press release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

News from Progress Michigan

December 9, 2021

Contact: Sam Inglot, sam@progressmichigan.org

New Poll: Michiganders are Sick of Republican Lawmakers’ Political Games

Voters are not on board with GOP plans around voting rights, mental healthcare

MICHIGAN – On Thursday, Progress Michigan released their final Lake Effect for 2021. The Lake Effect is a monthly research newsletter that tracks public opinion about a variety of issues and public officials. Progress Michigan will continue with a slightly shorter and reformatted version of the Lake Effect in 2022.

“Across issue areas, Michigan Republicans have repeatedly failed to take meaningful action to benefit Michigan families, instead focusing on political games and efforts to undermine Gov. Whitmer. Michiganders deserve better, and they know it. Voters are not falling for the GOP’s lies about our voting system and efforts to push anti-voter policies. It’s also clear to folks across the state that Republican lawmakers are holding up crucial COVID relief money that could be used to support struggling communities. Meanwhile, Michiganders are skeptical, albeit unsure, about Mike Shirkey and other Republican lawmakers’ plan to privatize Medicaid mental health services.”

Full results of the poll are available here.  Some key takeaways include:

  • Several questions dealt with the “Secure MI Vote” proposal being pushed by Michigan Republicans:
    • When initially asked about the proposal, 41 percent of those polled said they oppose it, while 36 percent said they support it.
    • 52 percent of respondents said the ban on clerks using volunteers or donated spaces made them less likely to support the measure, while 23 percent said it made them more likely to support.
  • When told that Gov. Whitmer has proposed plans to spend nearly all the remaining COVID relief money and Republican lawmakers have only proposed one partial plan, 38 percent said it made them more likely to blame Republicans for the distribution of funds. 
  • 38 percent of respondents strongly or somewhat oppose Republican efforts to privatize Medicaid services for mental health, compared to 33 percent who support the measure.

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