Poll: Rell ‘Copped Out’ On State Budget

HARTFORD (AP) — A majority of Connecticut voters believe Governor M. Jodi Rell “copped out” by not signing or vetoing the budget bill passed by the Democratic-controlled General Assembly, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday.

Rell, a Republican facing a veto-proof majority, allowed the two-year, $37.6 billion plan to become law automatically by not taking any action.

She criticized the budget for its level of borrowing and said it was vague on plans for future savings and tax increases. But she allowed it to become law, she said, because residents were feeling the effects of the budget impasse.

The budget raises income taxes on the wealthy, smokers and businesses, raises myriad state fees and licenses, and borrows hundreds of millions of dollars.

Asked if Rell “copped out,” 56 percent of voters said yes, while 34 percent said she “showed courage.”

Rell spokesman Rich Harris said the poll reflects the difficult budget decisions that faced the state this year.

“Governor Rell made some choices she knew would not make everyone happy. That’s leadership,” Harris said in a written statement. “For the good of our state the budget crisis is now resolved because Governor Rell put an end to it. By digging in her heels over the past five months, Governor Rell forced the Democrats to cut state spending and sharply reduce their demand for new taxes from $3.3 billion to $900 million.”

Quinnipiac Poll Director Douglas Schwartz said Rell’s approval rating was down six points to 59 percent.

“She has hit an all-time low, although neighboring governors would love to have those numbers,” he said, and noted that the Democratic-majority in Connecticut had a lower rating than Rell.

The same poll of 921 registered voters showed that only 35 percent approved of the way the legislature was handling its job. Voters disapproved, 61 percent to 28 percent, of the way Democrats handled the state budget. Meanwhile, 52 percent disapproved of Rell’s handling of the budget while 42 percent approved.

The poll’s margin of error is 3.2 percentage points.