NEW: 43% Say RI Headed in Wrong Direction, According to Poll
Thursday, May 07, 2015
While only 32.8% of Rhode Islanders feel the state is headed in the right direction, a majority say they are still optimistic about the abilities of the new leadership, according to a May 7 poll conducted for Bryant’s Hassenfeld Institute for Public Leadership by Fleming Associates.
A survey of 402 Rhode Islanders was taken April 26-28. The poll showed 54.2% of those surveyed believed the newly elected state officials would be providing stronger leadership over the next few years.
Rhode Islanders believe several of the key elements of Governor Raimondo’s jobs creation agenda will be effective.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST· 59% believed targeted tax credits for business will create jobs
· 52.7% believed a state tourism campaign will create jobs
· 50.5% believed a $25 million for economic development of vacant land in Providence will create jobs
The student loan forgiveness and infrastructure bank were met with less confidence. Only 46.5% said student loan forgiveness for college students would create jobs, and only 37.3% thought the state infrastructure bank would work.
The poll also measured support for several key issues that will be considered by the General Assembly in the coming weeks.
“There are critical issues that the General Assembly will be considering that impact Rhode Islanders in a variety of ways, from education to medical expenditures to minimum wage,” said Gary Sasse, founding director of Hassenfeld Institute. “There was a lot of support for many of these initiatives. One standout that was resoundingly rejected was the tax on health insurance to fund Health Source R.I.”
· 69.9% favor funding full day kindergarten
· 69.9 % favor reducing Medicaid costs by 10%
· 75.4% favor raising the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour
· 62.7% against taxing health insurance plans to fund Health Source RI
Jobs continue to be the primary concern of Rhode Islanders. When asked what they thought the MOST important problem in the state, 30.1% said job opportunities; 18.7% said taxes.
Despite the general optimism about the strength of new state leadership, 13.9% still said government corruption is the state’s biggest problem.
“This poll will be the first of three released by the Hassenfeld Institute over the next year. The objective of the poll is to inform decision-makers on the opinions of voting citizens on critical public policy issues,” said Sasse.
The next poll on public issues will be in the fall, followed by a poll in January 2016 that will measure public opinion on how the state is doing on jobs and the economy.
The Hassenfeld Institute for Public Leadership provides public officials and others involved in the development, management, and execution of public policy with the tools and skills needed to make informed decisions and manage responsive organizations in order to govern and lead public sector and non-profit organizations effectively.
Related Slideshow: Ten Issues Elorza Can’t Hide From
Inauguration activities are now underway for the new Mayor of Providence, Jorge Elorza.
While the pomp, circumstance, and celebration taking place over the next several days, here are the issues the new Mayor will have no choice but to soon have to deal with.
Related Articles
- Russell Moore: Raimondo and Snowstorm Politics
- Horowitz: Ted Cruz and the Politics of No
- Leaders Talk Race and Politics at Rhode Island College American Democracy Project
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- The Scoop: RIC to Host Politics and Social Media Panel, Harrop Questions Cianci’s Health, and More
- Leather Storrs: The Undeniable Politics of Food
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- NEW: Block Chastises Dems for Insider Politics, “Rigging the Game”
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Perilli: Campaign Ads Bad for Politics, Good for Democracy
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Riley: The Strategy of RI Politics
- Rob Horowitz: Obama’s Immigration Executive Order; Good Policy and Good Politics
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- NEW: Mayor Elorza’s Office Accused of Deleting Facebook Posts About Snow Removal
- Elorza, Aponte Nominate Six to Providence Ethics Commission
- Elorza Inducts Three Community Leaders Into MLK Hall of Fame
- Geoff’s Superlative Sandwiches To Introduce the “Jorge Elorza” Sandwich
- NEW: Speaker Mattiello, Mayor Elorza “Disappointed” in Fox Felony Charges
- NEW: Mayor Elorza, Seattle’s Mayor Murray Make Super Bowl Wager
- Elorza Yet to Submit Any Appointments
- NEW: Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza’s Inauguration Speech
- Leaders React to Elorza’s Vision for “New Providence”
- Jencunas: Elorza’s Challenges and His Best Chance at Success
- NEW: Elorza Staff Salaries Released - Totals Nearly $900,000
- Elorza Outlines Providence Pothole Strategy
- Jencunas: Potholes - An Opportunity for Elorza
- Jencunas: Elorza’s First 100 Days - Potholes and Snow
- Mayor Elorza Launches “Buy Into Spring” Campaign
- Elorza Appoints Michael Stephens Providence Director of Recreation
- Ten Things to Know About Elorza’s Providence Budget Address
- Elorza’s Budget Raises Questions
- Elorza Administration’s Top Staff Are All White
- Elorza Taps Knight for Director of Public Works
- Mayor Elorza Announces 2015 Mayoral Fellowship Program
- Mayor Elorza Calls for Voiding of Shark Bar’s License
- Elorza Caught on Video Unable to Explain Key Appointment
- EDITORIAL: Mr. Elorza, Qualified Appointments Only Please
- Moore: Elorza’s Budget is a Bridge To Nowhere