Two New Polls Show Broad Support In New York For Millionaire's Tax, Occupy Wall Street

by: phillip anderson

Mon Oct 17, 2011 at 14:36:12 PM EDT

Nearly three-quarters of New York voters say they want an income tax surcharge on the state's wealthiest residents, according to a new Siena Poll out today.

New Yorkers support the Millionaire's tax 72%-26% with even 55% of Republicans behind the idea.

I think it would be hard for New Yorkers to be any more clear about where they stand on this issue, no?

And a new Quinnipiac Poll out this afternoon shows that New Yorkers overwhelmingly support both the Occupy Wall Street movement as well as extension of the Millionaire's Tax, again with support across party lines.

October 17, 2011 - New Yorkers Back Wall St. Protesters 3 - 1, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Stay As Long As You Want, Even Republicans Say

By a 67 - 23 percent margin, New York City voters agree with the views of the Wall Street protesters and say 87 - 10 percent that it is "okay that they are protesting," according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

Agreeing with the protesters views are Democrats 81 - 11 percent and independent voters 58 - 30 percent, while Republicans disagree 58 - 35 percent, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. Even Republicans, however, agree 73 - 23 percent with the protesters right to be there.

New York City voters say 72 - 24 percent, including 52 - 41 percent among Republicans, that if the protesters obey the law, they can stay as long as they wish.

....

"It's a free country. Let them keep on protesting as long as they obey the law, New Yorkers say overwhelmingly," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Critics complain that no one can figure out what the protesters are protesting. But seven out of 10 New Yorkers say they understand and most agree with the anti-Wall Street views of the protesters.

....

New York City voters support 61 - 28 percent an extension of the state's so-called 'Millionaire's Tax.' Even Republicans support the extension 55 - 38 percent.

Voters also support 73 - 19 percent, including 48 - 40 percent among Republicans, tougher government regulation of banks and Wall Street firms.

"New Yorkers, even Republicans, back the Wall Street protesters on at least two things they're talking about, a get-tough attitude toward banks and Wall Street and continuation of the state's 'Millionaire's Tax,'" Carroll said.

These numbers are pretty staggering. It definitely puts the heat on people like Governor Cuomo and Dean Skelos and explains much about why Mayor Bloomberg backed down from a confrontation with the Occupy Wall Street protesters in Zuccotti Park last week.

These issues and these protests aren't going away and it would seem that New Yorkers want it that way.