Politics & Government

New Poll Shows Support Growing for SB 5, Kasich

The opinion poll by Quinnipiac University shows that more people remain negative about Gov. John Kasich and Senate Bill 5, but they are both gaining in popularity

Senate Bill 5 is still viewed negatively but is becoming more popular with voters, according to a poll released Tuesday by Quinnipiac University.

According to the poll results, 51 percent of voters surveyed want to repeal SB 5, the bill championed by Kasich , and 38 percent support the law.

In July's poll, 56 percent of voters wanted to repeal SB 5, while 32 percent wanted to keep the law.

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Kasich's own popularity is increasing as well, with 40 percent of voters surveyed approving of Kasich's performance. In July, his approval was at 35 percent.

The poll shows that both Kasich and SB 5 still aren't looked at favorably by most voters, but they are moving in a positive direction.

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But while Kasich has three years in office to regain public support, the clock is ticking on SB5, which will be voted on by residents on Nov. 8.

"Support for repealing the bill in the November referendum has dropped from a 24-point to a 13-point margin," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.Β  "Backers of SB 5 have only six weeks to make up the difference, although public opinion appears to be moving in their direction.”

The pollsters took a look at what voters think about individual provisions within SB 5. Here's what voters like and don't like about the reform bill:

  • Oppose Strike Ban: 58 percent are against the ban on employees striking. 36 percent support the provision.
  • Replace Automatic Pay Raises with Merit Increases: 60 percent of voters surveyed support merit increases with 31 opposing it.
  • Don't Eliminate Seniority Rights: 53 percent oppose eliminating seniority rights as the only factor in layoffs. 41 percent support it.
  • Support Health Care Costs: 59 percent support requiring public workers to pay at least 15 percent of the health insurance premiums. 35 percent oppose.
  • Oppose Banning Workers From Bargaining Health Care: 54 percent oppose a ban on bargaining over health insurance. 39 percent support it.
  • Support Pension Contributions: 56 percent of voters surveyed support requiring pubic works to pay 10 percent of their wages toward their pensions. 33 percent oppose it.

About the Poll: 1,301 registered voters were surveyed by phone between Sept. 20 and Sept. 25. The poll's margin of error of +/- 2.7 percentage points, meaning the results could vary by 2.7 percent in either direction.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia and the nation as a public service and for research.Β 


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