"No" To Tolls
Photo Credit Source: Wikimedia Commons
Posted 3/12/09
The Quinnipiac University Polling Institute issued its latest statewide survey and it continues to chronicle the popularity of Republican Gov. Jodi Rell, and the fading political fortunes of Democratic Sen. Chris Dodd. However, the most interesting “stuff” in the poll focuses on other issues, everything from booze to pot.
Pollsters asked Connecticut voters about a proposal to boost state revenues in the current recession, by scrapping the state’s age-old “blue law” barring liquor sales on Sundays at package stores. Guess what? Approximately 54% of the people surveyed said Sunday sales should be permitted. In gender terms, that liberalization is more popular with men than women.
While voters apparently would love to be able to buy booze on Sunday at the local “packy”, they are not yet ready to go where other states have gone—allowing the sale of wine and hard liquor at grocery stores. The Q-Poll shows 58% of those surveyed oppose expanding the availability of booze. However, pollster Doug Schwartz conceded if his researchers had asked a narrower question, focusing only on the option of grocery stores selling wine in addition to beer (currently allowed), the response might have been different. Schwartz said perhaps the idea of hawking “hard liquor” at the grocery store turned off many voters.
If you read these results and figure that Nutmeggers are showing their Puritan roots in restricting liquor sales, you’ll be surprised to hear that voters views are much more liberal on pot! The Q-poll found that 58% of folks surveyed favor the decriminalization of marijuana in Connecticut. This was not a question about medical use of marijuana, but general pot use.
The poll asked voters if they support doing away with serious criminal charges for possession of small quantities of marijuana (i.e. personal use), and instead treating the offense with a fine. Ironically, support for this change in the law was strongest not among young people, but among poll respondents in the 50 to 64 year age group. Apparently these “baby boomers” do remember the ‘60s!
The Quinnipiac University Poll also tested sentiment about various tactics to cope with the ever-growing state deficit, especially tax hikes. Though Democratic leaders continue to say Gov. Rell is unrealistic and politically-motivated in pushing a deficit solution without tax hikes, voters side with Rell.
Though 95% of those surveyed agree that the state’s budget problems are serious this year, 63% believe it is not necessary to raise taxes to balance the budget. Schwartz said that finding is significant, because he didn’t ask voters if they support tax hikes. Which taxpayer favors tax hikes? He purposely asked if they find it “necessary” to raise taxes, and the answer was a definitive “no”.
There’s also been serious discussion in the legislature about bringing back highway tolls in Connecticut to raise revenues and/or support mass transit projects. Pollsters found that Connecticut voters strongly oppose renewal of tolls. Statewide 61% oppose tolls, while 35% back the idea. Breaking the numbers down by county, opposition to tolls was strongest in Fairfield, New London, Tolland, and Windham counties. That may be due to talk that new tolls would be “gateway” tolls, with plazas in border areas.
Finally, the Q-poll tested public opinion on the Jim Calhoun controversy we discussed in this space recently. The UConn men’s basketball coach blew up at a freelance reporter who asked Calhoun if he would offer to turn back a portion of his hefty salary to ease the state fiscal crisis. Some lawmakers even suggested Uconn discipline “role model” Calhoun for his outburst.
Calhoun can rest assured the public “has his back” in this fight. Voters gave their Basketball Hall of Fame coach a 68% favorability rating—right up there in Jodi Rell territory. While just a bare majority feel Calhoun’s feisty response to the salary question was appropriate, a whopping 80% said the coach should not be disciplined for his tough words, and 61% said Calhoun should feel free to hang onto all of salary.
Yet despite Connecticut’s strong support for Calhoun, when pollsters asked which Connecticut-based sports team is their favorite, it was the UConn women’s basketball team that was first in the hearts of fans, the men’s squad came in second.