Posted: Wednesday, July 13, 2011 --- 3:16p.m.

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- A new poll finds 59 percent of Wisconsin residents disapprove of Gov. Scott Walker's performance.

The University of Wisconsin Survey Center's Badger Poll released Wednesday shows 55 percent are dissatisfied with the way things are going in Wisconsin.

The survey center notes the likely reason for Walker's disapproval rate is 55 percent said they opposed his two-year budget plan. It limits collective bargaining and requires public employees to contribute more to their health care and pensions.

Walker says he's unconcerned with the findings. He says most are unhappy with the state's direction because of anger over the Senate recall elections and the national economy.

The random telephone poll of 556 people conducted between June 17 and July 10 has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.2 percentage points.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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To read the University of Wisconsin Survey Center's Badger Poll, click on the link BELOW in the RELATED LINKS section.

Other points from the survey:

The most recent UW Badger Poll finds that a majority of Wisconsinites are not happy with current state of affairs in the Badger state.

55% are dissatisfied with the way things are going in the state today, a new high for the UW Badger Poll.

81% said Wisconsin is in bad times economically and 50% expect it will be in about the same economic condition in the next 12 months, while 20% said things will get worse.

Nearly two-thirds of Wisconsinites feel that state government is run for the benefit of a few big interests over that of all the people and can only be trusted to do the right thing some of the time.

59% disapprove of the way Scott Walker is handling his job as Governor.

60% disapprove of the way the State Legislature is handling its job.

- 56% disapprove of the job Republicans in the State Legislature are doing.
- 48% disapprove of the job Democrats in the State Legislature are doing.

Wisconsinites overwhelming think the recall option in the state constitution is a good thing (78%), and 50% said the current recalls of state senators made them feel better about Wisconsin politics.

59% of residents statewide preferred that the Democratic state senators remain in office rather than be recalled and 49% said the same of the Republican state senators.