Poll: More Than Two-Thirds Of NYC Voters Support De Blasio's Plan To Tax The Wealthy
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - New York City Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio's plan to tax the wealthy to help fund New York City's public schools is a popular idea across the entire state, a new poll found.
According to a Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday, 63 percent of New York State voters back the proposal, while 32 percent say they're opposed. Within New York City limits, the margin increases to 68 percent in favor and 30 percent opposed.
De Blasio campaigned on a platform of adding a tax on households making more than $500,000 a year to cover the costs of universal pre-kindergarten and after-school programs.
Poll: More Than Two-Thirds Of NYC Voters Support De Blasio's Plan To Tax The Wealthy
"But there are political differences. Democrats, 81 percent for it. Independents, 61 percent. But Republicans are against it, 58 percent," Quinnipiac University Polling Institute director Maurice Carroll told WCBS 880's Rich Lamb.
The poll also found a racial divide on the tax proposal, Lamb reported.
"White voters like it, 57 to 38. Black voters love it, 88 to 11. Hispanic voters, 75 to 22," said Carroll.
LINK: Full Poll Results (pdf)
The tax would have to be approved by state lawmakers in Albany and signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Cuomo, who is up for re-election in 2014, has said he supports the educational component of de Blasio's plan. While he hasn't addressed the tax on the wealthy directly, he's said in the past he does not support tax increases.
Quinnipiac University conducted its telephone survey of New York State voters from Nov. 20 to 24. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 2,7 percentage points.
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