Thread: CA: Immigration issues lead state concerns in poll

Immigration issues lead state concerns in poll

By Steve Geissinger Sacramento Bureau
San Gabriel Valley Tribune

Californians are far more concerned about immigration issues than even the economy and health care, but doubt a divided Washington will find solutions any time soon, according to a poll released Wednesday.

The federal issue tops Californians' list of important matters across regions, political parties, racial groups and genders, the San Francisco-based Public Policy Institute of California found.

Residents "support some of the federal proposals for immigration reform," said poll director Mark Baldassare, but have "little faith the Republican president and Democratic-led Congress can work together" through the end of Bush's term.

Likewise, the survey indicated nearly three-quarters of Californians believe the health care system needs revamping, though they are losing confidence in state political leaders' plans for an overhaul this year.

But analysts said Californians may see Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Democrat-dominated Legislature reach agreement on health care reform.

The White House and Congress had resumed debate on an immigration package Wednesday that could lead to the legalization of millions of unlawful immigrants, create a temporary worker program, strengthen border security and institute a new system for removing illegal immigrants from workplaces.

"The immigration reform bill was already almost killed, so it encourages the kind of thinking in the poll and gives little hope that any sort of compromise will actually be passed by Congress this year," said Melissa Michelson, a political science professor at Cal State East Bay.

The poll - in a trend that began building a year ago - indicated 25 percent of Californians now see immigration and illegal immigration as the state's most pressing issue. The closer to the California-Mexico border, the stronger the sentiment.

The view is held by 39 percent of Republicans, 15 percent of Democrats and 25 percent of independents. It also tops concerns for 23 percent of Latinos, 28 percent of whites, 26 percent of men, and 24 percent of women.

"The poll shows most Californians are supportive of legal immigration to some degree, although they disagree on who should get priority for entry," Michelson said. "They are more concerned about illegal immigration and associated issues of national security and economic competition.

"But the large levels of support for some sort of amnesty and against deportation suggests Californians are more concerned about illegal immigration than they are opposed to it. I don't see much evidence of hostility or fear or a desire to close the borders," she said.

The next biggest concern was the economy, at 11 percent, closely followed by health-care reform, at 8 percent.

Schwarzenegger and the Democrat-controlled Legislature have been debating health-care changes since January - long enough for Californians' hopes for a resolution to the problem to drop from a majority 62 percent to 49 percent.

But the annual state political cycle that could produce an agreement culminates this summer.

"The survey does not reflect the reality inside the Capitol where hard work and harder negotiations are ongoing," said Tim Hodson, director of the Center for California Studies at Cal State Sacramento.

The poll indicates more than 70 percent of Californians support Schwarzenegger's plan to require residents to have health insurance, while making employers, health care providers and individuals share the costs.

"Far more important to the health care debate, than the pessimism, are the numbers that show clearly more than seven of every 10 Californians feel health care needs a major overhaul," Hodson said. "That finding will motivate the legislators."

The telephone survey of 2,003 Californians was conducted June 12-19. The margin of error is plus or minus 2 percentage points.
sgeissinger@angnewspapers.com

(916) 447-9302



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This poll, if correct, shows what happens to a State with too many illegals. Who did they poll? More than likely Bay area residents and illegals! I know of no one who wants universal health care or believes the illegals should stay. This State is gone!

Another garbage inaccurate poll unless it was taken in LA?
This state isn't gone yet, many of us are still here doing what we can.

The momentum is on our side now! Having lived in So. Cal my whole life, I don't know one person who doesn't want the illegals out of LA. The most important battle we have to fight is the 2010 gubanatorial election and the mayoral election in 2009.

We have to defeat Villaraigosa and Fabian Nunez. And that means we also have to defeat Hillary! If Hillary wins these two Reconquistas, who are her national campaign co-chairs, will get the national spotlight!

Defeat Hillary and the house of cards will begin to topple!