Poll: PA voters unhappy with budget, ultrasound legislation

A Quinnipiac University Poll released this morning shows that Pennsylvania voters are losing faith with Gov. Corbett on the state budget, especially cuts to state-funded universities, and do not like legislation that would force women to have an ultrasound procedure before an abortion.

The voters disapprove of the way Corbett is handling the state's finances by a margin of 49-36 percent.  That margin sinks to a disapproval rating of 53-27 percent when voters are asked about the impact of state budget cuts on universities.  Voters oppose those cuts by a margin of 68-28 percent.  Corbett's job approval rating is now split at 41-41 percent, a six-point drop from December.

The voters polled oppose the ultrasound legislation by a margin of 48-42 percent.  The pollsters found a gender gap in the opinions -- men oppose the legislation by a margin of 51-39 percent while women split at margin of 45-45 percent.  Voters with a college degree were more likely to oppose the legislation (57-35 percent) while voters without a college degree were split (45-44).

Voters, men and women, were especially opposed to legislation that would require a trans-vaginal ultrasound before an abortion, with 64-23 percent against.

"A plurality of Pennsylvania voters oppose requiring pregnant women seeking abortions to get ultrasounds 24 hours before an abortion, with men opposing the measure in greater numbers," Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, said in a news release.