WisconsinReporter.com is a new statehouse news organization covering all of the legislative action in Wisconsin. It is a product of the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity, a national
nonprofit journalism organization.
The Franklin Center commissioned a poll of 500 likely voters in Wisconsin, which was conducted Feb. 21.
The results and specifics of the poll are listed below.
1* Do you have a very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable, or very unfavorable opinion of the budget repair bill proposed by Gov. Scott Walker?
39% Very favorable
11% Somewhat favorable
14% Somewhat unfavorable
36% Very unfavorable
0% Not sure
2* Do you have a very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable, or very unfavorable impression of the union workers and their supporters demonstrating at the Wisconsin Capitol?
36% Very favorable
13% Somewhat favorable
18% Somewhat unfavorable
30% Very unfavorable
3% Not sure
3* Next, Wisconsin faces an estimated budget deficit of about $3.6 billion over the next two years … Which approach would you choose for dealing with the state’s budget shortfall … rely entirely on spending cuts with no tax increases … rely mainly on spending cuts, with some tax increases … have an even balance of spending cuts and tax increases … rely mainly on tax increases, with some spending cuts … or rely entirely on tax increases, with no spending cuts?
30% Rely entirely on spending cuts with no tax increases
27% Rely mainly on spending cuts, with some tax increases
33% Have an even balance of spending cuts and tax increases
7% Rely mainly on tax increases, with some spending cuts
2% Rely entirely on tax increases, with no spending cuts
1% Not sure
4* Governor Walker is asking unions to pay 5.8% of their salary toward the cost of their pensions plans and double their contributions for health care premiums to 12.6%. Is that fair?
71% Yes
22% No
7% Not sure
5* How likely is it that you would support the recall of state senators who left the state to avoid a vote on the budget?
37% Very likely
10% Somewhat likely
12% Not very likely
36% Not at all likely
5% Not sure
6* Generally speaking, are government workers in your community better compensated than private sector workers?
48% Yes
29% No
23% Not sure
7* Generally speaking, do government workers in your community have better benefits than private sector workers?
69% Yes
14% No
17% Not sure
8* Should school districts fire teachers who call in sick to protest Governor Walker?
32% Yes
53% No
15% Not sure
9* Should Wisconsin’s state employees and public employee unions have collective bargaining powers?
56% Yes
32% No
12% Not sure
10* Given these choices, which approach would you take for dealing with a school district budget shortfall … reduce teacher pensions and salaries or cut sports and extra-curricular programs for students?
44% Reduce teacher pensions and salaries
34% Cut sports and extra-curricular programs for students
22% Not sure
11* Who do you think is doing the best job at tackling spending and budgets issues — state officials such as Gov. Walker or lawmakers in Washington?
46% State officials such as Gov. Walker
33% Lawmakers in Washington
21% Not sure
12* Do you believe that President Obama should get involved in state disputes like the one in Wisconsin or focus his efforts on the federal budget battle in Washington?
27% Obama should get involved in state disputes
68% Obama should focus his efforts on the federal budget
5% Not sure
13* Is anyone in your household a member of a state public employee union?
23% Yes
75% No
2% Not sure
14* In the November 2010 election for Governor, did you vote for Tom Barrett or Scott Walker?
45% Barrett
46% Walker
8% Some other candidate
1% Not sure
15* Should Wisconsin residents be allowed to carry a concealed weapon?
45% Yes
45% No
10% Not sure
16* Should Wisconsin residents be required to present a photo ID in order to vote?
68% Yes
27% No
6% Not sure
NOTE: Margin of Sampling Error, +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. The telephone survey of 500 Likely Voters was conducted by Pulse Opinion Research on February 21, 2011. Pulse Opinion Research, LLC is an independent public opinion research firm using automated polling methodology and procedures licensed from Rasmussen Reports, LLC.
14 Comments
I think raising taxes on unions would be a good place to start balancing the budget. Maybe some strong union regulations and IRS audits.
I am a retired teacher, after 33 years, in Illinois and have been following the situation in your state. I was forced to join the union – we all were. The union leaders decide what politicians to put in office by giving them money and by getting out the vote. And those same politicians decide what benefits to give the union workers who have just gotten them elected. TALK ABOUT CONFLICT OF INTEREST!!! This is corruption. What about giving the teachers a choice? I think people should have a choice – that’s the essence of freedom. Teachers who freely want to join the union can still do so and they can pay their own dues – why should the state which is going to bargain with them collect their dues whether they want to pay them or not? // I noted on your poll that 23% of the 500 households are public unions members. That’s shocking – 1/4 of all your voters work for the government – that’s really out of whack. Assume they will support the unions and the remaining results from the non-union tax-paying voters: Question 1 = 50 favorable, 27 not. 2 = 49 to 25. 5 = 47 to 25. 8 = 32 to 30. And number 9 = 56 to 9. Thanks for your helpful poll.
why not ask: have you read the bill : http://legis.wisconsin.gov/JR1SB-11.pdf
May 1933: Hitler Abolishes UnionsOn May 2nd, 1933, the day after Labor day, Nazi groups occupied union halls and labor leaders were arrested. Trade Unions were outlawed by Adolf Hitler, while collective bargaining and the right to strike was abolished. This was the beginning of a consolidation of power by the fascist regime which systematically wiped out all opposition groups, starting with unions, liberals, socialis
hmmm… sound similar wisconsin?
I can’t believe there are so many stupid people in this state that think there taxes are not high enough!!!!! Quit being so week kneed, I can’t afford to pay taxes to these union leeches I’m broke, don’t you fing people get it!!! Leave my pocket book alone if you don’t like your job quit so I can have it, I’ll gladly take that wage and benefits.
Whats with these polls? You poll 500 people(chippewa poll) in one area and you think that means anything your nuts!! And for crying out loud why in the Hell do I care what other people in the country think!!
Do we want to be like our southern neighbors and raise taxes by 67%!!!! According to you wobblers we do!!
When will you people realize this problem has to be fixed NOW not left to our children.
You people that think you support unions how come you let Obama and the Dems in washington off the hook, federal employees don”t get to COLLECTIVE BARGINING!!!! why the double standard, and how come it’s ok to freeze federal employee wages for 2 years but not state employees!!!
Yeah that”s right, that’s what Walker said- Lets ban zee unions so I can take over zee world heil Hilter !!! Just wait till I can find race of people I can exterminate!! And zhen my armies will march into zee Poland and zhen begins my reign terror, oh I just can’t wait until I destroy zee UNIONS!!!!
THEY SHALL BE DEFEATED
this fake news site must be another right wing tool box because they wont post any comments unless they spew corporate propaganda
Well then, you must be spewing “corporate propaganda”, because this “fake news site” posted 2 versions of your socialist clap-trap. By the way, your hero Hitler(Marty Biel) sent his brown shirts(union thugs) into the streets to intimidate, and create chaos. Sound similar Wisconsin.
Yes we must spew corporate propaganda look into the ball stare blankly at the ball, yes we are right wingers RIGHT WINGERS!!!! We must obey our corporate masters, the same ones that create jobs and unlike the union bosses who only create wealth for themselves and don’t create a freaking job, sitting on there dead asses collecting hundreds of thousands of dollars a year while whinning to any poor slob who will listen, while taking union money at a rate of 20% on a dollar to give to the dems know wonder there crying in there beer that’s a lot of union dues going to dems ain’t it!!!!!
Wait those were independent thoughts how is that possible oh I forgot to focus on the ball.
23% is indeed a little biased in favor of unions. Conflict of interest.
What do you bet these 500 “likely voters” were polled only in Madison, where there are lots and lots of folks on the public payroll?
Based on the numbers of respondents who said did or did not vote for Gov. Walker, this poll does not reflect the average citizenry of Wisconsin.
Wisconsin resoundingly voted out the old guard, and voted in conservatives who promised to deal with our financial problems; the unions are responding more to the proposed freedom to quit the union, rather than any loss of so called “rights”. When all those COMPULSORY fat dues payments quit rolling in every month, what’s a union to do???
Madison and Milwaukee. They sure didn’t poll out here where I live! The Dems just can’t believe that Wisconsin dumped most of the Democratic incumbents. It’s about time. Hang tough Gov. Walker. You have a lot of support behind you.
I agree with Scott Walker. I work for a smaller company have had 2 salary increases in 5 years. My health insurance is going up 30% come April. If everyone could have a state job with all the benefits we would all apply and be rich. They call theirselves “middle class” I don’t think so…..they I must be considered poor. I concern myself middle class, I own an older car, I have a job, (not with the greatest pay, but it’s something) and I have a place to live. I am greatful. Maybe they should all be laid off with no income and there attitude would change. GO SCOTT GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As I have state on this site before:
Most people don’t recognize leadership when it is right underneath their nose. WALKER FOR PRESIDENT!
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[...] poll conducted Feb. 20 by Pulse Opinion Research LLC of 500 likely Wisconsin voters, found 56 percent of those responding [...]