KSTP poll finds Minnesotans dissatisfied with state government spending hikes

Last week, KSTP released the results of its KSTP-TV/SurveyUSA poll conducted in late January. In the area of fiscal policy, its main findings relating to the last session were:

Source: KSTP-TV/SurveyUSA

So, just 26% of respondents were satisfied with the state government’s hike in spending last session. Of the 51% who were dissatisfied with it, 40% thought it was too much and just 11% thought it was not enough: a nearly 4:1 ratio. Indeed, if we add together those who were satisfied and those who thought it wasn’t enough, we still only reach 37% of respondents, still smaller than the share who thought the spending increases were was too much.

Source: KSTP-TV/SurveyUSA

A whopping 65% of respondents were unsatisfied with the amount of their “Walz Checks,” with 58% believing that the amount wasn’t enough. These numbers are unlikely to improve when people realize that, thanks to DFL blundering, they have to pay federal tax on the amount that they did get.

Source: KSTP-TV/SurveyUSA

Another large number of respondents — 61% — were dissatisfied with the gas tax and metro area sales tax hikes. Once again, much of that dissatisfaction comes from people who thought it was too much: 55%.

Source: KSTP-TV/SurveyUSA

Here the legislature finally gets solid support: 61% of respondents agree with the enactment of a paid family and medical leave scheme funded by a new payroll tax. It remains to be seen how this support holds up once people realize that the taxes necessary to fund the program are going to increase sharply.

Overall, these findings are consistent with our polling. In our magazine, Thinking Minnesota, last Summer we reported that 59% of Minnesotans rated the legislature’s work as either “Only Fair” or “Poor,” with 37% rating it either “Good” or “Excellent.” Governor Walz talks a lot about burning political capital. There it is.