CALIFORNIA: Field Poll shows early backing for budget items on ballot

Sacramento Bee ^ | 3/3/9 | Kevin Yamamura

[SmithL]

Likely voters in the May 19 special election initially support six ballot measures designed to complete the budget recently approved by lawmakers and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, according to a Field Poll released Tuesday.

But the poll found voters aren't thrilled with the spending plan and are in a pessimistic mood that could haunt backers of the budget fix.

The most crucial fiscal component, a $5 billion California Lottery borrowing plan in Proposition 1C, has the weakest support among the six measures, with only 47 percent of likely voters for it.

And when told that the "rainy-day" measure, Proposition 1A, triggers as much as $16 billion in higher taxes through 2013, four out of 10 initial supporters said they were less inclined to vote for the measure, particularly Republicans and fiscal conservatives.

"I'd vote 'no' on that," said William Tate, 49, a South Lake Tahoe voter who said he'd support Proposition 1A before learning of the taxes. "They should just save some money and put it in a 'rainy-day fund' without taxing people. We've got too much bureaucracy in this state."

The poll was conducted between Feb. 20 and March 1, right after Schwarzenegger signed the budget into law. For each measure, pollsters used descriptions that the Legislature wrote for the ballot.

In the case of Proposition 1A, lawmakers omitted the fact that it would trigger $16 billion in tax hikes, though a nonpartisan legislative analyst's review explains the tax element in the draft ballot pamphlet.

[SmithL]

[Right Cal Gal]

I’m willing to bet they heavily polled S.F., Sacto and L.A. The Inland Empire would never agree to extension of taxes.

Of course, if Arnie would sell/lease the off-shore oil rights, this could all be avoided.

[NormsRevenge]

.. For each measure, pollsters used descriptions that the Legislature wrote for the ballot.

In the case of Proposition 1A, lawmakers omitted the fact that it would trigger $16 billion in tax hikes, though a nonpartisan legislative analyst's review explains the tax element in the draft ballot pamphlet.

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it would trigger $16 billion in tax hikes

Just a simple oversight, I am sure.