Budget Woes Take Toll on Views of State Governments

[tangent4ronpaul]

http://people-press.org/report/534/g...t-favorability

With the economy wreaking havoc on state budgets, the favorability ratings of state governments have declined from a year ago. Overall, 50% of the public now holds a favorable opinion of their state government, down from 59% in April 2008. The falloff in positive views has been greater in states with large and moderate budget shortfalls than in states with smaller budget gaps.



Most states are struggling during the recession and nearly all are facing revenue shortfalls. The balance of opinion regarding state governments has turned negative in states with the largest budget gaps – the size of the shortfall relative to the state’s overall budget1. >>> In the 12 states facing the largest budget gaps, 58% now have an unfavorable view of their state governments <<< while only 38% have a favorable view. In April 2008, opinion was evenly divided in these states (48% favorable, 47% unfavorable).

But the change in opinion is not limited to the states with the biggest budget problems; people in 19 states with more modest budget gaps also are expressing more negative views of their state governments. Currently, a slim majority (52%) in these states has a favorable view while 40% have an unfavorable view. In April 2008, favorable views outnumbered unfavorable ones by a wide margin (64% vs. 35%). By contrast, opinion has remained more stable in the states with the smallest budget gaps. Six-in-ten have a favorable view of their state government while only a third has an unfavorable view.

The group with the highest gaps, where shortfall is 21-35% of their state’s budget, includes CA, NY, NV, AK, AZ, FL, VT, HI, NJ, CT, WA and IL.

The middle group (with shortfalls of 12-20.9%) includes NC, WI, LA, ID, RI, CO, ME, OR, KS, AL, MN, SC, VA, PA, UT, DE, GA, MI, and MD.

This is *WONDERFUL* news!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Who wants to run for a state office?

-t

[tangent4ronpaul]

blimp! - this is an opportunity folks!

-t

[mport1]

Excellent. Maybe they will start to close up shop