Poll shows low opinion of Pa. state government

HARRISBURG (AP) — A new poll shows Pennsylvanians have a low opinion of their state government.

The statewide survey by Franklin & Marshall College was taken in late August, as the partisan stalemate over the state budget was nearing its third month.

The poll found only a third of Pennsylvania voters have a favorable opinion of Gov. Ed Rendell — his lowest rating since taking office in 2003. More than two-thirds rated the Legislature’s performance as only fair or poor.

The poll showed more voters blame the Legislature than Rendell for the stalled state budget.

The telephone survey carried a sampling error margin of plus or minus 4.1 percentage points.