WPRI Survey of Wisconsin Residents N = 6 William G. Howell whowell@uchicago.edu University of Chicago January 12, 15 1 / 31
Outline of Today s Presentation 1 Survey Sample 2 Main Findings 3 Labor unions 4 Right-to-work 5 Prevailing Wage Laws 6 Transportation policy 7 Education policy 8 Sports 9 News 2 / 31
Survey Sample Race White: 9% Non-white: 9.3% Education High school graduate or less: 34.3% Some college or 2-year degree: 33% Bachelors and beyond: 32% Political Identification Republican: 26.8% Democrat: 28.3% Independent: 26.9% 3 / 31
Main Findings Wisconsin residents express a strong affinity towards labor unions. But in right to work legislation, they also express a willingness to endorse public policies that would give individuals discretion over whether they want to join unions or not. When it comes to unions and right to work legislation, important differences emerge between Republicans and Democrats (and, to a less extent, Independents). Moreover, Democrats appear conflicted on these issues in ways that Republicans are not. Solid majorities of Wisconsin residents: Claim to know about right to work legislation. Profess a willingness to vote for them. Believe that they should apply to all unions. Prevailing wage laws are different. Most residents have not heard of them, and their support for such legislation is much more tempered. Pluralities of Wisconsin residents support increased spending on transportation, with road tolls coming out as the most popular option for raising the necessary funds. Wisconsin residents continue to support the Common Core. Walker s opposition to the Common Core, however, has roughly the same impact on public opinion as does Obama s support. The Milwaukee Bucks do not loom nearly as large in the state conscience as do the Green Bay Packers. The relevance of this fact for state support for professional sports teams, though, is less clear. 4 / 31
Labor Unions, 1 Approve Disapprove 9 7 6 5 3 1 58.2% 33.8% Wisconsin Labor Unions We re interested in your views about labor unions here in Wisconsin. Do you approve or disapprove of Wisconsin labor unions? 5 / 31
Labor Unions, 2 9 7 6 5 3 1 Approve Disapprove 84.9%*** 66.8%*** 63.4% 26.7% 24.8%*** 9.8%*** Republican Democrat Independent We re interested in your views about labor unions here in Wisconsin. Do you approve or disapprove of Wisconsin labor unions? 6 / 31
Labor Unions, 3 Very posi6ve effect Somewhat nega6ve effect Neither posi6ve nor nega6ve effect Somewhat posi6ve effect Very nega6ve effect 6 24.3% 27.5% 19.9% 12.8% 12.9% Wisonsin's Economy Some people say that unions are a stumbling block to economic reform. Others say that unions fight for workers rights and a strong Wisconsin. What effect do you think unions have? 7 / 31
Right-to-work, 1 Yes, have heard of No, have not 9 7 6 5 3 1 66.9% 33.1% Right- to- work Laws Have you heard of state laws called right-to-work or open shop laws? 8 / 31
Right-to-work, 2 Vote for Vote against 9 7 6 5 3 1 62.1% 32.1% Right- to- work Vote Some states have passed right-to-work or open shop laws that say each worker has the right to hold his job in a company, no matter whether he joins a labor union, or not. If you were asked to vote on such a law, would you vote for it or against it? 9 / 31
Right-to-work, 3 9 7 6 5 3 1 Vote for Vote against 69.4% 63.8% 53.7%** 41.6%** 28.1% 3.3% Republican Democrat Independent Some states have passed right-to-work or open shop laws that say each worker has the right to hold his job in a company, no matter whether he joins a labor union, or not. If you were asked to vote on such a law, would you vote for it or against it? 1 / 31
Right-to-work, 4 9 7 6 5 3 1 Agree 76.7% 21.8% In Favor Disagree 46.2%*** 5.2%*** Opposed Those in favor of right-to-work or open shop laws say that no Americans should be required to join any private organization, like a labor union, against their will. Do you agree or disagree with this? Those opposed to right-to-work or open shop laws say that when all workers share the gains won by the labor union, all workers should have to join and pay dues to give the union financial support. Do you agree or disagree with this? *p.5, **p.1, ***p.1 11 / 31
Right-to-work, 5 9 7 6 5 3 1 Agree Disagree 91.4% 75.7%** 59.7%*** 39.3%***.4%* 8.5% Republican Democrat Independent Those in favor of right-to-work or open shop laws say that no Americans should be required to join any private organization, like a labor union, against their will. Do you agree or disagree with this? 12 / 31
Right-to-work, 6 9 7 6 5 3 1 Agree Disagree 73% 67.5%*** 52.6%* 46%** 24.7% 28.6%*** Republican Democrat Independent Those opposed to right-to-work or open shop laws say that when all workers share the gains won by the labor union, all workers should have to join and pay dues to give the union financial support. Do you agree or disagree with this? 13 / 31
Right-to-work, 7 Apply to all unions Excep;ons permided 9 7 6 5 3 1 54.9% 37.4% Right- to- work Excep;ons If these right-to-work or open-shop laws are enacted in Wisconsin, do you think that they should apply to all unions and all employers? Or do you think the state government should be allowed to grant exceptions? 14 / 31
Right-to-work, 8 Encourage business investment in Wisconsin Hurt workers by undermining their ability to organize Not much of an effect on workers 6 34.9% 29.4% 32.3% Impact on Workers We are wondering what impact you think these laws will have in Wisconsin. Let s start with workers. Generally speaking, do you think these laws will encourage businesses to invest in Wisconsin, which is good for workers around the state? Do you think these laws will hurt workers by undermining their ability to organize? Or do you think these laws won t have much of an impact on workers? 15 / 31
Right-to-work, 9 A6ract more business to Wisconsin Make Wisconsin less a6rac=ve for business Businesses won't care 6 37.4% 24.1% 35.4% Impact on Businesses What impact do you think these laws will have on businesses in Wisconsin? Will these laws attract more businesses to Wisconsin? By undermining unions, will they make Wisconsin a less attractive place for businesses to locate? Or do you think businesses won t much care whether these laws are enacted? 16 / 31
Right-to-work, 1 Improve economic growth Reduce economic growth Not affect economic growth 9 7 6 5 3 1.4% 27% 28.6% Impact on Wisconsin's Economy What impact will these laws will have on the overall economy in Wisconsin? 17 / 31
Prevailing Wage Laws, 1 Yes, heard of No, have not heard of 9 7 6 5 3 1 31.1% 66.7% Prevailing Wage Laws We re also interested in what you know about so-called prevailing wage laws. Have you heard of these laws? 18 / 31
Prevailing Wage Laws, 2 9 7 6 5 3 1 Fair way for government to ensure workers are paid a just wage Unnecessarily limit the ability of businesses to negohate compehhve wages 45.7% 41.6% Prevailing Wage Laws As you may know, prevailing wage laws set wages for government contractors. They do so on the basis of surveys that evaluate the average wages paid to workers in different industries. We are wondering what you think about these laws. 19 / 31
Transportation Policy, 1 9 7 6 5 3 1 8.9% Greatly increase Stay about the same Greatly decrease 42.3% 35.7% 7.5% No Informa4on 3.2% Increase Decrease 36.5% 39.2% 6.3% 8.8% Informa4on 3.4% Now we would like to ask you some questions about state spending, particularly spending on transportation. Do you think that government funding for transportation in Wisconsin should greatly increase, increase, stay about the same, decrease, or greatly decrease? Now we would like to ask you some questions about state spending, particularly spending on transportation. A bi-partisan commission concluded that the state of Wisconsin needs to raise an additional $6.8 billion to cover transportation costs over the next decade. Do you think that government funding for transportation in Wisconsin should greatly increase, increase, stay about the same, decrease, or greatly decrease? *p.5, **p.1, ***p.1 / 31
Transportation Policy, 2 9 7 6 5 3 1 29.2%.2% 17.3% 15.9% 8.8% Raising Transporta7on Funds Increase the 33- cent- per- gallon tax Eliminate the gas tax and add a larger sales tax Add or increase road tolls Transfer funds being spent on schools and health care Addi7onal fees on new cars New transportation funds can be raised in a variety of different ways. We re interested in your thoughts on the matter. Which of the following proposals do you think is the best way to raise funds for transportation in Wisconsin? 21 / 31
Transportation Policy, 3 9 7 6 5 3 1 Strongly support Somewhat support Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose Neither 32.4% 28.9% 29.7%.6% 24.3% 15.3% 18.3% 6.5% 11% 1.4% No Clarifica5on Clarifica5on We re particularly interested in your views about road tolls. Would you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, strongly oppose, or neither support nor oppose the introduction of road tolls as part of a plan to raise transportation funds in Wisconsin? We re particularly interested in your views about road tolls. These tolls would be purely electronic and would not involve toll booths. Would you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, strongly oppose, or neither support nor oppose the introduction of road tolls as part of a plan to raise transportation funds in Wisconsin? *p.5, **p.1, ***p.1 22 / 31
Education Policy, 1 9 7 6 5 3 1 Completely support Somewhat support Somewhat oppose Completely oppose Neither 33.5% 28.4% 3.2% 29.1% 16.6% 12.7% 6.2% 13.2% 16.1% 8.7% Common Core Standards Now we have some questions about education policy. As you may know, in the last few years states have been deciding whether or not to use the Common Core, which are education standards for reading and math that are the same across the states. Wisconsin adopted these standards in 1, and starting this academic year these standards will be used to hold all public schools accountable for their performance. Do you completely support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, completely oppose, or neither support nor oppose the use of Common Core standards in Wisconsin? Now, we have some questions about education policy. As you may know, in the last few years states have been deciding whether or not to use education standards for reading and math that are the same across the states. Wisconsin adopted these standards in 1, and starting this academic year these standards will be used to hold all public schools accountable for their performance. Do you completely support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, completely oppose, or neither support nor oppose the use of these standards in Wisconsin? *p.5, **p.1, ***p.1 23 / 31
Education Policy, 2 9 7 6 5 3 1 Wisconsin should repeal the standards now Wait and see how things work out 68.7% 58.2% 58%* 35.1% 38.4%* 29.7% No Endorsement Governor President Some people have argued that Wisconsin should repeal the standards now. Other people say that Wisconsin should wait and see how things work out. What do you think about the matter? Do you think: In the past, Governor Scott Walker has argued that Wisconsin should repeal the standards now. Other people say that Wisconsin should wait and see how things work out. What do you think about the matter? Do you think: Some people have argued that Wisconsin should repeal the standards now. In the past, however, President Barack Obama has argued that states like Wisconsin should wait and see how things work out. What do you think about the matter? Do you think: *p.5, **p.1, ***p.1 24 / 31
Education Policy, 3 9 7 6 5 3 1 Completely support Somewhat support Somewhat oppose Completely oppose 24.4% 23.% 12.1% 27.7% All Children Neither 11.3% 3.4% 31.6% 8.6% 18.4%* 1.8% Children with Special Needs A proposal has been made that would give families with children in public schools a wider choice, by allowing them to enroll their children in private schools instead, with government helping to pay the tuition. Would you completely support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, completely oppose, or neither support nor oppose this proposal? A proposal has been made that would give families of children with special needs in public schools a wider choice, by allowing them to enroll their children in private schools instead, with government helping to pay the tuition. Would you completely support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, completely oppose, or neither support nor oppose this proposal? *p.5, **p.1, ***p.1 25 / 31
Education Policy, 4 9 7 6 5 3 1 Completely support Somewhat support Somewhat oppose Completely oppose 21.1% 41.9% All Students Neither 13.3% 11.4% 11% 39.9%*** 31.6%* 8.1%* 4.2%*** 14.2% Students with Disabili;es Another proposal has been made to allow students to receive credit for approved courses taken over the internet. Would you completely support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, completely oppose, or neither support nor oppose this proposal? Another proposal has been made to allow students with disabilities to receive credit for approved courses taken over the internet. Would you completely support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, completely oppose, or neither support nor oppose this proposal? *p.5, **p.1, ***p.1 26 / 31
Sports, Bucks vs. Cavaliers Won Lost Don't know 9 7 6 5 3 1 64.2% 63.2% 65.6% 27.3% 23.2% 21.6% 11.4% 9.5% 11.6% Overall Milwaukee Rest of Wisconsin On Wednesday of this week, the Milwaukee Bucks played the Cleveland Cavaliers. As best as you recall, did the Bucs win or lose that game? 27 / 31
Sports, Packers vs. Lions Won Lost Don't know 9 7 6 5 3 1 9.5% 81.2% 78.5%** 14.3% 15.9% 8.8% 3.9% 4.8%*.7% Overall Green Bay Rest of Wisconsin In the last game of the regular season, the Green Bay Packers played the Detroit Lions. As best you recall, did the Packers win or lose that game? 28 / 31
Sports, 3 Completely support Somewhat support Somewhat oppose Completely oppose Neither 9 7 6 5 3 1 32.9% 25.8% 25.8% 28.9% 24.2%* 23.8%** 23.1%*** 18.4% 17.3% 13.7% 15.5% 15.1%** 15.5% 7% 7.2%* No Team Named Packers Bucks As you may know, the government does a number of things to financially support professional sports teams in Wisconsin. Do you completely support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, completely oppose, or neither support nor oppose public funding for professional sports teams? As you may know, the government does a number of things to financially support the Green Bay Packers. you completely support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, completely oppose, or neither support nor oppose public funding for the Green Bay Packers? As you may know, the government does a number of things to financially support the Milwaukee Bucs. Do you completely support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, completely oppose, or neither support nor oppose public funding for the Milwaukee Bucs? *p.5, **p.1, ***p.1 29 / 31
News A major television network The internet Cable television A printed newspaper Radio Talk shows Friends and neighbors 6 24.4% 1.4% 3.3% News 8.7% 22.6% 2.5% Thinking about a typical weekday, do you get most of your news from? 3 / 31
Thank You! Questions? 31 / 31