WASHINGTON, DC – New Public Policy Polling (PPP) polls of eight congressional districts, including New Jersey’s 2nd District, commissioned by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), show that Republican House members can begin to rebuild the damage to their popularity caused by the government shutdown if they vote for commonsense immigration reform. According to the polls there’s overwhelming bi-partisan support for immigration in these districts (with 71% in LoBiondo’s district saying they support for immigration reform.)
“What’s striking about this poll is how much Americans from both parties believe that we need to get immigration reform done. Common sense, comprehensive immigration reform,” said Kevin Brown NJ Director of 32BJ SEIU. “It’s time for Frank LoBiondo to wake up and join the overwhelming majority of Americans and New Jersey residents of his own district and support a pathway to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented immigrants who are part of our communities.”
“It’s clear from these polls that Republicans were damaged by the government shutdown and that voters want their representatives to work on fixing the problems facing America, in this case immigration reform,” said SEIU Executive Vice President Rocio Saenz. “Speaker Boehner, by siding with extremists in his party and refusing to schedule a vote on immigration, is putting at risk members of his caucus who could otherwise side with their constituents and vote for immigration reform. Republicans, Independents, Democrats, faith, business and labor leaders are united in calling for a vote on citizenship for immigrants this year. It’s time for the Republican leadership to listen to the American public and schedule a vote on immigration reform.”
The districts polled were those of Representatives Gary Miller (CA-31), John Kline (MN-2), David Joyce (OH-14), Joe Heck (NV-3), Rodney Davis (IL-13), Mike Grimm (NY-11), Frank LoBiondo (NJ-2) and Mike Fitzpatrick (PA-8).
“Voters in swing districts continue to be mad at their House members about the shutdown,” said Tom Jensen, Director of Public Policy Polling. “But we also find that immigration reform is extremely popular – across party lines – and that voters will be more inclined to vote for their representatives next year if they vote for it.”
Links to a summary memo and each poll are below:
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With more than 145,000 members, including 9,000 in New Jersey, 32BJ is the largest property services union in the country.