FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News from Progress Michigan
August 20, 2024
Contact: Denzel McCampbell, (313) 400-0298, denzel@progressmichigan.org
After Supreme Court Decision, Michiganders Show Strong Support for Increasing Minimum Wage; Paid Sick Leave Initiative
Poll also finds significant opposition to Project 2025, support for SCOTUS reform
MICHIGAN – On Tuesday, 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 edition digs into the recently reinstated minimum wage and paid sick time initiatives, Michigan’s budget, Project 2025, and U.S. Supreme Court reform.
“Michigan voters were ready to move in 2018 to advance stronger sick time and minimum wage laws and it’s right that the Michigan Supreme Court overruled the anti-voter power grab of the Republican legislature,” said Sam Inglot, executive director of Progress Michigan. “Every worker deserves to earn a livable wage and the ability to take family or medical leave when they need it. We hope and expect that the legislature will use these popular, necessary changes as a jumping off point for further progress on workers’ rights and economic justice.
“Meanwhile, Michiganders’ reactions to the Project 2025 agenda and Gov. Whitmer’s 2025 budget are in stark contrast to each other. While the far-right policies in Project 2025 grow more unpopular by the day, it’s clear that Michiganders support Gov. Whitmer’s budget that invests in infrastructure and public education. The numbers show they’re also frustrated with the irresponsible decisions made by the far-right majority on the U.S. Supreme Court and are open to the Biden-Harris administration’s plans for court reform.”
Additional results are available here. Some key takeaways include:
- 71 percent of respondents support implementing 15 weeks of paid family leave, while just 20 percent oppose the policy.
- 66 percent of those polled support raising the minimum wage and eliminating the tipped minimum wage, while 23 percent are in opposition.
- When initially asked about Gov. Whitmer’s budget, 45 percent of respondents said they supported it, with 33 percent in opposition and 21 percent unsure. Additional information about some of the specific infrastructure updates included in the budget raised support to 64 percent. When offered additional information about the public education portion of the budget, 62 percent of respondents said they support it.
- With no specific policy information given, 58 percent of those polled said they oppose Project 2025, compared to just 13 percent in support and 30 percent who are unsure. Additional questions provided more policy information and asked again about support for Project 2025—and in each case, more respondents oppose the plan than support it.
- 60 percent of respondents support the Biden-Harris administration’s proposals to reform the U.S. Supreme Court. Just 34 percent oppose these efforts.
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