HAMDEN CT - Gov. Andrew Cuomo, not legislative leaders, should take the lead in cleaning up legislative corruption in New York State, voters say 54 – 32 percent in a Quinnipiac University poll released today.  Corruption is a “very serious” or “somewhat serious problem, 79 percent of voters say.

Gov. Cuomo is doing an excellent or good job cleaning up legislative corruption, 56 percent of voters tell the independent Quinnipiac University poll.  A total of 29 percent of voters rate Cuomo’s clean-up efforts as “not so good” or “poor.”

Clean-up efforts by legislative leaders are “not so good” or “poor,” 63 percent of voters say, while 24 percent say “excellent” or “good.”

New York State voters oppose 76 – 17 percent a pay raise for legislators, with overwhelming opposition among every group.  Higher pay will not attract better candidates, voters say 81 – 14 percent.   Voters also oppose 48 – 41 percent public financing of campaigns for governor, other statewide office and the Legislature.

“Is legislative corruption a big deal?  This poll echoes the headlines.  New Yorkers don’t like what they see,” said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

“More New Yorkers say its Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s job to clean up the legislature’s house, and they give him pretty good marks for doing it.  Thumbs down for legislative leaders.

“Perhaps prompted by the persistent stories of Albany misbehavior, New Yorkers overwhelmingly reject a legislative pay raise.   If their pay was raised, would that produce a higher caliber of lawmaker?   Thunderously, voters say ‘no.’”

New York State voters approve 70 – 16 percent of the job Cuomo is doing as governor, with Republican approval at 66 – 21 percent, Democratic approval at 73 – 12 percent and approval from independent voters at 71 – 15 percent.  Approval is 68 – 19 percent upstate,        70 – 13 percent in New York City and 73 – 13 percent in the suburbs.