This year’s budget cuts in Louisiana, especially to state-funded health care, are proving unpopular with likely voters. In fact, 68% of those who took Southern Media & Opinion Research Inc.’s latest statewide survey say the budget has been cut enough. Another 89% say they’re concerned about reductions to the LSU-operated charity hospital system, with 79% saying the system will not be able to provide the same quality health care as before the cuts and 80% saying Louisiana residents will lose access to heath care as a result. The survey, which is conducted twice a year and is funded by Baton Rouge businessman Lane Grigsby, also shows waning approval of the job Gov. Bobby Jindal is doing. Jindal got a 51% approval rating in the latest survey, down from 64% a year ago. While the governor still has strong support among fellow Republicans, a majority of Democrats in the latest poll say his job performance has been “not so good” or “poor.” Nonetheless, most of Jindal’s initiatives regarding education reform are proving popular, with 69% of survey respondents saying they support increasing standards for teacher tenure, 73% supporting increased teacher accountability, and 56% supporting an increase in principals’ control. On the issue of school vouchers, however, 54% say they’re opposed to the reform. You can check out an overview and analysis of the survey findings here, or see the complete results here.
Today’s poll question: Do you approve of the job Gov. Bobby Jindal is doing?
