Poll Shows NJ Middle Class Wants Rich Taxed [AUDIO]

Maybe it's support for the "Occupy Wall Street" protests or maybe Garden State voters just want to see the rich pay more, but they favor a millionaire's tax increase by a better than two-to-one margin in today's Quinnipiac University poll. They also don't seem to mind if Governor Chris Christie continues to put the squeeze on state workers to help deal with what promises to be another tough budget year.

"64%-28%, the highest we've ever measured, Quinnipiac finds that voters think a millionaire's tax (increase) is a good idea," explains poll director Mickey Carroll. "You have to believe that politicians, when they see those big numbers and in this case it's the highest number Quinnipiac has ever measured in New Jersey, politicians have to pay attention."

Christie vows to veto a millionaire's tax hike bill as he has in the past if the legislature passes another one and sends it to his desk.

Garden State residents would also support Christie if he continues to take a tough stance with public employees while he tries to balance the State Budget. Carroll explains, "How about a wage freeze? 62% say, yeah that's okay. (32% are opposed). How about furloughs? 49% say okay. (37% are opposed). Layoffs? No, they wouldn't go for that." 54% oppose layoffs for state workers. 39% support layoffs.

The majority of Jersey voters agree with the views of the "Occupy Wall Street" protestors and almost eight-in-ten say, "It's okay that they are protesting."

51% of those surveyed support Christie's decision to cancel the Access to the Region's Core (ARC) tunnel project, but now there's strong support for a cheaper alternative. By a margin of 66%-15% residents like the proposal to extend the #7 subway line under the Hudson River to the New Jersey Transit station is Secaucus and two-thirds also feel New Jersey should kick in some cash to build the new tunnel.

From November 9 - 14, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,788 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.3 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones. The survey includes 548 Republicans with a margin of error of +/- 4.2 percent.