CA Split On Services For Immigrants
CA voters are split on whether illegal immigrants should be able to use taxpayer-funded social services, such as public education and hospital care, according to an LA Times/USC poll released today. It's an issue that has a long history in CA and has already popped up as a major and controversial subject in CA elections this year.
In the poll, 45% of respondents supported implementing stronger enforcement at the border and prohibiting those here illegally from benefiting from any taxpayer-funded social service, while 47% of respondents opposed that policy. The more moderate and liberal approaches to immigration reform found more solid support, with 70% supporting implementing stronger enforcement at the border and designing a temporary worker program and 67% supporting implementing stronger enforcement at the border and setting up a path to legalization.
"We were all surprised by these results," pollster Stan Greenberg said of the level of opposition to prohibiting illegal immigrants from receiving social services.
USC prof. Dan Schnur called the 45%-47% breakdown on the social services question a "very, very marked change" compared to public opinion on the issue in previous years. Schnur noted that the strongest indicator of support for providing social services to illegal immigrants was age, not race or ethnicity, with younger voters favoring providing social services, which he attributed to "personal experience and personal exposure."
In '94, CA voters passed Prop. 187, which prohibited illegal immigrants from using health care, public education and social services in the state, with 59%, but it was later found unconstitutional in court. This year, the issue has resurfaced in CA, with GOV candidate/Insurance Commis. Steve Poizner (R) advocating for a Prop. 187-style prohibition on social services for illegal immigrants.
Meanwhile, GOV candidate/ex-eBay CEO Meg Whitman (R) has said she does not support denying children education and health care because of "the sins of their fathers." Instead, Whitman has focused her immigration stand on securing borders, eliminating "sanctuary cities" and holding employers accountable for hiring undocumented workers, a worthwhile strategy, according to the poll's findings.
Some other interesting findings from the polls: 46% of GOP voters polled said they preferred a centrist candidates with appeal to indie/unaffiliated voters, while 42% of GOP voters polled said they preferred a conservative candidate who can motivate GOPers. In the GOV and SEN races, each of the GOP candidates are playing the "true conservative" card in some way, though the leading candidates have staked out some moderate stands on social issues.
When asked how important it was for the GOP candidates to be a "true conservative," only 20% of GOP respondents said it was extremely important, though only 20% said that factor was not at all important.
"One thing that struck me was how reasonable the California Republican voter is today," pollster Linda DiVall said. She added that GOP voters seem to be on a "quest to win again."
Of respondents, 65% said they've seen or heard a TV or radio ad so far, a relatively high number more than two months before the primary. But, considering the $46M Whitman has spent on her campaign so far, largely on ads, it's not surprising that 75% of respondents who said they'd seen an ad said they saw a Whitman ad. However, it is surprising that 15% said they saw an ad for AG/ex-Gov. Jerry Brown (D), who has yet go up with ads on TV or radio.
Join the Discussion
The National Journal Group has the right (but not the obligation) to monitor the comments and to remove any materials it deems inappropriate.
Comments powered by Disqus