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Survey: Most Wisconsin Voters Support Higher Minimum Wage and Kenosha Casino

Wisconsin Economic Scorecard

More than three quarters of Wisconsin voters favor a hike in the minimum wage, so do business owners, according to the Wisconsin Economic Scorecard.

Joe Cera conducts the quarterly survey for UWM’s Center for Urban Initiatives, WisBusiness.com and Milwaukee Public Radio.

Among his findings Dec. 2-5, regarding state economic issues:

-- Most Wisconsin voters (56%) feel it is too soon to tell whether the Affordable Care Act is a failure or not, and those who think current problems with the law will be fixed (53%) outnumber those who do not (43%).

-- Over three quarters (76%) of registered voters support an increase in Wisconsin’s minimum wage. A state minimum wage hike enjoys support from bipartisan majorities as well as 61% of business owners.

-- The proposed Menominee tribal casino in Kenosha now enjoys support from 53% of registered voters in the state (up from 44% last quarter), while 32% oppose. Support is lowest among relatively older residents.

-- While 58% of Wisconsin residents say the state is “headed in the right direction,” just 35% describe Wisconsin’s recent economic performance in positive terms.

-- Regarding the pace of job creation in the state, 7% say they are “very satisfied,” 43% are “somewhat satisfied,” 26% say they are “somewhat dissatisfied,” and 24% report being “very dissatisfied.”

-- Among working-age Wisconsin residents, only those from households with a total annual income of $80,000 or more are likely to describe their personal financial situations in positive terms.

-- When compared with last year, those planning to spend less this holiday season outnumber those who say they will spend more 36% to 12% (51% plan to spend about the same).

The polls's margin of error is ±4.5%. It reaches people randomly via landlines and mobile phones. 498 people were surveyed.

Bonnie North
Bonnie joined WUWM in March 2006 as the Arts Producer of the locally produced weekday magazine program Lake Effect.