Bloomberg Poll: Most Americans Back Stalled Senate Immigration Bill

[Hissyspit]

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aJ0H6JNLzl28&refer=us

Most Americans Back Stalled Senate Immigration Bill, Poll Shows

By Heidi Przybyla

June 13 (Bloomberg) -- Most Americans back a guest-worker program and a proposal allowing illegal immigrants to become U.S. citizens that were part of legislation the Senate shelved last week after it failed to gain sufficient support.

A new Bloomberg/Los Angeles Times poll shows that at least a plurality of Americans favors the two most contentious provisions of the bill, the proposal to offer 12 million undocumented immigrants a path to citizenship and the program for temporary workers. Of a third provision -- a point system for immigrants based on professional qualifications -- many say they don't have enough information to have an opinion.

Moreover, most of those surveyed appear to reject one of the central arguments deployed by the bill's opponents: The poll finds that less than a third of all respondents, including Republicans, believe illegal immigrants take jobs away from Americans who need them.

Still, analysts say opponents have an impact that is disproportionate to their numbers because of the intensity of their feelings and capacity to organize.

``For a minority of people, immigration is the most important issue, and they are the ones who are defining the debate with volatile rhetoric and their activism,'' says Nathan Gonzales, a political editor at the Rothenberg Political Report, a nonpartisan Washington newsletter.


http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-poll13jun13,0,3328872.story?coll=la-home-center

THE TIMES/BLOOMBERG POLL
Large majority supports path to citizenship
A poll finds 63% of all respondents, and 65% of Republicans, back the controversial measure.
By Janet Hook, Times Staff Writer
June 13, 2007



Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid
click to enlarge

Graphic
Views on immigration
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PDF
(6/12/07) Poll: Nation's economy, gas prices, Iraq and illegal immigration
(Acrobat file)
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WASHINGTON — A strong majority of Americans — including nearly two-thirds of Republicans — favor allowing illegal immigrants to become citizens if they pay fines, learn English and meet other requirements, a new Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll has found.

That is a striking show of support for a primary element of an immigration overhaul bill that has stalled in the Senate amid conservative opposition.

Only 23% of adults surveyed opposed allowing undocumented immigrants to gain legal status. That finding bolsters the view, shared by President Bush, that the bill's opponents represent a vocal minority whereas most people are more welcoming toward illegal immigrants.

"They are willing to take jobs that our people aren't interested in, and I think this helps the economy," Joseph Simpkins, a retired dry cleaner in New Jersey who participated in the survey, said in a follow-up interview. "As long as they pay taxes, I see nothing wrong with having them become citizens."

MORE

[Jim Warren]

1. Not according to Rasmussen

23% in favor (6/5/07) and trending down from 26% a week earlier.

Guess it depends on who one polls.

http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/support_for_senate_immigration_bill_falls_49_prefer_no_bill_at_all


Support for Senate Immigration Bill Falls, 49% Prefer No Bill At All
Wednesday, June 06, 2007


Public support for the Senate immigration reform bill has slipped a bit over the past week. A Rasmussen Reports poll conducted Monday and Tuesday night found that just 23% of voters now support the bill while 50% are opposed. Last week, 26% supported the Senate bill while 48% were opposed.

In the face of public opposition, some supporters of the legislation have argued that the compromise may not be perfect but doing something is better than doing nothing. Voters have a different view--a solid plurality believes it would be better for the country to pass no bill at this time rather than letting the Senate compromise become law.

[Lasher]

2. Edit: Jim Warren beat me to it

Jim was quicker on the draw positng results of the Rasmussen poll.

[Hissyspit]

3. .