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February 12, 2007

Uphill Climb: Voters Oppose Cuts

by Crain’s New York Business



Gov. Eliot Spitzer is touring the state to build support for the centerpiece of his budget plan—$1.2 billion in health care cuts in order to finance a boost in education spending. A Crain’s New York Business poll suggests he has a lot of convincing to do.

A solid majority—52%—of New Yorkers oppose his plan, while just 36% favor it. Some 29% “strongly oppose” the idea, while only 13% “strongly favor” it, according to a survey of 600 registered voters across the state conducted by Charney Research from Jan. 22 to Jan. 25.

The survey suggests that New York is fertile ground for a $15 million advertising campaign from well-heeled health care workers union 1199 SEIU, the Greater New York Hospital Association and others that stand to lose money and oppose the cuts. Polling by the hospital association and others also shows strong opposition to health care cuts in general.

The Crain’s poll indicates that the governor will have an easier time rallying public support for his plan to allow another 150 charter schools. The original law allowing such schools authorized 100, and the cap has been reached. Some 53% favor increasing the charter-school cap. Just 35% oppose the idea.

Mr. Spitzer’s predecessor, George Pataki, also tried to lift the cap but was stymied by opposition from teachers unions and the Democrat-controlled Assembly. But Mr. Spitzer expects to find traction in the Assembly’s base, New York City, where 64% support the creation of more charter schools and only 24% oppose the idea. Suburbanites also liked the idea, while opinion upstate was evenly split, with 44% for and 44% against.

Cut Medicaid to help schools?

Allow more charter schools?


 

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