Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D.

Director, Quinnipiac University Poll (203) 582-5201 FOR RELEASE: MARCH 6, 2014

CONNECTICUT VOTERS BACK SUICIDE BILL ALMOST 2-1, QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY POLL FINDS; VOTERS CALL GOV. MALLOYS TAX REFUND A GIMMICK
Connecticut voters support 61 32 percent, with support from all age, party and gender groups, allowing doctors to legally prescribe lethal drugs to help terminally ill patients end their own lives, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Support is 63 31 percent among men, 58 33 percent among women, 51 42 percent among Republicans, 66 28 percent among Democrats and 63 31 percent among independent voters, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. Voters 18 to 29 years old support it 63 28 percent, with support at 54 37 percent among voters over 65. Voters are closely divided on whether they would ask a doctor to help them take their own life, as 39 percent say no in all cases, while 33 percent say they would if they were terminally ill, and another 12 percent would if they were terminally ill and in pain. On another emotional issue, Connecticut voters favor the death penalty 57 34 percent when asked a simple favor or oppose question. But voters are divided 47 47 percent on whether they approve or disapprove of a 2012 law that replaces the death penalty with life in prison with no chance of parole. Women approve the new law 50 43 percent while men disapprove 52 43 percent. Public support for allowing assisted dying in Connecticut is a very personal issue, crossing partisan, gender and age lines, said Douglas Schwartz, PhD, director of the Quinnipiac University poll. -more-

Quinnipiac University Poll/March 6, 2014 page 2 Support for the death penalty has dropped 10 points in three years, from a high of 67 percent to a low of 57 percent. Perhaps this is a case of opinion following policy, as Connecticut abolished the death penalty in 2012, Dr. Schwartz added. As weve seen in our past polls on the death penalty, when voters are given the choice of the death penalty or life in prison with no chance of parole, support for the death penalty drops. When asked the question this way, voters are evenly divided. Gov. Dannel Malloys proposal to use $155 million of Connecticuts surplus to mail tax refund checks of up to $110 per household is a political gimmick, not good public policy, voters say 63 23 percent. Calling the idea a gimmick are Republicans, 83 9 percent, and independent voters, 71 19 percent. Democrats are divided as 41 percent call it a gimmick and 39 percent say its good public policy. Gov. Malloys Approval Rating for Priority Issues In an open-ended question, allowing for any answer, 36 percent of voters say the economy/jobs should be the top priority for Gov. Malloy and the State Legislature, with 14 percent saying taxes, 11 percent for education and 8 percent saying budget/government spending. Voters approve 86 10 percent, including 84 10 percent among Republicans, of the way Malloy is handling this winters snowstorms. But he gets failing grades on other issues: Negative 33 60 percent for his handling of the top voter priority, the economy and jobs; Negative 29 63 percent for handling another top priority, taxes; A divided 41 43 percent for handling education, the third priority; Negative 37 53 percent on the budget, the fourth priority; Positive 47 43 percent for handling gun policy, a priority for only 2 percent; Positive 37 30 percent for handling the death penalty, which no one listed as a priority. Gov. Dannel Malloy gets great marks for his handling of the snowstorms, but low marks for voter priorities, the economy and jobs, taxes, education and the budget, Dr. Schwartz said. Keno should not be allowed in restaurants, bars or convenience stores, voters say 65 29 percent. Voters 18 to 29 years old back Keno 62 29 percent, the only group to support it. From February 26 March 2, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,878 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.3 percentage points. Live interviewers call landlines and cell phones. The Quinnipiac University Poll conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio, Virginia, Iowa, Colorado and the nation as a public service and for research. For more information or RSS feed, visit http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter. 2

17. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Chris Murphy is handling his job as United States Senator? Tot Approve Disapprove DK/NA 53% 31 16 Rep 30% 55 15 Dem 79% 10 12 Ind 49% 32 20 Men 47% 37 16 Wom 59% 25 17 AGE IN YRS.............. 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ 61% 20 19 50% 34 16 51% 33 16 55% 28 17

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Chris Murphy is handling his job as United States Senator? Mar 06 2014 Approve Disapprove DK/NA 53 31 16 Jun 19 2013 52 32 16 Mar 12 2013 50 34 16

18. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Richard Blumenthal is handling his job as United States Senator? Tot Approve Disapprove DK/NA 61% 31 8 Rep 39% 56 6 Dem 88% 7 5 Ind 57% 33 10 Men 56% 38 7 Wom 67% 24 9 AGE IN YRS.............. 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ 58% 20 22 60% 33 7 62% 33 5 68% 28 4

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Richard Blumenthal is handling his job as United States Senator? APPROVE....... High Low Mar 22 Mar 09 2012 2011 64 23 14 49 25 26

Mar 06 2014 Approve Disapprove DK/NA 61 31 8

Jun 19 2013 62 28 10

Mar 12 2013 63 27 10

Jun 06 2012 61 25 14

Apr 25 2012 58 27 15

22. What do you think should be the top priority for Governor Malloy and the State Legislature in 2014? Tot Economy(General) Jobs/Unemployment Economy(Other Specific) Wages/Minimum Wage Class inequality Budget(General) Government spending Budget deficit Taxes(General) Taxes(Other Specific) Education(General) Education(Other Specific) Crime/Safety Gun Issues/Policy/Control Healthcare Social Issues/Soc Services Poverty/Homelessness Immigration Issues Roads/Infrastructure Transportation Caring about people Other DK/NA 6% 25 5 3 1 4 3 1 13 1 9 2 1 2 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 8 6

23. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Dannel Malloy is handling - the budget? Tot Approve Disapprove DK/NA 37% 53 10 Rep 15% 77 9 Dem 64% 25 11 Ind 29% 60 10 Men 36% 55 8 Wom 37% 51 12 AGE IN YRS.............. 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ 34% 46 20 37% 55 9 37% 55 7 39% 50 11

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Dannel Malloy is handling the budget? APPROVE....... High Low Mar 06 Apr 25 2014 2012 37 53 10 31 54 15

Mar 06 2014 Approve Disapprove DK/NA 37 53 10

Jun 19 2013 35 55 10

Mar 12 2013 33 57 10

Apr 25 2012 31 54 15

Sep 15 2011 36 55 9

24. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Dannel Malloy is handling - education? Tot Approve Disapprove DK/NA 41% 43 15 Rep 25% 54 22 Dem 58% 31 11 Ind 39% 46 15 Men 41% 42 16 Wom 41% 44 15 AGE IN YRS.............. 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ 43% 43 15 39% 48 14 43% 42 15 44% 38 18

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Dannel Malloy is handling education? Mar 06 2014 Approve Disapprove DK/NA 41 43 15 Jun 19 2013 43 43 15 Mar 12 2013 45 39 16 Apr 25 2012 38 43 20 Mar 21 2012 36 41 23

25. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Dannel Malloy is handling - taxes? Tot Approve Disapprove DK/NA 29% 63 8 Rep 8% 87 4 Dem 52% 39 9 Ind 24% 67 8 Men 27% 66 6 Wom 31% 59 10 AGE IN YRS.............. 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ 37% 51 12 29% 65 6 28% 66 6 30% 59 11

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Dannel Malloy is handling taxes? Mar 06 2014 Approve Disapprove DK/NA 29 63 8 Jun 19 2013 29 63 8 Mar 12 2013 29 61 10 Apr 25 2012 25 64 11

26. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Dannel Malloy is handling - the economy and jobs? Tot Approve Disapprove DK/NA 33% 60 7 Rep 11% 84 5 Dem 57% 36 7 Ind 27% 67 7 Men 32% 61 6 Wom 33% 59 7 AGE IN YRS.............. 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ 41% 48 11 32% 62 6 30% 64 5 36% 58 6

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Dannel Malloy is handling the economy and jobs? (* the economy) Mar 06 2014 Approve Disapprove DK/NA 33 60 7 Jun 19 2013* 35 57 8 Mar 12 2013* 35 56 9 Apr 25 2012* 31 56 13

27. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Dannel Malloy is handling - gun policy? Tot Approve Disapprove DK/NA 47% 43 10 Rep 19% 72 9 Dem 70% 21 10 Ind 45% 44 10 Men 40% 52 9 Wom 53% 36 11 AGE IN YRS.............. 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ 40% 43 17 47% 45 8 47% 44 9 51% 40 9

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Dannel Malloy is handling gun policy? Mar 06 2014 Approve Disapprove DK/NA 47 43 10 Jun 19 2013 47 44 10 Mar 12 2013 48 39 13 Mar 06 2013 41 38 21

28. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Dannel Malloy is handling - the death penalty? Tot Approve Disapprove DK/NA 37% 30 33 Rep 21% 47 31 Dem 55% 15 30 Ind 34% 31 35 Men 35% 36 29 Wom 39% 25 36 AGE IN YRS.............. 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ 46% 24 30 38% 30 32 35% 33 32 34% 29 36

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Dannel Malloy is handling the death penalty? Mar 06 2014 Approve Disapprove DK/NA 37 30 33 Apr 25 2012 33 47 20

29. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Dannel Malloy is handling this winter's snowstorms? Tot Approve Disapprove DK/NA 86% 10 5 Rep 84% 10 6 Dem 91% 6 2 Ind 84% 11 5 Men 85% 10 5 Wom 86% 9 5 AGE IN YRS.............. 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ 75% 20 5 88% 8 4 87% 9 4 89% 5 7

30. Do you think Dannel Malloy's economic policies have helped your personal financial situation, hurt your personal financial situation, or haven't made a difference? Tot Helped Hurt No difference DK/NA 6% 36 57 1 Rep 3% 54 41 2 Dem 10% 15 73 2 Ind 4% 42 53 1 Men 6% 38 55 1 Wom 5% 35 59 2 AGE IN YRS.............. 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ 6% 17 77 6% 38 55 1 6% 45 47 2 5% 31 62 2

31. Do you think Dannel Malloy's policies have made Connecticut safer, less safe, or haven't made a difference? Tot Safer Less safe No difference DK/NA 27% 12 55 5 Rep 12% 19 63 6 Dem 45% 3 48 3 Ind 23% 13 59 6 Men 25% 14 58 3 Wom 30% 11 52 7 AGE IN YRS.............. 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ 28% 10 56 7 27% 12 57 5 27% 13 56 4 31% 11 52 7

36. Do you support or oppose the stricter new gun control laws in Connecticut? Tot Support Oppose DK/NA 57% 39 4 Rep 32% 63 4 Dem 80% 18 3 Ind 55% 40 5 Men 47% 49 4 Wom 66% 30 5 AGE IN YRS.............. 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ 49% 45 7 54% 42 4 58% 39 2 64% 30 5

TREND: Do you support or oppose the stricter new gun control laws in Connecticut? Mar 06 2014 Support Oppose DK/NA 57 39 4 Jun 19 2013 57 37 6

37. Do you think Connecticut's stricter new gun control laws go too far, don't go far enough, or are they about right? Tot Too far Not far enough About right DK/NA 36% 30 29 5 Rep 63% 15 18 4 Dem 16% 45 35 4 Ind 36% 28 31 5 Men 48% 22 27 4 Wom 26% 37 31 6 AGE IN YRS.............. 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ 42% 26 28 3 40% 26 29 5 36% 30 29 4 27% 40 28 6

TREND: Do you think Connecticut's stricter new gun control laws go too far, don't go far enough, or are they about right? Mar 06 2014 Too far Not far enough About right DK/NA 36 30 29 5 Jun 19 2013 35 27 32 7

38. Would you describe the state of Connecticut's economy these days as excellent, good, not so good, or poor? Tot Excellent Good Not so good Poor DK/NA 24 45 28 2 Rep 12 46 40 1 Dem 1% 40 44 13 2 Ind 20 46 32 2 Men 1% 24 44 30 2 Wom 25 46 27 2 AGE IN YRS.............. 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ 41 41 15 4 1% 26 44 28 1 17 50 32 1 1% 26 43 28 2

TREND: Would you describe the state of Connecticut's economy these days as excellent, good, not so good, or poor? EXCLNT+GOOD... High Low Dec 20 Feb 10 2001 2009 3 51 38 7 1 6 53 39 1

Mar 06 2014 Excellent Good Not so good Poor DK/NA 24 45 28 2

Jun 19 2013 1 23 41 34 2

Apr 25 2012 19 51 28 1

Jun 15 2011 15 48 35 -

Jul 23 2009 13 57 28 1

39. Do you think Connecticut's economy is getting better, getting worse, or staying about the same? Tot Better Worse The same DK/NA 16% 30 52 2 Rep 7% 44 48 1 Dem 28% 15 56 1 Ind 11% 34 53 2 Men 15% 30 53 2 Wom 16% 30 52 2 AGE IN YRS.............. 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ 22% 20 52 6 15% 30 55 16% 34 49 1 15% 31 52 3

TREND: Do you think Connecticut's economy is getting better, getting worse, or staying about the same? (*state's economy) Mar 06 2014 Better Worse The same DK/NA 16 30 52 2 Jun 19 2013 20 31 48 1 Aug 01 2002* 12 34 52 2 Feb 22 2001 16 22 60 3

43. Do you think keno, an electronic bingo-like gambling game, should be allowed in Connecticut restaurants, bars and convenience stores or not? Tot Yes No DK/NA 29% 65 6 Rep 23% 71 6 Dem 30% 65 6 Ind 30% 64 6 Men 35% 60 5 Wom 23% 70 7 AGE IN YRS.............. 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ 62% 29 10 38% 57 5 20% 76 5 12% 81 7

TREND: Do you think keno, an electronic bingo-like gambling game, should be allowed in Connecticut restaurants, bars and convenience stores or not? Mar 06 2014 Yes No DK/NA 29 65 6 Jun 19 2013 35 59 7 Mar 18 2010 27 70 3

44. Dannel Malloy has proposed using 155 million dollars of the state surplus for tax refunds with checks of up to 110 dollars to be mailed to households. How much have you heard or read about this proposal; a lot, some, only a little or nothing at all? Tot A lot Some Only a little Nothing at all DK/NA 11% 21 23 45 Rep 15% 26 23 36 Dem 8% 23 24 45 Ind 11% 17 22 50 Men 13% 22 22 43 Wom 9% 20 23 48 AGE IN YRS.............. 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ 2% 8 19 71 7% 15 23 55 14% 25 25 36 17% 30 23 29 -

45. In general, do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea? Tot Good idea Bad idea DK/NA 43% 49 8 Rep 33% 59 9 Dem 53% 38 9 Ind 42% 51 8 Men 39% 55 7 Wom 46% 44 10 AGE IN YRS.............. 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ 61% 26 13 43% 48 8 43% 51 6 33% 57 10

46. Do you think that Dannel Malloy's tax refund proposal is good public policy, or a political gimmick? Tot Good public policy A political gimmick BOTH(VOL) NEITHER(VOL) DK/NA 23% 63 5 2 7 Rep 9% 83 3 1 4 Dem 39% 41 7 2 11 Ind 19% 71 4 2 4 Men 19% 68 5 3 5 Wom 27% 59 4 1 9 AGE IN YRS.............. 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ 34% 45 8 5 9 19% 67 5 1 7 23% 66 4 2 5 23% 65 3 2 7

47. Do you favor or oppose the death penalty for persons convicted of murder? Tot Favor Oppose DK/NA 57% 34 8 Rep 73% 19 8 Dem 43% 49 9 Ind 61% 31 8 Men 63% 29 8 Wom 52% 39 9 AGE IN YRS.............. 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ 50% 42 8 62% 29 9 57% 35 8 56% 34 10

TREND: Do you favor or oppose the death penalty for persons convicted of murder? FAVOR........ High Low Mar 10 Mar 06 2011 2014 67 28 5 57 34 8

Mar 06 2014 Favor Oppose DK/NA 57 34 8

Mar 12 2013 59 35 6

Apr 25 2012 62 30 8

Mar 10 2011 67 28 5

Oct 13 2010 65 23 12

48. As you may know, in 2012 Governor Malloy signed into law a bill that replaces the death penalty with life in prison without the possibility of parole. Do you approve or disapprove of this law that replaces the death penalty with life in prison without the possibility of parole? Tot Approve Disapprove DK/NA 47% 47 6 Rep 30% 65 5 Dem 61% 33 6 Ind 45% 48 6 Men 43% 52 5 Wom 50% 43 7 AGE IN YRS.............. 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ 56% 39 6 40% 54 6 47% 46 7 50% 45 5

TREND: As you may know, in 2012 Governor Malloy signed into law a bill that replaces the death penalty with life in prison without the possibility of parole. Do you approve or disapprove of this law that replaces the death penalty with life in prison without the possibility of parole? Mar 06 2014 Approve Disapprove DK/NA 47 47 6 Mar 12 2013 45 51 4

49. Do you support or oppose allowing doctors to legally prescribe lethal drugs to help terminally ill patients end their own lives? Tot Support Oppose DK/NA 61% 32 7 Rep 51% 42 8 Dem 66% 28 7 Ind 63% 31 6 Men 63% 31 6 Wom 58% 33 8 AGE IN YRS.............. 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ 63% 28 9 65% 30 5 62% 31 7 54% 37 9

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50. If this became law in Connecticut, and you were diagnosed with a terminal illness and had less than 6 months to live, do you think you would probably ask a doctor to help you end your life, or not? Tot Yes No DK/NA 33% 53 14 Rep 28% 60 12 Dem 33% 52 16 Ind 36% 50 14 Men 32% 54 14 Wom 33% 53 14 AGE IN YRS.............. 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ 25% 64 11 29% 57 14 39% 45 16 35% 51 13

51. (If no q50) If this became law in Connecticut, and you were diagnosed with a terminal illness and had less than 6 months to live and were living in severe pain, do you think you would probably ask a doctor to help you end your life, or not? WOULD NOT ASK DR TO ASSIST Q50.................................... AGE IN YRS.............. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ Yes No DK/NA 22% 73 5 15% 82 3 28% 66 6 23% 72 5 23% 72 5 21% 74 5 26% 70 4 22% 74 4 22% 74 4 22% 71 7

51a. (COMBINED Q50 & Q51) If this became law in Connecticut, and you were diagnosed with a terminal illness and had less than 6 months to live, do you think you would probably ask a doctor to help you end your life, or not? IF NO: If this became law in Connecticut, and you were diagnosed with a terminal illness and had less than 6 months to live and were living in severe pain, do you think you would probably ask a doctor to help you end your life, or not? Tot Yes/If terminal Yes/Terminal w/pain No DK/NA 33% 12 39 17 Rep 28% 9 49 14 Dem 33% 14 34 19 Ind 36% 12 36 16 Men 32% 13 38 17 Wom 33% 11 39 17 AGE IN YRS.............. 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ 25% 17 45 13 29% 12 42 17 39% 10 34 18 35% 11 36 17

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