A new Marquette Law School Poll confirmed broad statewide support for the bipartisan surplus proposal negotiated by Republican leaders and Gov. Tony Evers. According to the survey, 80% of Wisconsin voters said the Legislature should have passed the agreement. The proposal would've delivered direct property tax relief, increased special education reimbursement funding for schools, and returned surplus dollars to taxpayers through rebate checks.

The Marquette poll showed support for the proposal cut across virtually every demographic and political category in Wisconsin. Among partisan groups, 77% of Republicans supported passage of the deal, along with 81% of independents and 82% of Democrats. Support also remained strong ideologically, with majorities of conservatives, moderates, and liberals all backing the proposal.

Regional cross-tabs showed similarly broad agreement statewide. Voters in Milwaukee media markets supported the proposal at nearly the same levels as voters in regions of northern and western Wisconsin. Suburban voters strongly favored the package, particularly because of the property tax relief provisions and increased school funding components.

The poll also found strong support among key voting blocs:

• 84% of parents with school-aged children supported the proposal
• 78% of homeowners backed the agreement
• 75% of seniors favored passage
• Majorities of union households and non-union households supported the bill
• Both college-educated and non-college voters backed the compromise by wide margins

Importantly, voters did not want lawmakers to delay action. The survey found 69% of Wisconsinites believed the Legislature should pass the proposal immediately rather than wait for a future state budget process.

The polling underscores growing frustration among voters with partisan gridlock and highlights strong public demand for bipartisan compromise when it delivers tangible results. Assembly Republicans demonstrated a willingness to work across party lines to return surplus dollars to taxpayers while also addressing school funding concerns and rising property taxes.