We Love You. Your Budget... Not So Much.

The new Quinnipiac University Poll was released today, showing 62% of Connecticut voters like Governor Rell, but only 16% like her budget. The House Republican 'No Tax Increase' budget was the favored of the three budgets, earning support from 41% of voters polled.

The poll can be found here. So what does this mean? First, I think it clearly illustrates that Connecticut legislative Republicans are far more in tune with the people of Connecticut than their Democrat counterparts. The state is fatigued with over-taxation, and it is finally showing.

It also means that when that smarmy Senate Democrat hatchet-man Patrick Scully stands on a milk crate to rear his head on the topic, declaring the Democrat budget cuts taxes for 90% of state residents, they aren't buying the cheap rhetoric he is paid to vend. Connecticut residents know a tax increase when they see it, and as usual, Democrats are attempting to deliver one.

More fascinating data from the poll: 78% of state residents do not believe that the Governor's increase in state aid for education will mean lower property taxes. Also, 57% of voters say the state income tax is unfair.

Interestingly, 64% of voters support the Governor's effort to eliminate the local property tax on motor vehicles.

Despite having a pretty unpopular budget, and suffering constant attacks in the media over the actions of her chief-of-staff Lisa Moody, Governor Rell remains remarkably popular.

Democrats need to learn some critical lessons here in the waning days of the 2007 session - your super-majority isn't a license to run roughshod over the will of the voters. Enacting large tax increases in the face of his data means they do so at their own peril.