Perhaps because of all the doom-and-gloom drought predictions, Californians today are more likely than they were a year ago to vote for an $11.1 billion bond for state water projects, the Public Policy Institute of California’s latest poll finds.
The poll found Gov. Jerry Brown’s approval rating has slipped from its record high in January, but he’s still beating the tar out of his Republican challengers. Results of the survey also gauged Californians’ attitudes on a wide range of other issues, including high-speed rail, marijuana legalization and the federal health care law.
As the Legislature debates a bevy of bond proposals for the November ballot, 60 percent of adults and 50 percent of likely voters say they would approve the most expensive proposal, which most lawmakers say is too laden with pork. Last March, 44 percent of adults and 42 percent of likely voters said they would vote yes.”
Asked how they would vote if the $11.1 billion price tag is cut, support rises to 69 percent of adults and 59 percent of likely voters.
Clearly the context of the drought has caught the attention of Californians and convinced them there are some things they need to do,” said PPIC President and CEO Mark Baldassare. “From virtually nowhere, water has now emerged as the No. 2 issue after the economy for what Californians say are the most pressing issues facing the state.”
http://www.mercurynews.com/elections/ci_25430371/more-californians-likely-vote-water-bond?source=rss
PPIC survey summary press release & full cross-tabs:
http://www.ppic.org/main/publication.asp?i=1091