What Do Connecticut Voters Want?

What should be the top policy priorities for state lawmakers? According to the latest Quinnipiac University poll, it boils down to three critical areas: jobs and the economy, taxes, and education.
The Q Poll today released the second part of its recent survey of state voters, this report taking a deeper dive into many of the issues currently swirling around the General Assembly.
Voters were asked “What do you think should be the top priority for Governor Malloy and the State Legislature in 2014.”
The question was open-ended, the responses illuminating.
More than one third said jobs and the economy. Another 14% said taxes. And 11% responded with education [see figure above].
No other issue area drew more than a 4% response, and that was the state budget. Government spending and healthcare followed at 3% each.
That’s a message that should resonate with policymakers, as it’s clear the state’s slow recovery from the recession continues to have a major impact on people’s lives.
The Q Poll also asked voters to describe the current condition of Connecticut’s economy. Just 24% responded that is was good, while 73% said it was “not so good” or poor.
Those numbers have improved only marginally since the summer of 2011, when 83% had an unfavorable impression against the 15% who felt conditions were good.
Among registered Democrats in this latest survey, 40% said economic conditions were good, while 57% responded negatively,as did 86% of Republicans. Just 20% of independent voters had a positive impression, against the 78% who felt the opposite.
When asked whether they felt the state’s economy was improving, just 16% of voters responded yes, against the 52% who thought things were the same, and the 30% who felt conditions were worse.
Only 11% of independent voters were optimistic about the economy, while 34% said it was worsening, and 53% said it was the same.
Voters also registered unfavorable opinions about the administration’s handling of jobs and the economy, taxes, education, and the state budget.
Tax policy drew the largest unfavorables, with 63% disapproving, while 60% disapproved of the management of jobs and economic policy–up from 56% two years ago.