PPIC Examines Voter Attitudes About March 2^nd Ballot Measures -- February 27, 2004 -- California Capitol Hill Bulletin -- Volume 11, Bulletin 6

California's voters remain skeptical about the ballot measures they are going to vote on in the upcoming March 2^nd election, reveals a new poll conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC). Released on Friday, February 20, 2003, the poll looked at voter approval of the Public Education Facilities Bond Act (Proposition 55), which is a $12.3 billion effort to raise money for public school facilities; the State Budget, Related Taxes, Reserve, Voting Requirements (Proposition 56) ballot measure; a $15 billion Economic Recovery Bond Act (Proposition 57); and the California Balanced Budget Act (Proposition 58).

The poll results indicate that Proposition 57 has much less than majority support (38 percent), while Proposition 58 is supported by 52 percent of likely voters. At the same time, among the 61 percent of voters who approve of the way Governor Schwarzenegger is handling his job, 49 percent support the economic recovery bond and 31 percent oppose it. Of the 65 percent of likely voters who know that the Governor supports the bond, 44 percent support it, while 41 percent are opposed. The results suggest that fiscal concerns may be overriding other considerations for voters, since according to the PPIC Statewide Survey Director Mark Baldassare, "people have real misgivings about doing anything that will put the state further into debt." With respect to Proposition 55, 49 percent of potential voters support it, 36 percent are opposed, and 15 percent remain undecided.

The poll results also indicate the following findings:

- 56 percent of California's likely voters place John Kerry first among Democratic presidential candidates, with Howard Dean in second place (31 percent) and John Edwards in third (10 percent); 12 percent of voters are undecided. Were an election held at this point, a Democratic nominee would get more votes (54 percent) than President George W. Bush (37 percent), according to the poll.

- Also, the poll found that the President's approval ratings continue to decline in California: 56 percent of likely voters now say they disapprove of the way he is handling the job, while 43 percent say they approve. Approval of the federal government has also taken a downturn, with only 30 percent of Californian's polled saying they trust the U.S. government to do what is right just about always or most of the time.

- The poll found that Senator Barbara Boxer's lead in the Senate race has increased since its last poll in January. It is now 53 percent to 36 percent over a Republican challenger; among the Republican candidates Bill Jones remains the frontrunner, with the support of 24 percent.

- Majorities of likely California voters approve of the way Senators Barbara Boxer (52 percent) and Dianne Feinstein (57 percent) are doing their jobs.

- Among likely voters, 3 in 10 Californians rate the job performance of the U.S. Congress (though not individual members) as good or excellent; 71 percent rate Congress as doing only a fair or poor job.

For more information about the survey, visit the PPIC website at: http://www.ppic.org .

To expand communications between Washington and California, the California Institute provides periodic bulletins regarding current activity on Capitol Hill that directly impacts our state. Bulletins are published weekly during sessions of Congress, and occasionally during other periods.

The California Institute for Federal Policy Research
A Source of Information on California and Federal Policy
419 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington, D.C. 20003
voice: 202-546-3700   fax: 202-546-2390  ransdell@calinst.org    http://www.calinst.org