Surprise MATC referendum win the exception in an anti-tax election year

In an election where low-tax and small government choices prevailed, there was an exception. Madison area residents overwhelmingly voted to raise taxes to build a $133.8 million expansion for Madison Area Technical College. The initiative passed with nearly 60 percent of the vote. MATC leaders won people over by making a sophisticated but persuasive pitch: yes, there?s an immediate hit to the pocketbook, but the investment will have a long-term payoff in job training. Quoted: UW-Madison political science professor Barry Burden.