		\n

(n)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

March 2008<\/td> <\/td>15%<\/strong><\/td>7%<\/strong><\/td>56%<\/strong><\/td>18%<\/strong><\/td>4%<\/strong><\/td>\n

805<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

January 2008<\/td> <\/td>15%<\/td>9%<\/td>56%<\/td>14%<\/td>6%<\/td>\n

804<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

5.<\/span> Did you read or hear anything about the town hall meetings Corzine held throughout the state to explain his toll road plan?<\/span><\/p>\n
 <\/td>\n

TOTAL<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>

REGISTERED
VOTER<\/td>		\n

PARTY ID<\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

 <\/td> <\/strong><\/td>\n

Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>

No<\/td>Dem<\/td>Ind<\/td>\n

Rep<\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

 <\/td>Yes<\/td> <\/td>54%<\/strong><\/td>58%<\/td>35%<\/td>47%<\/td>55%<\/td>66%<\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>No<\/td> <\/td>45%<\/strong><\/td>42%<\/td>61%<\/td>52%<\/td>44%<\/td>34%<\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>(VOL) Don\u2019t know<\/td> <\/td>  1%<\/strong><\/td>  0%<\/td>  3%<\/td>  0%<\/td>  1%<\/td>  0%<\/td><\/tr>
 <\/em><\/td>Unwtd N<\/em><\/td> <\/em><\/td>\n

805<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>

719<\/em><\/td>86<\/em><\/td>261<\/em><\/td>302<\/em><\/td>\n

210<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

[ASKED OF THOSE AWARE OF GOVERNOR\u2019S TOWN HALL MEETINGS<\/em>: moe=+\/-4.4%<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6.<\/span> Do you think these meetings did more to help or hurt the governor\u2019s cause, or did they make no difference?<\/span><\/p>\n
Among those aware of town hall meetings:<\/em><\/td>\n

TOTAL<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>

REGISTERED
VOTER<\/td>		\n

PARTY ID<\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

 <\/td> <\/strong><\/td>\n

Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>

No<\/td>Dem<\/td>Ind<\/td>\n

Rep<\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

 <\/td>Helped<\/td> <\/td>15%<\/strong><\/td>15%<\/td>14%<\/td>19%<\/td>11%<\/td>12%<\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>Hurt<\/td> <\/td>29%<\/strong><\/td>30%<\/td>21%<\/td>29%<\/td>26%<\/td>35%<\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>Made no difference<\/td> <\/td>\n

47%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>

46%<\/td>57%<\/td>40%<\/td>53%<\/td>\n

48%<\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

 <\/td>(VOL) Don\u2019t know<\/td> <\/td>\n

  9%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>

  9%<\/td>  9%<\/td>12%<\/td>10%<\/td>\n

  5%<\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

 <\/em><\/td>Unwtd N<\/em><\/td> <\/em><\/td>\n

502<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>

465<\/em><\/td>37<\/em><\/td>144<\/em><\/td>193<\/em><\/td>\n

147<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

7.<\/span> Do you think the amount of debt the state has right now is a major problem, minor problem, or not really a problem?<\/span><\/p>\n
 <\/td>\n

TOTAL<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>

REGISTERED
VOTER<\/td>		\n

PARTY ID<\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

 <\/td> <\/strong><\/td>\n

Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>

No<\/td>Dem<\/td>Ind<\/td>\n

Rep<\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

 <\/td>Major problem<\/td> <\/td>77%<\/strong><\/td>81%<\/td>57%<\/td>77%<\/td>80%<\/td>78%<\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>Minor problem<\/td> <\/td>14%<\/strong><\/td>12%<\/td>21%<\/td>13%<\/td>13%<\/td>14%<\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>Not really a problem<\/td> <\/td>\n

  6%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>

  4%<\/td>16%<\/td>  5%<\/td>  5%<\/td>\n

  7%<\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

 <\/td>(VOL) Don\u2019t know<\/td> <\/td>\n

  4%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>

  3%<\/td>  6%<\/td>  5%<\/td>  2%<\/td>\n

  2%<\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

 <\/em><\/td>Unwtd N<\/em><\/td> <\/em><\/td>\n

805<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>

719<\/em><\/td>86<\/em><\/td>261<\/em><\/td>302<\/em><\/td>\n

210<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

8.<\/span> Which do you think is a bigger problem for the state: growth in state debt or growth in pensions and benefits for state workers?<\/span><\/p>\n
 <\/td>\n

TOTAL<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>

REGISTERED
VOTER<\/td>		\n

PARTY ID<\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

 <\/td> <\/strong><\/td>\n

Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>

No<\/td>Dem<\/td>Ind<\/td>\n

Rep<\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

 <\/td>State debt<\/td> <\/td>47%<\/strong><\/td>48%<\/td>45%<\/td>51%<\/td>45%<\/td>49%<\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>Pensions and benefits<\/td> <\/td>31%<\/strong><\/td>30%<\/td>35%<\/td>32%<\/td>34%<\/td>30%<\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>(VOL) Both equally<\/td> <\/td>12%<\/strong><\/td>12%<\/td>11%<\/td>  8%<\/td>14%<\/td>12%<\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>(VOL) Don\u2019t know<\/td> <\/td>10%<\/strong><\/td>10%<\/td>10%<\/td>10%<\/td>  8%<\/td>  9%<\/td><\/tr>
 <\/em><\/td>Unwtd N<\/em><\/td> <\/em><\/td>\n

805<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>

719<\/em><\/td>86<\/em><\/td>261<\/em><\/td>302<\/em><\/td>\n

210<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

9.<\/span> Which comes closer to your view: we should continue to make debt payments as scheduled until the debt is paid off – or – we should try to pay off a big chunk of the debt now in order to reduce the amount of our annual debt payments?<\/span><\/p>\n
 <\/td>\n

TOTAL<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>

REGISTERED
VOTER<\/td>		\n

PARTY ID<\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

 <\/td> <\/strong><\/td>\n

Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>

No<\/td>Dem<\/td>Ind<\/td>\n

Rep<\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

 <\/td>Make payments as scheduled<\/td> <\/td>51%<\/strong><\/td>52%<\/td>46%<\/td>52%<\/td>51%<\/td>54%<\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>Pay off chunk of debt now<\/td> <\/td>37%<\/strong><\/td>38%<\/td>32%<\/td>37%<\/td>38%<\/td>37%<\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>(VOL) Don\u2019t know<\/td> <\/td>12%<\/strong><\/td>10%<\/td>22%<\/td>11%<\/td>11%<\/td>10%<\/td><\/tr>
 <\/em><\/td>Unwtd N<\/em><\/td> <\/em><\/td>\n

805<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>

719<\/em><\/td>86<\/em><\/td>261<\/em><\/td>302<\/em><\/td>\n

210<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

[NOTE:  The following question was asked of a random sub-sample: moe=+\/-4.4%]<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

10.<\/span> In order to pay down state debt, would you favor or oppose the following?<\/span><\/p>\n
 <\/strong><\/td>\n

Favor<\/p>\n<\/td>

Oppose<\/td>Don\u2019t
know<\/td>		\n

(n)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

 <\/strong><\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
A smaller toll increase that would double
tolls over the next ten years<\/td>		52%<\/td>43%<\/td>  4%<\/td>(489)<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/em><\/td><\/tr>
Increasing the gas tax by 18 cents a gallon
over the next three years<\/td>		17%<\/td>82%<\/td>  2%<\/td>(489)<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/em><\/td><\/tr>
Leasing operation of the state lottery<\/td>42%<\/td>40%<\/td>18%<\/td>(489)<\/em><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

[NOTE:  The following question was asked of a random sub-sample: moe=+\/-5.5%]<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

11.<\/span> 11. In order to create a dedicated fund for transportation projects, would you favor or oppose the following?<\/span><\/p>\n
 <\/strong><\/td>\n

Favor<\/p>\n<\/td>

Oppose<\/td>Don\u2019t
know<\/td>		\n

(n)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

 <\/strong><\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
A smaller toll increase that would double
tolls over the next ten years<\/td>		50%<\/td>41%<\/td>  9%<\/td>(316)<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/em><\/td><\/tr>
Increasing the gas tax by 18 cents a gallon
over the next three years<\/td>		16%<\/td>82%<\/td>  2%<\/td>(316)<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/em><\/td><\/tr>
Leasing operation of the state lottery<\/td>34%<\/td>44%<\/td>22%<\/td>(316)<\/em><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

12.<\/span> For this question, I\u2019m just looking for a guess off the top of your head. How much debt does the state have right now (in dollars)?<\/span><\/p>\n
 <\/td>\n

TOTAL<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>

REGISTERED
VOTER<\/td>		\n

PARTY ID<\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

 <\/td>\n

Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>

No<\/td>Dem<\/td>Ind<\/td>\n

Rep<\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

 <\/td>Under $1 billion<\/td> <\/td>20%<\/strong><\/td>19%<\/td>29%<\/td>21%<\/td>23%<\/td>15%<\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>$1 to 19 billion<\/td> <\/td>27%<\/strong><\/td>28%<\/td>23%<\/td>31%<\/td>23%<\/td>27%<\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>$20 billion or more<\/td> <\/td>21%<\/strong><\/td>23%<\/td>14%<\/td>17%<\/td>24%<\/td>26%<\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>(VOL) Don\u2019t know<\/td> <\/td>31%<\/strong><\/td>31%<\/td>34%<\/td>31%<\/td>30%<\/td>31%<\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>AVERAGE ESTIMATE (in billions)<\/td> <\/td>\n

$31.6<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>

$34.4<\/td>$12.5<\/td>$30.5<\/td>$32.0<\/td>\n

$29.9<\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

 <\/em><\/td>Unwtd N<\/em><\/td> <\/em><\/td>\n

805<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>

719<\/em><\/td>86<\/em><\/td>261<\/em><\/td>302<\/em><\/td>\n

210<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Monmouth University\/Gannett NJ Poll<\/em> was conducted and analyzed by the Monmouth University Polling Institute research staff.  The telephone interviews were collected by Braun Research on March 4-6, 2008 with a statewide random sample of 805 adult residents.  For results based on the total sample, one can say with 95% confidence that the error attributable to sampling has a maximum margin of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.  Sampling error increases as the sample size decreases, so statements based on various population subgroups, such as separate figures reported by gender or party identification, are subject to more error than are statements based on the total sample.  In addition to sampling error, one should bear in mind that question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of opinion polls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is the Monmouth University Polling Institute\u2019s policy to conduct surveys of all adult New Jersey residents, including voters and non-voters, on issues which affect the state.  Specific voter surveys are conducted when appropriate during election cycles.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Click on pdf file link below for full methodology and results by key demographic groups.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Poll finds no change in public opinion on financial restructuring proposal<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":40802251239,"template":"","geography":[30],"class_list":["post-40802207198","poll","type-poll","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","geography-new-jersey"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/polling-institute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/poll\/40802207198","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/polling-institute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/poll"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/polling-institute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/poll"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/polling-institute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/poll\/40802207198\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40802243121,"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/polling-institute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/poll\/40802207198\/revisions\/40802243121"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/polling-institute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/40802251239"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/polling-institute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40802207198"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"geography","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/polling-institute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/geography?post=40802207198"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}