Quinnipiac Poll Doesn't Support The Headlines On Pre-K Plan

When asked if they want a free lunch, apparently people will say yes.

Here is the wording of the poll question that generated all those bogus headlines today:

35. Governor Andrew Cuomo wants to pay for pre-K for all New York State children without raising taxes by using existing state funds. New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio wants to pay for pre-K for New York City children by raising New York City income taxes on households earning more than $500,000 saying that if state funding gets cut, pre-K for New York City children will still be funded. Do you think that New York City should raise these taxes to fund New York City pre-K or do you think that New York State should fund statewide pre-K without raising taxes?

This was a poorly worded question, and the stories that were bandied about today based on the answers are a bunch of nonsense.

The mayor had  a similar reaction:

“With all due respect to the Quinnipiac poll, the way they phrased this question was the equivalent of asking, ‘Would you like a bowl of free candy?’ To which most people would say, ‘Yes,’” said the mayor during a brief break from fiscal questions at his first budget briefing.

 deBlasio's plan is the better proposal.  And frankly, Cuomo's plan looks like vaporware from where I'm sitting.  This wasn't even on his agenda a year ago.