Arizona voters strongly disapprove of how Gov. Jan Brewer and state lawmakers have handled the state's budget crisis, according to a Rasmussen Reports poll released yesterday.
A survey of 500 likely voters indicates that 72 percent of voters believe Brewer is doing only a "fair" or "poor" job handing the state budget crisis. Legislators fare even more poorly. Eighty-one percent of those surveyed said the state legislature is doing only a "fair" or "poor" job handling the crisis.
Lawmakers have had more than six months to pass a complete and balanced state budget, but still have not completed the job. In recent weeks, some lawmakers have taken extended vacations instead of negotiating a budget deal. The current state deficit is approximately $3.4 billion.
The poor ratings come on the heels of news that Arizona's unemployment rate is 8.7 percent - the worst it has been in 26 years. Brewer once promised Arizonans a "massive stimulus package" to grow the economy, but it was quickly scrapped. Lawmakers have not come up with a comprehensive plan to grow the state economy.
The Rasmussen Reports poll asked:
How would you rate the way that Governor Jan Brewer has handled the state's budget crisis….excellent, good, fair or poor?
5% Excellent
20% Good
51% Fair
21% Poor
2% Not sure
How would you rate the way the state legislature has handled the state budget crisis….excellent, good, fair or poor?
1% Excellent
16% Good
38% Fair
43% Poor
3% Not sure
How would you rate the job Jan Brewer has been doing as Governor… do you strongly approve, somewhat approve, somewhat disapprove, or strongly disapprove of the job he's been doing?
9% Strongly approve
39% Somewhat approve
34% Somewhat disapprove
14% Strongly disapprove
4% Not sure
RSS Feed POSTED: July 28, 2009