The conservative-leaning Wisconsin Policy Research Institute released the results of a new poll
Sunday. The Institute, which bills itself on its website as "Wisconsin's Free Market Think Tank", conducted a survey of 603 Wisconsinites, including cell phone users, between February 27 and March 1. The results are not encouraging for Scott Walker. Perhaps the most devastating finding for the Republican Governor:
Almost two-thirds of respondents (65 percent) say he should compromise with Democrats and public employee unions while one-third (33 percent) say he should stand strong no matter how long protests last.
Anti-Walker feelings are intensifying, too:
Q9. Overall, do you strongly approve, somewhat approve, somewhat disapprove, or strongly disapprove of the way Scott Walker is handling his job as Governor of Wisconsin?
Strongly approve ................................................. 29
Somewhat approve ................................................. 14
Somewhat disapprove .............................................. 8
Strongly disapprove ............................................ 45
Don't know / Refused ............................................... 4
I’m now going to read you a list of people and organizations that have been in the news recently, please tell me if you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of each of them.
Q10. Scott Walker
Strongly favorable ............................................... 28
Somewhat favorable .............................................. 15
Somewhat unfavorable .......................................... 12
Strongly unfavorable ........................................... 41
Don't know / Refused............................................... 4
While some results are clearly dependent on the wording of question, overall the people of Wisconsin look favorably upon unions, oppose cuts in funding to education, are opposed to expanding the power of the state Department of Health Services to review and possibly cut state medical assistance programs, and are surprisingly open to raising taxes. A majority look favorably on raising income taxes for those making over $150,000 per year. About half of Wisconsinites even favor raising the sales tax by 1%.
This seems to justify the actions of the Wisconsin 14, who left the state to give the people of Wisconsin a chance to read and discuss the budget repair bill before it was jammed through the legislature. Well, we've read it and the reviews are in: It stinks.
The questioning for this poll was completed on the same day the governor released his new budget. With more details of devastating cuts to public services being revealed every day, I find it highly unlikely that Scott Walker's numbers will be improving soon. They have probably worsened since the questioning for this poll was completed.
The poll can be summarized simply. Wisconsin has a message for Scott Walker, and it's this: Don't dictate. Negotiate.