Poll finds support for minimum-wage hike, tax breaks

Proposals to increase New York’s minimum wage and to give small businesses in the state a package of tax cuts and credits received high levels of support in a poll released today by the Siena (College) Research Institute (SRI).

More than three-quarters of voting-age residents, 78 percent, support increasing the state’s minimum wage from $7.25 per hour to $8.50 per hour. Only 17 percent opposed the hike, while 5 percent said they did not have enough information to respond to SRI’s poll.

“At least 70 percent of voters from every region support the increase,” SRI pollster Steven Greenberg said in a news release. “About two-thirds of voters have heard or read a great deal or some about the issue, and the vast majority would like to see the legislature pass the minimum-wage increase before session ends next month.”

SRI also asked voters whether they support a $200 million package of tax cuts and credits for small businesses. A majority of voters, 65 percent, supported that move. Just 13 percent opposed it. Another 21 percent of voters said they did not have enough information to answer, and 1 percent said they didn’t have an opinion.

“At least 63 percent of voters from every party and region support a small-business tax package,” Greenberg said.

Voters viewed the Occupy Wall Street and Tea Party movements far less favorably. Occupy Wall Street was seen as favorable by 38 percent of survey respondents and unfavorable by 52 percent. The Tea Party was looked upon favorably by 30 percent and unfavorably by 58 percent.

New York state is headed on the right track, according to voters, as 55 percent said the state is moving in the right direction. In comparison, 34 percent said it is going the wrong way.

But the country is a different story, voters said. Fewer than half of New Yorkers, 42 percent, said the country is headed in the right direction. And more than half, 51 percent, said it is on the wrong track.

SRI polled New York state registered voters by making random telephone calls from May 6 to May 10. The institute surveyed 766 voters, and the poll results have a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.

Contact Seltzer at rseltzer@cnybj.com