For Immediate Release: Friday, July 9, 2004

The State of Malaise:

New Yorkers Concerned, Resigned Over Late Budget

Who’s to blame? “All the above!”

71% Support Additional Aid for NYC Schools

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Loudonville, NY -  The vast majority of New Yorkers say they are concerned over the lateness of the state budget, and feel the Governor should call the legislature out of summer recess to settle the matter, according to the latest statewide poll conducted last week by the Siena (College) Research Institute (SRI).

Despite the apparent dissatisfaction with state government, New Yorkers are split on the effect the Legislature’s conference interruptus without passing the budget will have on their vote in the next election:

• 46% say they are more likely to vote out the incumbents
• 43% say the late budget will have no effect on their vote

Findings include:

• 81% of New Yorkers are concerned that the state budget, due April 1, has not passed

• 80% say the Governor should call the Legislature back into a special session to work strictly on the budget without any opportunity to break until the budget is completed. 

• Almost half (46%) say they are more likely to vote out the incumbents because of the late budget; another 43% say the late budget will have no effect on their voting.

• When asked “Who’s to blame?” very few blame a specific individual or elected body – 65% blame “all the above” – Governor, Senate, and Assembly.

• 60% say the Legislature has hurt the state budget process, and 46% say the Governor has hurt it – but about a third don’t know or have no opinion.
• No surprise: Democrats (52%) are more likely to blame the Republican governor than are Republicans (34%)

• 71% support additional aid for New York City schools

“New Yorkers seem to have a sort of resignation over the yearly budget debacle,” says Joe Caruso, director of polling for the Siena Research Institute.  “A generation has grown up witnessing late budgets; it seems quite natural.  They don’t like it, and want their legislators to finish the job, but nearly half say the inability to settle on a budget will have no effect on their vote in the next election. Few point their finger at any one cause; most put the blame on all the players, collectively.”

This SRI survey was conducted June 28 – July 6, 2004 by random telephone calls to 623 New York State residents over

the age of 18.  It has a margin of error of  + 3.9 percentage points. For more information or comments, please contact Joe Caruso, SRI Director of Polling, at 518-783-2901 (office) or 518-542-7814 (mobile).  Survey Cross-tabulations and frequencies can be found at: www.siena.edu/sri/surveys.asp.

Following is a poem inspired by the survey findings. 

Capitol Rag

T’was the first week of recess and all through the house,

Not a Member was stirring, not even a mouse.

The budget’s not done and non-profits go poor,

The media’s hyped with no drama in store.

Folks say they’re concerned that the budget’s not passed,

More than eighty percent say they’re simply aghast.

And eighty percent say, “come back for the summer,”

This unfinished business is some kind of bummer.

Almost half say they’re willing to “throw da bums out--”

While just as many say that they still love the louts.

Who’s to blame? Is it Shelly or Joey or Gov?

The answer they give us is “all the above.”

Three quarters support more state aid for the schools,

A bit more in Manhattan, where the Democrats rule.

Tune in next month – ain’t nothin’ happenin’ yet –

Perhaps they’ll return on a dare or a bet

(which is fine so long as the budget is met).

-         Joe Caruso/Robin Balthrope