Democrats are likely to make hay of a new survey by the Democratic Public Policy Polling firm asserting that the Republican agenda in the General Assembly is out of touch with North Carolinians.
The release, titled “NC Republicans falling out of favor,” shows majorities opposing the GOP’s proposed cuts in K-12 education, community colleges, and the UNC system.
Not so fast, as Lee Corso would say. Looking at the entire poll (PDF), it is strangely (or intentionally?) silent about the state’s budget deficit, ranging anywhere from $1.9 billion to $2.5 billion. And it poses the questions in isolation, as if there were no trade-offs involved. If respondents were given alternatives (“Would you support funding at current levels for K-12 education if that required a $1 billion tax increase?” for instance), the results might be different. Or not. Instead, we’re provided with information that, in context, means nothing.
