Backing is particularly strong in districts represented by plan opponents McGee, Pacheco
In another poll conducted late last week, Massachusetts voters continued to indicate that large majorities support Governor Charlie Baker’s plan to reform the MBTA. All in all, 83% of those surveyed said they are behind Baker; only 17% opposed his approach.
The poll was commissioned by the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance, a non-profit, non-partisan organization that advocates for fiscal responsibility and good government solutions on Beacon Hill.
“The results remain clear. We’re glad that the Senate has taken the positive first step of authorizing a control board, but more must be done,” said Paul Craney, executive director of Mass Fiscal Alliance. “We hope every senator will listen to their constituents and advocate for robust reform efforts.”
In addition to the fiscal control board, Baker’s plan includes important measures like auditing the MBTA’s retirement system, and relieving the system of the state’s anti-privatization statute, known as The Pacheco Law.
Of note, support was above the statewide figure in the districts represented by Senator Marc Pacheco of Taunton and Senator Tom McGee of Lynn, both of whom have voiced opposition to the Governor’s proposals. In Sen. Pacheco’s district, 89% of respondents indicated support for Governor Baker’s plans; in Sen. McGee’s district, it was 85%.
In total, the polls included 13,663 high-propensity registered throughout the Commonwealth’s 40 Senate districts. The second round of polling garnered responses from 2,385 voters in the 11 Western Massachusetts, Southeastern Massachusetts, and Cape Cod districts not included in the original survey.
The new district-by-district data is available at http://bit.ly/1FN5TGL. Topline figures and district-by-district data for the initial round of polling can still be found here.
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