Poll: 80% of Wisconsin voters wanted lawmakers to pass surplus deal

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Four out of every five respondents in a new Marquette Law School Poll say the Legislature should have passed a $1.8 billion bill that would've drawn down much of the state's surplus to provide more special education funding for schools, provided marginal property tax relief and sent rebate checks to taxpayers.

It's not often 80% of Wisconsin voters come down on the same side of an issue, but a vast majority of those who took the MU poll last week wanted lawmakers to approve a compromise package negotiated by Democratic Governor Tony Evers and GOP leaders in control of the Assembly and Senate.

The bill failed in the Senate earlier this month with all 15 Senate Democrats and three Senate Republicans rejecting the package in a late-night 18-15 vote following hours of last-ditch talks.

The deal was reached by Evers, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg), all of whom are retiring at the end of this year.

The plan would've provided $315 million in additional special education funding for K-12 districts statewide, sent rebate checks of up to $300 for single taxpayers or up to $600 for married couples, would've provided property tax relief of about $100 this year for the owner of a median-priced house and removed the state income tax on tips and overtime wages.

In the poll, 80% of the respondents said lawmakers should've passed the bill, while 11% said they should have voted it down. Nine percent said they didn't know.

GOP candidate for governor, Congressman Tom Tiffany, opposed the measure, saying more of the state's projected $2.5 billion surplus should go toward tax relief.

Tiffany defended his opposition while taking questions at a WisPolitics luncheon event Tuesday in Madison.

"We should return all of the surplus to the taxpayers," Tiffany said. "That was difference of opinion I had with Governor Evers."

Tiffany also said at the event he would prioritize school funding as governor, including raises for teachers.

When asked where the school funding would come from if all of the surplus goes toward tax relief, Tiffany told reporters he'd include an increase in his 2027-28 state budget without specifying how he'd avoid increasing overall spending.

"Vote for me in November, and we will make sure you get more money in 2027 with the next budget," Tiffany said. "It's gonna come out of the state budget. Education is one of the top priorities."

Several Democratic candidates for governor, including State Rep. Francesca Hong (D-Madison), State Sen. Kelda Roys (D-Madison) and former Secretary of Administration Joel Brennan publicly opposed the deal.

In their statements and answers to questions about the deal, Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez and former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes have not directly said whether they supported the deal or would've signed off on it if they were governor.

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley gave lukewarm praise to Evers for reaching the deal.

Former Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation CEO Missy Hughes is the only Democratic candidate for governor who openly supported the surplus package.

Hughes told CBS 58 Tuesday she believed the poll results showed her position was most in touch with voters' beliefs.

"I think some Democrats are hoping that we run the table in November, and certainly, I hope that happens, but you can't count on it," Hughes said. "And that's what Wisconsinites are saying. Get something done now."

Legislative Democratic leaders, Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer (D-Racine) and Senate Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein (D-Middleton), along with all Senate Democrats, opposed the deal.

They have pointed to estimates showing the spending plan would create a $2.9 billion structural deficit, a figure based on a scenario where no economic growth occurs.

Democrats have cited President Donald Trump's war in Iran and the rising fuel costs it has caused as a reason to fear an economic downturn.

"Senate Democrats remain open to fiscally sound and financially sustainable solutions to lower property taxes, invest in public schools, and lower costs for all Wisconsinites," Hesselbein said in a statement Tuesday. "That’s what we will focus on when we are in the majority in 2027.”

In previous state budget cycles, Evers proposed budgets that would've created a structural deficit, but legislative Democrats did not sound any alarms then.

The nonpartisan Wisconsin Policy Forum did not take a position on the bill, but president Jason Stein estimated the surplus deal would've had tangible benefits for people.

He estimated married homeowners could've gotten about $700 to $800 between $600 rebate checks ($300 for single filers) and marginal property tax breaks.

"You're looking probably $100-200 off the school levy bill," Stein said.

Stein added there is additional risk in drawing down most of the state's surplus at a time of increased uncertainty around the global economy, citing the war in Iran.

"The nation is at war," Stein said. "And there are risks in the economy that did not exist two months ago with respect to energy prices."

When asked about the concerns over the spending plan creating a deficit, 69% said it still would be better to provide tax relief and more special education funding than to delay those actions.

Twenty-one percent said it would've been better to hold off on those spending plans until next year.

Support for the bill was overwhelmingly bipartisan. Even with the question noting concerns about the deficit, 74% of Democrats said it was better to pass the surplus deal now -- 68% of Republicans and 67% of Independents also supporting passing the deal this spring.

Seventy-three percent of respondents said candidates' positions on the surplus deal would be somewhat or very important to how they vote in November.