Poll: Washington voters want to spend more -- while cutting taxes

Washington voters say they’re doing OK and so is their community but the nation is in trouble, according to a new Crosscut/Elway Poll.

The survey, conducted right after Christmas, also illustrated that Republicans are considerably more pessimistic about the future than Democrats.

The economy is voters’ No. 1 issue for the third straight year, with 32% of those polled citing some economic issue that they think the Legislature should focus on when it convenes next week – even though lawmakers will have more cash to spend this session than expected, because the state’s new capital gains tax and carbon pricing system brought in over $1 billion more than forecasted.

Pollster Stuart Elway says the disconnect between personal finances and “the economy” also shows up in national polls, because talking about the economy writ large is more of a political issue than personal finances. Both the economy and public safety are expected to be prominent in the political debate this election season, even though most people have not had personal experiences with either economic hardship or crime.

https://crosscut.com/politics/2024/01/poll-washington-voters-want-spend-more-while-cutting-taxes