Brown's tax initiative still receiving majority support

jerry2.jpgThe good news for the governor is that 56 percent of likely voters say they would vote for the ballot measure to temporarily raise both the state sales tax and the personal income tax on the wealthy. The results of the latest Public Policy Institute of California poll are similar to the April survey in which 54 percent said they would vote yes. But here's the interesting - and for Brown, troubling - detail: The PPIC poll found that 65 percent of likely voters favor raising taxes on the wealthy, but 58 percent oppose raising the state sale tax.

Asked for their views specifically on the proposed spending cuts to social service programs, 36 percent of likely voters are in favor and 60 percent are opposed. Opposition to these cuts is 10 points higher than opposition to his plan in general (50%). Most Democrats (76%) and independents (58%) oppose the cuts, while Republicans are divided (48% favor, 49% oppose).

In other words, we still want it all, and we want rich people to pay for it all - what economists say is basically impossible to pull off. As for the 56 percent support, it's worth noting that ballot measure races typically tighten up in the weeks leading up to the vote, especially if there is a strong opposition campaign. The governor has been warning about all sorts of deep cuts in education should the tax measure fail. The PPIC survey also found that more voters disapprove than approve of the job Brown is doing. But the difference is only 1 percent. Here's the Sacramento Bee story.


More by Mark Lacter:
American-US Air settlement with DOJ includes small tweak at LAX
Socal housing market going nowhere fast
Amazon keeps pushing for faster L.A. delivery
Another rugged quarter for Tribune Co. papers
How does Stanford compete with the big boys?
Those awful infographics that promise to explain and only distort
Best to low-ball today's employment report
Further fallout from airport shootings
Crazy opening for Twitter*
Should Twitter be valued at $18 billion?
Recent California stories:
Volcanic cinder in Owens Valley
Holiday shopping: On your marks, get set... spend!
14 California bookstores in nine days
Uproar over health care sites could be settling down
BART strike to end Tuesday in the Bay Area

New at LA Observed
On the Media Page
Go to Media

On the Politics Page
Go to Politics
Arts and culture

Sign up for daily email from LA Observed

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner


Advertisement
Mark Lacter
Mark Lacter created the LA Biz Observed blog in 2006. He posted until the day before his death on Nov. 13, 2013.
 
Mark Lacter, business writer and editor was 59
The multi-talented Mark Lacter
LA Observed on Twitter and Facebook