Poll: Most in Pa. oppose Corbett education cuts

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett’s proposed budget cuts are widely unpopular among the state’s voters. A Franklin and Marshall College poll out Thursday shows almost 80 percent of those surveyed oppose the governor’s planned reductions to education spending.

Although residents agree, in general, that cuts are necessary, pollster Terry Madonna said a majority of both Democrats and Republicans oppose Corbett’s plan when it comes to education.

“Specifically, when it comes to things like education, that’s both at the school district level and the publicly owned universities, and Medicaid, the residents of our state put their hands up and say no. They don’t want cuts to education and in effect to public welfare,” Madonna said.

But residents aren’t so supportive when it comes to raising sales and income taxes. They do, however, support a tax on natural gas by more than 60 percent. Strong support also exists for a tax on smokeless tobacco and cigars.

Corbett said he won’t raise any taxes to balance the $4 billion deficit. Instead, he has proposed cutting $1 billion from public education, and reducing funding at public universities by 50 percent.