Ulaven_Demorte
Non-Prophet Organization
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2006
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Yet another poll in Wisconsin, this time commissioned by a free-market think tank, the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute, shows voters disapproving of Gov. Scott Walker, and saying he should compromise on his budget proposal and its anti-public employee union provisions. Furthermore, the key groups with whom Walker is jousting -- Democrats in the state legislature, public employee unions in general, teachers' unions in particular -- all have significantly better favorable ratings than he does.
The poll also offered this lengthy explanation of Walker's proposal, asking respondents whether they favored it:
As you may know, Governor Scott Walker recently announced a plan that would require public employees to contribute to their own pensions and pay greater amounts for their health insurance, which would, in effect, be a pay reduction. The plan would permit most public employees to negotiate only their wages, and future wage increases above the rate of inflation would have to be approved by a voter referendum. Contracts would be limited to one year. In addition, Walker's plan also changes rules to require public employee unions to take annual votes to maintain certification as a union, stops state or local government from collecting union dues, and allows individual members to decide if they wish to pay union dues. Unions for law enforcement and firefighters would be exempt from the changes.
Do you favor or oppose Governor Walker's plan?
The result: Favor 46%, Oppose 51%.
A later question:
I'm going to read you two statements about the current conflict over public employee benefits and collective bargaining rights, and I want to know which one comes closest to your view. Governor Walker should stand strong for the plan he has proposed no matter how long the protests go on, OR Governor Walker should negotiate with Democrats and public employees' unions in order to find a compromise solution.
And here Walker is really doing badly: Stand strong 33%, Compromise 65%.
The partisan divide:
About 77 percent of Republicans think the governor should stand strong and 94 percent of Democrats want a compromise. The key here is independents. Independents overwhelmingly want the governor to compromise with 68 percent believing he should do so and 29 percent thinking he should stand strong.
While the bought and paid for Governor and his erstwhile congressional allies try to demonize teachers public sentiment is turning against them, it's their own reputations that are taking a beating.
The poll also offered this lengthy explanation of Walker's proposal, asking respondents whether they favored it:
As you may know, Governor Scott Walker recently announced a plan that would require public employees to contribute to their own pensions and pay greater amounts for their health insurance, which would, in effect, be a pay reduction. The plan would permit most public employees to negotiate only their wages, and future wage increases above the rate of inflation would have to be approved by a voter referendum. Contracts would be limited to one year. In addition, Walker's plan also changes rules to require public employee unions to take annual votes to maintain certification as a union, stops state or local government from collecting union dues, and allows individual members to decide if they wish to pay union dues. Unions for law enforcement and firefighters would be exempt from the changes.
Do you favor or oppose Governor Walker's plan?
The result: Favor 46%, Oppose 51%.
A later question:
I'm going to read you two statements about the current conflict over public employee benefits and collective bargaining rights, and I want to know which one comes closest to your view. Governor Walker should stand strong for the plan he has proposed no matter how long the protests go on, OR Governor Walker should negotiate with Democrats and public employees' unions in order to find a compromise solution.
And here Walker is really doing badly: Stand strong 33%, Compromise 65%.
The partisan divide:
About 77 percent of Republicans think the governor should stand strong and 94 percent of Democrats want a compromise. The key here is independents. Independents overwhelmingly want the governor to compromise with 68 percent believing he should do so and 29 percent thinking he should stand strong.
While the bought and paid for Governor and his erstwhile congressional allies try to demonize teachers public sentiment is turning against them, it's their own reputations that are taking a beating.
