FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News from Progress Michigan
March 8, 2024
Contact: Denzel McCampbell, (313) 400-0298 , denzel@progressmichigan.org
NEW POLL: Whitmer’s Proposed Budget Proves Popular
Michiganders show strong support for progressive spending priorities
MICHIGAN – On Friday, Progress Michigan released the latest edition of Lake Effect, a monthly poll that tracks public opinion about a variety of issues and political figures. This month’s poll dug into attitudes about a variety of economic policies, including those proposed in Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s budget.
“Michiganders may not be mad about March Madness, but Gov. Whitmer’s budget that will help support working families and build stronger communities is a slam dunk,” said Sam Inglot, executive director of Progress Michigan. “From raising trash dumping fees to protecting civil rights to ensuring access to birth control, Michiganders understand how important it is to invest in programs that will support all of our well being. People across the state are also concerned about Republicans like Rep. Josh Schriver and what their white nationalist rhetoric and beliefs represent for the future of the party. And, of course, workers’ rights remain as popular as ever, with a majority of respondents supporting efforts to bolster unemployment benefits and restore worker’s compensation.”
Additional poll results are available here. Some key takeaways include:
- Respondents were asked about several items from Gov. Whitmer’s budget. The results were as follows:
- Raising the trash dumping fee: 77 percent support, 11 percent oppose
- Increasing funding for the Michigan Department of Civil Rights: 58 percent support, 34 percent oppose
- Providing free pre-K and two years of free community college for Michigan residents: 70 percent support, 23 percent oppose
- 71 percent of respondents support expanding unemployment benefits, while 22 percent are in opposition.
- When given details about the American Rescue Plan Act, 58 percent of those polled said they think it was very or somewhat beneficial, while 32 percent said it was not beneficial at all.
- When asked whether Rep. Josh Schriver, who has spread white supremacist conspiracies, is an outlier within the Republican Party or represents the rising influence of white nationalism in the party, 45 percent of respondents said he represents the rising influence of white nationalism in the party, while 22 percent believe he is an outlier, and 33 percent are not sure.
- Just 7 percent of respondents are passionate about their March Madness brackets, while 18 percent take a more casual approach, 54 percent don’t bother, and17 percent have no idea what March Madness is.
Margin of error for this poll is +/- 3.4%
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