Poll: Voters Like Rell But Not Her Tax Increase Proposal

By Susan Haigh Associated Press

HARTFORD — Governor M. Jodi Rell remains popular, but her plan to raise the income tax is not, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday.

While 69 percent of those surveyed approve of the job that Rell is doing, only 16 percent said they support the Republican governor’s budget proposal, which raises the maximum income tax rate from 5 percent to 5.5 percent over two years. The increase would be smaller for taxpayers in lower tax brackets.

Rell wants to use the money to fund a five-year, $3.4 billion education initiative. As part of that plan, she has also called for a 3 percent cap on how much cities and towns can raise their local property taxes.

Wednesday’s telephone poll, conducted between May 2 and 7, showed there was more support for tax proposals offered by the legislature.

Thirty-three percent of those surveyed support the plan from the Democrats, which increases the personal income tax on higher-income earners and lowers the rates for middle- and lower-income earners, while 41 percent said they back a plan from the Republican minority that would not increase taxes.

“It’s surprising that Governor Jodi Rell’s numbers haven’t come down more given her budget battle with the Democrats and dissent by Republican leaders on tax issues,” said Quinnipiac Poll Director Douglas Schwartz. “She’s still one of the most popular political leaders in the country.”

Quinnipiac surveyed 1,427 registered voters. The sampling error margin was about three percentage points.

A February 15 poll showed 72 percent of voters approved of the job Rell was doing.

Rell and the legislature are trying to craft an agreement on a new, two-year tax and spending plan before this year’s session ends on June 6. Lawmakers and Rell’s budget staff have been meeting behind closed doors in recent days. It appears some kind of tax increase will likely be part of the final agreement.

The new Quinnipiac Poll shows that 57 percent of voters believe Connecticut’s personal income tax is unfair, compared to 37 percent who say it is fair. Sixty-nine percent agree with the majority Democrats that it should be changed to become more graduated so those people who earn more pay more taxes.

But there’s a difference of opinion on who should be considered wealthy.

The poll showed 13 percent listed annual figures less than $100,000; 13 percent said $100,000; 18 percent said incomes between $101,000 and $199,000; 11 percent said $200,000; 15 percent said incomes between $201,000 and $499,000; 7 percent said $500,000; 3 percent said $501,000 to $999,000; and 7 percent said $1 million or more.

Sixty-eight percent of those surveyed support increasing the tax on cigarettes from $1.51 per pack to $2 per pack; 61 percent oppose taxing Internet purchases; and 60 percent support capping local property tax increases at 3 percent annually.