Maurice Carroll, Director

Quinnipiac University Polling Institute

Rubenstein Associates, Inc.,

Public Relations
Pat Smith (212) 843-8026

FOR RELEASE: APRIL 14, 2010

NEW YORKERS OPPOSE FAT-TAX 2-1,

QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY POLL FINDS;
BUT SPLIT ON TAX IF MONEY IS PROMISED FOR HEALTH CARE
New York State voters oppose 66 – 31 percent an “obesity tax or a fat tax on non-diet sugary soft
drinks,” according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
But voters split 48 – 49 percent when asked if they “support or oppose a tax on sugary
soft drinks if the money was used to fund health care,” the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-
pe-ack) University poll finds.
Opposition to the “fat tax” is strong across the political spectrum and among men and
women. But there is a big racial split, with white voters opposed to the tax 72 – 26 percent and
black voters opposed 51 – 43 percent.
When “health care” is added to the tax question, Democrats shift to 64 – 35 percent in
favor, while opposition from Republican and independent voters is reduced. Opposition from
white voters drops to 56 – 41 percent as black support increases to 73 – 26 percent.
Parents of children under 18 shift from 66 – 32 percent opposition to the “fat tax” to
53 – 46 percent opposition to the “health care” tax.
Obesity among children and teens is a “very serious” or “somewhat serious” problem in
New York, 89 percent of voters say. But 54 percent of voters say government action to fight
childhood obesity is “meddling,” while 41 percent say government should act.
“New Yorkers to Albany: Can the soda tax,” said Maurice Carroll, director of the
Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. “We might crack the can if the money goes for health
care.
“Sure, childhood obesity is a serious problem, New Yorkers agree. But most think a
state campaign against it is government meddling.”
-more-
Quinnipiac University Poll/April 14, 2010 – page 2
While 89 percent of New York State voters say childhood obesity is a “very serious” or
“somewhat serious” problem, only 4 percent of parents say they have a child who is “seriously
overweight.” And only 11 percent of all voters consider themselves “seriously overweight.”
New York State voters say 59 – 38 percent that the state should ban the sale of soda in
public schools. Parents support the soda ban 66 – 31 percent.
By a larger 65 – 34 percent margin, voters say the state should ban the sale of junk food
in public schools. Parents support this ban 64 – 35 percent.
“Voters say almost 2-1 that junk food shouldn't be sold in schools. By a lesser margin,
they'd also keep soda out of schools,” Carroll said.
Voter Dissatisfaction
A total of 78 percent of voters are “very dissatisfied” or “somewhat dissatisfied” with the
way things are going in New York State today, the highest dissatisfaction rate ever measured by
a Quinnipiac University New York State survey.
Voters disapprove 68 – 21 percent of the job the State Legislature is doing, compared to
the all-time highest disapproval of 72 – 17 percent December 16.
To clean house, almost everyone in the State Assembly, including their own Assembly
member, should be voted out of office this November, voters say 48 – 35 percent. Democrats
want to keep their Assembly member by a narrow 45 – 38 percent margin. Support for cleaning
house is 53 – 28 percent among Republicans and 57 – 31 percent among independent voters.
Voters also want 50 – 39 percent to clean house in the State Senate, including voting out
their own State Senator. This is the strongest anti-incumbent sentiment ever measure in New
York. Democrats want to stick with their Senator 51 – 38 percent. Anti-incumbent feeling is
57 – 30 percent among Republicans and 59 – 32 percent among independent voters.
“New Yorkers are more dissatisfied than ever and more and more of them are calling for
the broom to clean house in Albany,” Carroll said.
From April 6 – 11, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,381 New York State registered
voters, with a margin of error of +/- 2.6 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and
nationwide as a public service and for research.
For more data or RSS feed– http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us
on Twitter.

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20. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk

Approve 21% 11% 31% 16% 18% 24% 14% 38%

Disapprove 68 81 56 75 76 62 77 42
DK/NA 10 8 13 8 6 14 9 20

UpState..... UpState
Urban Othr Total NYC Sub

Approve 27% 17% 19% 27% 16%

Disapprove 55 73 71 62 75
DK/NA 18 10 11 11 9

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job?
(*High Dis also 72% Aug 2009)

APPROVE...... DIS...
High Low High
Apr 14 Feb 3 Dec 16 Oct 21 Apr 4 Feb 3 Dec 16
2010 2010 2009 2009 2007 2010 2009*

Approve 21 16 17 19 34 16 17
Disapprove 68 71 72 67 43 71 72
DK/NA 10 13 11 14 23 13 11

22. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Sheldon Silver is handling his job as State
Assembly Speaker?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk

Approve 25% 17% 35% 20% 24% 27% 21% 44%

Disapprove 40 49 30 46 51 30 45 20
DK/NA 35 34 35 33 25 43 34 36

UpState..... UpState
Urban Othr Total NYC Sub

Approve 20% 20% 20% 34% 21%

Disapprove 27 41 39 35 49
DK/NA 53 38 40 32 30

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Sheldon Silver is handling his job as
State Assembly Speaker?

APPROVE.......
High Low
Apr 14 Apr 6 Feb 17 Jan 15 Dec 24 Dec 24 Apr 14
2010 2009 2009 2009 2008 2008 2010

Approve 25 28 30 31 38 38 25
Disapprove 40 36 33 34 34 34 40
DK/NA 35 36 37 34 28 38 35

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23. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in New York State
today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very
dissatisfied?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk

Very satisfied 2% 1% 2% 2% 2% 1% 1% -
Smwht satisfied 20 12 27 17 15 24 15 43
Smwht dissatisfied 32 21 40 27 32 31 30 29
Very dissatisfied 46 65 30 52 51 41 53 22
DK/NA 1 1 2 - - 2 1 7

UpState..... UpState
Urban Othr Total NYC Sub

Very satisfied - 1% 1% 3% -
Smwht satisfied 33 16 18 25 15
Smwht dissatisfied 27 27 27 36 32
Very dissatisfied 40 55 53 33 52
DK/NA - - - 3 -

TREND: In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in New York State
today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very
dissatisfied?
VERY+SMWHT SAT
High Low
Apr 14 Feb 3 Dec 16 Oct 21 Aug 18 Feb 25 Apr 14
2010 2010 2009 2009 2009 1998 2010

Very satisfied 2 2 2 2 3 13 2
Smwht satisfied 20 24 22 28 25 60 20
Smwht dissatisfied 32 35 37 37 37 20 32
Very dissatisfied 46 39 38 31 34 7 46
DK/NA 1 1 - 1 1 1 1

26. Which comes closer to your view about your State Senator - there are a lot of
problems in Albany but your State Senator has done a good job and deserves to be
reelected or almost everyone in the State Senate should be thrown out including your
State Senator?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk

Deserves reelection 39% 30% 51% 32% 32% 45% 36% 52%
Shld be thrown out 50 57 38 59 61 40 53 37
DK/NA 11 13 10 9 7 15 11 11

UpState..... UpState
Urban Othr Total NYC Sub

Deserves reelection 49% 34% 36% 44% 35%

Shld be thrown out 40 56 54 44 51
DK/NA 11 10 10 12 13

TREND: Which comes closer to your view about your State Senator - there are a lot of
problems in Albany but your State Senator has done a good job and deserves to be
reelected or almost everyone in the State Senate should be thrown out including your
State Senator?
Apr 14 Dec 16 Aug 18
2010 2009 2009

Deserves reelection 39 41 40
Shld be thrown out 50 46 49
DK/NA 11 13 11

4
27. Which comes closer to your view about your State Assembly member - there are a lot of
problems in Albany but your State Assembly member has done a good job and deserves to be
reelected or almost everyone in the State Assembly should be thrown out including your
State Assembly member?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk

Deserves reelection 35% 28% 45% 31% 30% 39% 32% 50%
Shld be thrown out 48 53 38 57 59 38 51 27
DK/NA 17 19 18 12 10 23 17 23

UpState..... UpState
Urban Othr Total NYC Sub

Deserves reelection 44% 35% 36% 40% 25%

Shld be thrown out 37 52 50 43 52
DK/NA 19 13 14 17 23

28. There is a proposal for an "obesity tax" or a "fat tax" on non-diet sugary soft
drinks. Do you support or oppose such a measure?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk

Support 31% 13% 41% 35% 29% 33% 26% 43%

Oppose 66 85 55 63 69 63 72 51
DK/NA 3 1 4 2 2 4 2 6

UpState..... UpState
Urban Othr Total NYC Sub

Support 25% 26% 26% 41% 25%

Oppose 69 72 72 55 73
DK/NA 6 2 2 4 2

HAVE CHILDREN..
<18YRS InPubSch OvrWghtQ34

Support 32% 28% 32%

Oppose 66 69 61
DK/NA 2 3 7

TREND: There is a proposal for an "obesity tax" or a "fat tax" on non-diet sugary soft
drinks. Do you support or oppose such a measure?

Apr 14 Feb 4 Feb 18 Jan 15 Dec 24

2010 2010 2009 2009 2008

Support 31 40 31 32 37
Oppose 66 57 65 64 60
DK/NA 3 2 3 3 3

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29. Would you support or oppose a tax on sugary soft drinks if the money was used to fund
health care?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk

Support 48% 26% 64% 47% 43% 53% 41% 73%

Oppose 49 71 35 50 56 44 56 26
DK/NA 2 3 2 3 2 3 3 1

UpState..... UpState
Urban Othr Total NYC Sub

Support 51% 39% 41% 59% 44%

Oppose 45 57 56 40 54
DK/NA 3 3 3 1 2

HAVE CHILDREN..
<18YRS InPubSch OvrWghtQ34

Support 46% 44% 51%

Oppose 53 56 46
DK/NA 1 - 3

30. Do you think New York State should ban the sale of soda in public schools or not?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk

Yes 59% 51% 65% 58% 51% 66% 57% 65%

No 38 47 32 40 46 31 39 33
DK/NA 3 2 4 3 4 3 4 3

UpState..... UpState
Urban Othr Total NYC Sub

Yes 55% 55% 55% 62% 61%

No 42 42 42 35 34
DK/NA 3 3 3 4 5

HAVE CHILDREN..
<18YRS InPubSch OvrWghtQ34

Yes 66% 69% 65%

No 31 28 32
DK/NA 3 4 3

31. Do you think New York State should ban the sale of junk food in public schools or
not?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk

Yes 65% 57% 70% 64% 60% 69% 63% 65%

No 34 42 29 35 39 30 35 33
DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2

Cont’d

6
31. (cont’d) Do you think New York State should ban the sale of junk food in public
schools or not?

UpState..... UpState
Urban Othr Total NYC Sub

Yes 66% 61% 62% 68% 64%

No 33 36 36 32 35
DK/NA 1 2 2 1 1

HAVE CHILDREN..
<18YRS InPubSch OvrWghtQ34

Yes 64% 65% 71%

No 35 33 28
DK/NA 1 2 1

32. Thinking about the problem of obesity, that is people being seriously overweight, how
serious is the problem of obesity among children and teens in New York State today? Very
serious, somewhat serious, not too serious or not at all serious?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk

Very serious 48% 38% 57% 47% 43% 53% 42% 68%
Smwht serious 41 52 34 39 42 40 46 19
Not too serious 7 7 5 9 10 4 7 7
Not at all serious 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 2
DK/NA 3 1 3 3 4 2 3 4

UpState..... UpState
Urban Othr Total NYC Sub

Very serious 57% 43% 45% 54% 44%

Smwht serious 32 46 44 33 47
Not too serious 7 6 6 7 6
Not at all serious 1 1 1 2 1
DK/NA 3 3 3 4 2

HAVE CHILDREN..
<18YRS InPubSch OvrWghtQ34

Very serious 46% 44% 59%

Smwht serious 42 47 32
Not too serious 7 6 3
Not at all serious - - 1
DK/NA 4 3 4

33. Some people say that the government should take action to fight childhood obesity.
Others say that this is government meddling. Which comes closer to your point of view?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk

Gov shld take action 41% 25% 56% 36% 43% 39% 34% 60%
Gov is meddling 54 70 39 60 53 55 61 36
DK/NA 5 5 6 4 5 6 4 4

Cont’d

7
33. (cont’d) Some people say that the government should take action to fight childhood
obesity. Others say that this is government meddling. Which comes closer to your point
of view?

UpState..... UpState
Urban Othr Total NYC Sub

Gov shld take action 42% 33% 34% 51% 36%

Gov is meddling 56 63 62 43 58
DK/NA 1 4 4 6 6

HAVE CHILDREN..
<18YRS InPubSch OvrWghtQ34

Gov shld take action 42% 41% 51%

Gov is meddling 54 56 44
DK/NA 4 4 5

34. Would you consider yourself seriously overweight?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk

Yes 11% 10% 13% 11% 10% 12% 11% 8%

No 88 88 86 89 89 87 88 92
DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 -

UpState..... UpState
Urban Othr Total NYC Sub

Yes 11% 12% 12% 10% 11%

No 87 86 86 89 89
DK/NA 2 1 1 1 -

HAVE CHILDREN..
<18YRS InPubSch

Yes 10% 8%
No 89 90
DK/NA 2 2

35. Do you have any children under the age of 18?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk

Yes 32% 33% 33% 28% 31% 32% 29% 36%

No 68 67 67 72 69 68 70 64
DK/NA - - - - - - - -

UpState..... UpState
Urban Othr Total NYC Sub

Yes 17% 33% 31% 32% 33%

No 83 67 69 68 67
DK/NA - - - - -

8
36. (If have kids q35) Would you consider any of your children to be seriously
overweight?

HAVE KIDS Q35.........................

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Yes 4% 5% 6% 1% 3% 5%
No 95 94 92 99 97 93
DK/NA 1 1 2 - - 2

HAVE CHILDREN..
<18YRS InPubSch

Yes 4% 5%
No 95 93
DK/NA 1 1

37. Which would you say that you drink more often - diet soft drinks or regular, non-diet
soft drinks?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk

Diet 29% 34% 29% 30% 31% 28% 35% 21%

Regular 36 35 35 35 37 34 31 33
DK/NA 35 31 37 35 32 38 35 46

UpState..... UpState
Urban Othr Total NYC Sub

Diet 33% 29% 30% 27% 32%

Regular 35 39 39 36 29
DK/NA 32 31 31 37 39

HAVE CHILDREN..
<18YRS InPubSch OvrWghtQ34

Diet 25% 25% 43%

Regular 46 48 23
DK/NA 29 27 34

TREND: Which would you say that you drink more often - diet soft drinks or regular, non-
diet soft drinks?

Apr 14 Feb 4 Feb 18 Jan 15 Dec 24

2010 2010 2009 2009 2008

Diet 29 32 29 30 31
Regular 36 37 37 40 38
DK/NA 35 32 35 30 31