A statewide survey released this week by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC), found that 64% of the state’s voters oppose raising the state sales tax – a major element of California Jerry Brown’s proposed fix for our state budget deficit. Majorities across parties are against this idea, although Democrats (54%) are less likely to oppose it than independents (71%) or Republicans (74%). The poll also found that 35% adults, (41% likely voters) prefer closing our budget deficit mainly through spending cuts.
The news wasn’t good for our federal government either – only 35 percent of those surveyed think President Barack Obama and the U.S. Congress will be able to work together and accomplish a lot in the next year and 62 percent do not. And just a quarter of Californians (25%) approve of the U.S. Congress, whose job approval rating sank to a record-low 20 percent in December 2011. Likely voters are even less likely (14%) to approve of Congress. Continue reading