Poll Finds California Voters Support Brown's Tax Plan
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – California voters overwhelmingly support Gov. Jerry Brown's call for higher taxes to help pay for education, according to a new poll.
The survey from Public Policy Institute of California pollster Mark Baldassare finds 72 percent surveyed are in favor of Brown's ballot measure, which would temporarily raise the state sales tax and the income tax on the richest Californians.
"It appears that the money going to K-12 public schools is really a key element because Californians are most likely to say they'd be willing to raise their taxes for K-12 schools, and they are also most likely to say that we should be protecting funding for K-12 public schools," said Baldassare.
KCBS' Doug Sovern Reports:
Even 53 percent of Republicans support the governor's measure. Some 79 percent oppose the school spending cuts that would be triggered if the measure fails.
Meanwhile, voters were evenly split on the governor's budget proposal, which includes deep cuts in social services.
KCBS, CBS 5 and SF Chronicle Insider Phil Matier:
The poll also found that Brown's approval rating has hit a high of 46 percent, while Mitt Romney still leads Newt Gingrich among likely California Republican primary voters, 37 to 18.
"Our poll was taken before the South Carolina Primary, so this is a very fluid situation," said Baldassare.
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