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New Poll Shows Half Of Illinois Dislikes Gov. Rauner

By aaroncynic in News on Mar 3, 2016 5:40PM

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Illinois governor Bruce Rauner last February in Chicago. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Fewer and fewer Illinoisans are fans of Gov. Bruce Rauner, according to a new poll by the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute.

A poll conducted by the group last year showed a 37 percent approval rating with a 31 percent disapproval rating, and a large swath of people—32 percent—undecided. Now that gap has closed, with the new poll, first reported by Rich Miller at Capitol Fax, showing that 50 percent of people disapprove of the job Rauner’s doing, with 41 percent approving. Those results are close to a January poll showing his disapproval rating at 51.6 percent.

Additionally, 84 percent of those surveyed said they felt Illinois was “on the wrong track,” while nearly half said the quality of life in their local area was “good” and moving in the right direction, 32 percent said they felt a direct impact from the budget stalemate, now in its 9th month.

Rauner’s highest disapproval rating comes from Chicagoans, with 58 percent saying they don’t like the job he’s doing.

More specifically on the budget impasse, the two largest areas people said they were impacted—27 percent each—were either their job or social services.

Those numbers are interestingly low, given the length of time the state has languished without a budget and the large number of social service agencies that have been forced to make large cutbacks, layoffs, or close their doors altogether.

David Yepsen, director of the Institute said in a press release:


“One reason this stalemate goes on is many simply don’t feel it is effecting their lives. Those people aren’t likely to be pressuring policymakers to do something to break the logjam. Many programs that are funded are being paid for with loans or one-time money and that can’t go on forever.”

Update 2:55 p.m. :

Governor Rauner's office responded to the poll with a statement, saying:


"The governor doesn't make decisions based on polls and is focused on transforming state government, achieving structural reforms for taxpayers that will create jobs and grow the economy, and ensuring Illinois has the best schools in America."