Toplines - California Budget Crisis - January 19, 2010

California State Survey of 500 Likely Voters
Conducted January 19, 2010
By Rasmussen Reports

1* How serious is the state of California’s budget crisis?

94% Very serious
3% Somewhat serious
1% Not very serious
1% Not at all serious
1% Not sure

2* To address his state’s financial troubles, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is seeking $8 billion in federal assistance. Should the federal government provide $8 billion in bailout funding for California?

42% Yes
36% No
22% Not sure

3* Suppose the state of California must decide between filing for bankruptcy, cutting back on services, or raising taxes. Which option would you prefer?

15% Filing for bankruptcy
43% Cutting back on services
28% Raising taxes
14% Not sure

4* To balance the state budget without raising taxes, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has made a number of proposals. One is to raise revenue by allowing offshore oil drilling. Should offshore oil drilling be allowed?

59% Yes
31%No
10% Not sure

5* The Governor has also said that California may have to eliminate the state’s main welfare program and cut back on health care services for the disabled and the elderly. If you had a choice between cutting these programs or raising taxes, which would you prefer?

31% Cutting these programs
52% Raising taxes
17% Not sure

6* The Governor may also extend a furlough program and other steps that mean a 14% cut in pay for state workers. If you had a choice between cutting the pay for state workers by 14% or raising taxes, which would you prefer?

63% Cutting the pay for state workers by 14%
27% Raising taxes
10% Not sure

7* How would you rate the way that Arnold Schwarzenegger is handling California’s Budget Crisis…..excellent, good, fair or poor?

2% Excellent

14% Good
32% Fair

50% Poor

1% Not sure

8* How would you rate the way that the California’s Senators and Congressmen are representing California in Washington….excellent, good, fair or poor?

5% Excellent

17% Good

26% Fair

44% Poor

8% Not sure

NOTE: Margin of Sampling Error, +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence