For Immediate Release: June 13, 2013
Contact: Sandi Curriero Luckey, MT AFL-CIO Communications Director (406) 202-3165
Montana Voters Overwhelmingly Back Bipartisan Senate Immigration Bill
New State Poll Shows Public Backs Elected Officials Who Vote for Senate Gang of Eight Bill
HELENA, MT - As the Senate takes up debate this week on the bipartisan immigration reform bill, Public Policy Polling released the results of a new state poll showing overwhelming voter support for the legislation. The poll was sponsored by the Alliance for Citizenship, Partnership for a New American Economy and Republicans for Immigration Reform, three organizations who represent the broad support for immigration reform from across the political spectrum.
“The polling is evidence that the people of Montana want a common sense solution now that creates a roadmap to citizenship for new Americans, many of whom live and work in Montana.” said Al Ekblad, Executive Secretary of the Montana State AFL-CIO. “Comprehensive immigration reform is good policy. The Senate bill keeps families together, ensures labor protections for workers, secures our borders, includes a roadmap to citizenship and enjoys bipartisan support.”
According to the poll, voters in Montana support the Gang of Eight bill by large margins. Moreover, the results show that there is a genuine imperative for Senators Baucus and Tester to support the bill as constituents said they are more likely to vote for an elected official who votes for reform.
“Montanan's appreciate and reward bi-partisan solutions. Is it a perfect bill? No, but this bipartisan approach is an improvement over our outdated and unjust immigration system,” said Jorge Quintana, Montana's Democratic National Committeman and the son of Cuban immigrants. “The poll results also show that Montanans understand that this is not "amnesty" but a difficult yet fair path to citizenship.”
Highlights of the findings include:
· 76% of those polled said they strongly, or somewhat, support bipartisan immigration reform legislation being debated in Washington;
77% of those polled said they strongly, or somewhat, support a bill that includes a tough but fair path to citizenship;
61% of those polled are more likely to vote for an elected official who supports comprehensive immigration reform that includes a path to citizenship.
86% of those polled said it was very, or somewhat, important that the U.S. fix the immigration system this year.
Of those polled, 38% identified as Republicans, 29% as Democrats, and 34% as Independents.
Full results of the poll can be found here https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/44794321/State%20polling/MontanaResults.pdf
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MT Voters Overwhelmingly Back Bipartisan Senate Immigration Bill June 13 13.docx
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