Has Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Tim Michels stated that increasing funding to public schools would be 'the definition of insanity'?

At the 2022 Wisconsin Republican gubernatorial primary debate, candidate Tim Michels said continuing to throw "more money at education" is the "definition of insanity."

Taxpayer funding for public education has doubled since 1970 yet resulted in "unacceptable" achievement scores, according to Michels' campaign site.

Michels is a strong supporter of school choice for all children in Wisconsin, meaning any student from any income category could attend a private school, subsidized by taxpayers.

Currently, low-income students in the Milwaukee and Racine districts can receive taxpayer-subsidized private school educations. The state also allows low-income families to receive subsidies if their children attend any of hundreds of private schools around Wisconsin that meet certain state criteria. "I support school choice for all Wisconsin families," Michels says on his website.

Last year, Wisconsin taxpayers spent $413 million on the program, the Department of Public Instructions says.