Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance

Prop 80 Poll
Survey of 500 Registered Voters in Massachusetts
June 16-19, 2017

PART ONE

To start, I am going to read you a list of names of elected officials. For each, please tell me if your
opinion of them is generally favorable or unfavorable. If you are undecided or have never heard of
someone, just tell me that. [PUSH: Is that very favorable/unfavorable or somewhat
favorable/unfavorable?]

Very Somewhat Somewhat Very

No Never
Favorable Favorable Unfavorable Unfavorable
Opinion Heard Of
President
28.8% 8.8% 11.2% 47.8% 3.4% 0
Donald Trump
Sen. Elizabeth
37.8% 20.4% 5.4% 33.0% 2.6% 0.8%
Warren
Gov. Charlie
36.2% 36.2% 9.4% 6.6% 9.8% 1.8%
Baker

If the 2018 General Election for Governor were held today, how would you vote?

Definitely Re-elect Baker 20.4%

Probably Baker, but would consider other candidates 40.2%
Probably another candidate 15.0%
Definitely another candidate 10.6%
Undecided/Not sure 13.8%

If the 2018 General Election for Senator were held today, how would you vote?

Definitely Re-elect Warren 31.8%

Probably Warren, but would consider other candidates 23.2%
Probably another candidate 7.4%
Definitely another candidate 32.2%
Undecided/Not sure 5.4%
PART TWO

Are you aware the Massachusetts legislature recently voted to give themselves a pay raise?

Very aware 44.8%

Somewhat aware 22.4%
Not aware/Not sure 32.8%

The average pay raise was 40%. If you learned that your lawmaker voted to increase their own pay by
40%, would you be more or less likely to vote for him in the future?

Much more likely 6.0%

Somewhat more likely 2.8%
No change 9.0%
Less likely 43.6%
Much less likely 30.0%
Undecided (Do Not Read) 8.6%

The legislature then voted to more than double their expense allowances from $7,200 to $20,000 per
year. If you learned that your lawmaker voted to increase their expense allowance, would you be more
or less likely to vote for him in the future?

Much more likely 4.0%

Somewhat more likely 2.8%
No change 10.2%
Less likely 47.6%
Much less likely 28.0%
Undecided (Do Not Read) 7.4%

The legislature then voted to pass the pay increase through emergency legislation, so that they could get
the funds immediately and with retroactive pay. If you learned that your lawmaker voted for the
emergency legislation with retroactive pay, would you be more or less likely to vote for him in the
future?

Much more likely 5.0%

Somewhat more likely 5.0%
No change 7.2%
Less likely 46.6%
Much less likely 29.2%
Undecided (Do Not Read) 7.0%
PART THREE

Are you aware of Proposition 80, the proposed constitutional amendment being placed on the
November 2018 ballot, which would raise Massachusettss top income tax bracket by 80%?

Yes 18.6%
No 74.2%
Undecided 7.2%

If you found out your state rep or state senator voted in favor of Prop 80, increasing the top tax bracket
by 80%, in order to fund the legislatures pay raise, would you be more or less likely to support them for
re-election?

Much more likely 7.8%

Somewhat more likely 6.6%
No change 6.8%
Less likely 41.6%
Much less likely 23.8%
Undecided (Do Not Read) 13.4%

Now that youve learned the intent of Prop 80, which increases the top tax bracket by 80% is to fund the
legislatures 40% pay raise, are you more or less likely to support Prop 80?

Much more likely 6.8%

Somewhat more likely 6.8%
No change 6.8%
Less likely 41.2%
Much less likely 26.6%
Undecided (Do Not Read) 11.8%

Supporters of Prop 80 claim the 80% tax increase will fund important state programs. But that allocation
is not guaranteed, and would require future action from the legislature. Knowing this, how confident are
you that the tax increase will actually fund what its supporters promise?

Very confident 5.4%

Somewhat confident 10.4%
Not sure 23.0%
Not very confident 30.2%
Not at all confident 11.8%
DEMOGRAPHICS

Party registration

Democrat 33.8%
Republican 14.0%
Independent / No Affiliation 48.0%
Other 2.4%
Refused (Do Not Read) 1.8%

Which best describes your ideology?

Liberal/Progressive 29.6%
Conservative 25.4%
Moderate 38.0%
Refused (Do Not Read) 7.0%

Age Range

18-29 17.6%
30-44 27.4%
45-59 25.6%
60+ 27.4%
Refused (Do Not Read) 2.0%

Gender

Male 49.2%
Female 50.8%

Results based on a survey of 500 registered voters in Massachusetts, fielded June 16-June 19, 2017.
Interviews were conducted by live operators via both landline and mobile telephone. The margin of error
is +/- 4.4% with a 95% confidence level.

The poll was sponsored by the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance and conducted by Advantage, Inc.

Advantage, Inc. contact: Jim Eltringham

jeltringham@advainc.com

703.524.1565