Alliance for American Manufacturing: As they head to the polls, Wisconsin voters concerned with China and loss of manufacturing jobs
4/5/2016
To schedule an interview with Scott Paul contact: Jet Moody, jmoody@aamfg.org, 202-695-8216
The loss of manufacturing jobs, the widening income gap and trade with China top Wisconsinites concerns as voters approach today’s primary, according to a bipartisan statewide poll of likely voters.
“Heres how I see tonight’s results: This isnt the first time around the block for voters in Wisconsin, and they want serious answers to legitimate questions,” said Scott Paul, president of the Alliance for American Manufacturing and the poll’s sponsor.
“The candidate that stands up for manufacturing has a better chance of winning Wisconsin today and industry-heavy states like Pennsylvania in a few weeks. Expect to hear more manufacturing and trade talk as the primary season slogs ahead.”
With more than 5.5 million U.S. manufacturing jobs lost since 2000, and more than 130,000 from Wisconsin since 2001, Americans want solutions.
“A significant number of voters here want to see candidates game plans to shore up our manufacturing base, and campaigns are responding by testing the messaging out on the stump,” said Paul.
“Heres what voters are interested in: Tax reform that discourages offshoring and encourages onshoring; expanding access to apprenticeship and other workforce training programs; major public infrastructure repairs; and ‘Buy America’ government procurement rules that set in place a preference for American-made goods,” Paul said. “Whats more, Wisconsinites think manufacturing is among the most important sectors of the overall economy, and more still think that offshoring – not automation – is responsible for the loss of factory jobs.”
With nearly one in five Wisconsin households dependent on manufacturing, it is no surprise that candidates who talk about job and trade issues continue to gain voter interest.
“Just as it was in Ohio last month and Michigan before that, championing the manufacturing sector – home to middle-income employment for about 470,000 Wisconsin voters – is simply good politics here,” Paul said.
Key findings from the poll, which was performed by Public Opinion Research and The Mellman Group, include:
Wisconsin voters see manufacturing as the critical centerpiece of Americas economy and believe moving jobs overseas is a significant threat.
Top voter concerns include the growing gap between rich and poor (by 33 percent of participants), the loss of U.S. manufacturing jobs (by 30 percent of participants), terrorism (by 30 percent of participants) and the federal budget deficit (by 29 percent of participants).
For the full poll, more findings and graphics, visit: https://s.bsd.net/aamweb/main/page/file/3fb4b564576e45d41f_pum6ieivk.pdf (PDF)
Read more: The Factory Vote in the Badger State
