ABC 12 – WJRT – Flint, MIABC12/Epic MRA Poll: Snyder's job performance on the rise

(01/30/12) - Things may be looking up for Gov. Rick Snyder. According to a new ABC12/Epic MRA poll, more Michigan voters approve of the governor's job performance.

According to the poll, 41 percent of voters now have a total positive rating of Gov. Snyder's job performance. That's up from 37 percent in November. However, a majority of voters -- 54 percent -- still give him a negative rating.

When asked if Michigan is a better place to live than a year ago because of the governor's policies, 31 percent said yes, it's better, while 23 percent said it's worse. But 44 percent said the policies haven't made a difference.

Infrastructure was a hot topic during Snyder's State of the State Address, and it's a concern among people ABC12 spoke to Monday. But when pollsters asked if they would favor increasing taxes to fund improvements to state roads and bridges, only 36 percent said yes. Fifty-eight percent oppose raising taxes, and six-percent were undecided.

The pollsters say voters in the Flint area had the biggest opposition to this question out of all the people they polled statewide. They also say the greatest support comes from Democrats.

While almost everyone we spoke to said something has to be done to improve the infrastructure, they all had different opinions of how to go about it.

"I don't know too many people who are for tax increases this time of year. But we definitely need some help. I think maybe the repairs they do make need to be a sounder repair," said Gretchen Sells of Owosso.

"I'm all for it if it's going to go to that," said Al Bontumasi of Burton. "I need to see results."