Thread: It's Politics: Californians support legal path for undocumen

It's Politics: Californians support legal path for undocumented immigrants

San Gabriel Valley Tribune (California)
September 11, 2009 Friday

Turns out Californians aren't so split on immigration: more than two-thirds of folks in the state, including nearly half of Republicans, support putting working undocumented immigrants on a path to legal status, or so says the latest poll.

According to a Public Policy Institute of California poll, 69 percent of Californians think undocumented immigrants who have lived and worked in the U.S. for two years should be given a chance to keep their jobs and eventually apply for legal status. That includes 78 percent of Democrats and 47 percent of Republicans.

Only 28 percent of Californians - 18 percent of Democrats and 50 percent of Republicans - think such immigrants should be deported.

Why are they so down with immigrants sticking around? Most people - 58 percent in the state and 64 percent in Los Angeles - say immigrants' hard work and job skills benefit the state. Roughly half that (35 percent) say immigrants are a burden on the state because of their use of public services.

CHANGE IS IN THE AIR: The same poll - conducted Aug. 26 to Sept. 2 among 2,006 residents - found Californians are eager to accept some sweeping changes to state government, but skeptical of others.

"Change is in the air, but Californians are proceeding with caution," says Mark Baldassare, president and CEO of PPIC.

A solid majority of Californians (70 percent) strongly support switching to open primaries, where voters can chose from any candidate, regardless of party, and the top two vote-getters advance.

Supporters say open primaries would reduce the partisan ideology that divides lawmakers, and shift them toward the center.

But Californians aren't so down with making the legislature part time, even if we don't approve of the job it's doing.

Despite a 21 percent approval rating, only 23 percent of poll respondents support cutting lawmakers down to part-time.

Still, we think we do a better job than the pros do. A majority of poll respondents - 56 percent - said the decisions made through initiatives are probably better than those made by the legislature. Only 28 percent said the decisions are probably worse.

LEGAL ISSUE: Those who aren't sick of initiatives may be interested in the latest proposition looking for signatures: legalizing marijuana.

The initiative would make it legal for people over 21 to use, possess, sell, cultivate or transport marijuana or industrial hemp.

It would require sales to be taxed, with the proceeds going to education, health care, environmental programs, public works and state parks.

Supporters have until Feb.5 to collect 434,000 signatures.

Mail items for It's Politics to 1210 N. Azusa Canyon Road, West Covina, CA 91790; phone (626) 962-8811, Ext. 2105; or e-mail rebecca.kimitch@sgvn.com

http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/En ... 27&start=6

I refuse to believe that so many Californians would be that stupid.

W

This is absolute BS. Its probably written by illegal immigration supporters. You lie!

http://www.ppic.org/main/home.asp