New Poll Shows an Overwhelming Number of Wisconsinites Want Increased Spending to Stop

Majority of Public Blames Governor Doyle for Out of Control Spending, Believes Wisconsin is on the Wrong Track

MILWAUKEE – Stop spending money we don’t have. That’s the message Wisconsin citizens are sending, according to a new poll commissioned by Americans for Prosperity and the Tarrance Group. The poll also states that Wisconsin residents were not in favor of taking federal money, with almost 4 times as many people saying we should cut spending to deal with the current economic crisis.

“We can’t spend our way out of this crisis,” said AFP-WI State Director Mark Block. “We’ve tried to do that before with terrible results. The citizens of Wisconsin are exercising the same common sense they would like our elected officials to exercise.”

Americans for Prosperity applauds the efforts of local Wisconsinites saying no to increased spending, and are calling on concerned citizens to join in their fight against big government.

• The poll shows that in order to deal with Wisconsin’s current budget crisis, 65% of citizens want to cut spending vs. the 15% that want to take federal money. Furthermore, this issue ranked number one and two (strengthening Wisconsin’s economy and protecting jobs, and controlling state government spending and balancing the budget respectively) in importance amongst respondents.

• When asked who was responsible for the crisis, the majority of respondents said Governor Doyle-- 43% of respondents disapproved of Doyle’s job performance, and had the highest unfavorable rating among public officials listed in the poll.

“Wisconsin is crying out for relief in the form of tax cuts and Madison continues to ignore the will of the people,” said Block. “But with numbers like this, I would be more than a little bit nervous if I were Governor Doyle. A real response is needed to put money back in taxpayer wallets where it belongs.”

To see entire results of the survey, please go to http://www.americansforprosperity.org/wisconsin. Poll was taken January 14-15, 2009 with a ± 4.5% margin of error. 500 registered likely voters were polled.

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is a nationwide organization of citizen leaders committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and scope of government is the best safeguard to ensuring individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens in support of restraining state and federal government growth, and returning government to its constitutional limits. For more information, visit www.americansforprosperity.org

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