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Voters favor Indian gambling, childhood programs props, poll says
Tuesday, September 22, 1998
(09-22) 13:30 EDT LOS ANGELES (AP) -- California voters favor ballot initiatives that would relax restrictions on Indian gambling and impose more cigarette taxes to fund childhood programs, two newspaper polls reported today.
Both Proposition 5, on Indian gambling, and Proposition 10, on cigarette taxes, held substantial leads in separate statewide polls by the Los Angeles Times and San Francisco Examiner.
Proposition 5 led by 57 to 28 percent in the Times poll and by 54 to 33 percent in the Examiner poll, with the rest undecided. The initiative, sponsored by Indian tribes, would allow expanded casino gambling on California reservations.
Proposition 10 led by 54 to 35 percent in the Times poll and by 55 to 33 percent in the Examiner poll. Sponsored by film director Rob Reiner, the initiative would increase cigarette taxes by 50 cents a pack to pay for early childhood development programs.
Both polls also showed support for Proposition 9, an initiative sponsored by consumer organizations that would require a 20 percent cut in electricity rates.
It would also prevent utilities from charging customers $28 billion for the cost of nuclear plants and other long-term projects that no longer produce power at competitive rates. Opponents, led by utilities and business groups, say it would saddle taxpayers with $6 billion in the costs of state-approved bonds that would be cancelled by Proposition 9.
The Times poll said that after hearing a description of the measure, 36 percent said they supported it, 21 percent opposed it and 43 percent were unsure. The Examiner poll showed Proposition 9 leading by 56 to 21 percent.
Proposition 8, Gov. Pete Wilson's education initiative, led by 70 to 15 percent in the Examiner poll. It would permanently cut elementary school class sizes, create parent-teacher governing councils and require teacher competency tests. It was not covered by the Times poll.
The two polls differed in races for statewide offices below the governor's level. The Times reported close contests for state insurance commissioner and secretary of state, but the Examiner said Republican incumbents led both races.
The Times poll said Insurance Commissioner Charles Quackenbush led his Democratic challenger, Assemblywoman Diane Martinez of Rosemead, by only 36 to 35 percent among registered voters, a tie in light of the poll's margin of error. The Examiner said Quackenbush led by 47 to 27 percent.
The Times said Secretary of State Bill Jones was supported by 28 percent of registered voters and Democrat Michela Alioto by 30 percent, a statistical tie. The Examiner showed Jones leading by 50 to 32 percent.
In the attorney general's race, Democratic state Sen. Bill Lockyer of Hayward led Republican Chief Deputy Attorney General David Stirling by 31 to 25 percent, according to the Times poll. The Examiner had Stirling ahead by 42 to 37 percent.
Both polls showed sizeable leads for Democratic state Controller Kathleen Connell over Republican Ruben Barrales, a San Mateo County supervisor, and for Superintendent of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin over Gloria Matta Tuchman, a Santa Ana teacher and a leader in the campaign to repeal bilingual education. Eastin is a Democrat and Tuchman a Republican, but the office is nonpartisan.
In the race for lieutenant governor, both polls showed a small lead for Assemblyman Cruz Bustamante, D-Fresno, over Sen. Tim Leslie, R-Tahoe City. Both polls showed a tie in the race for treasurer between Democratic businessman Phil Angelides of Sacramento and Republican Assemblyman Curt Pringle of Garden Grove.
The Times poll interviewed 1,651 Californians, including 1,270 registered voters, by telephone Sept. 12-17. Among them, 684 were deemed likely to vote. The margin of error was plus or minus 3 percentage points for registered voters and 4 percentage points for likely voters.
The Examiner poll, by Mason-Dixon Political/Media Research, interviewed 812 registered voters Sept. 14-16, and had a margin of error of 4 percentage points.