Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Poll respondents in three swing states favor Clean Power plan, citizenship for illegal immigrants

Voters in three swing states—Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida—favor President Obama's Clean Power plan and believe illegal immigrants already in the U.S. should be allowed to stay, according to a Quinnipiac University Poll of 1,100 voters released on Monday. The plan to reduce carbon-dioxide emissions has not been popular in coal states, and 16 largely rural states states have requested that the rules be temporarily suspended while they pursue legal options. Immigration has been a hot topic among presidential candidates. Most of the 11 million illegal immigrants work in agriculture.

When asked if they approve of the plan to require coal-fired power plants to reduce pollution, 69 percent of Florida respondents said they approve—compared to 25 percent who oppose—and 67 percent from Ohio and Pennsylvania said they favor the plan, while 27 percent in Ohio and 28 percent in Pennsylvania say they oppose the plan.

Among Florida respondents, 74 percent said they believe such efforts are needed to clean the air, while 70 percent from Ohio and 72 percent from Pennsylvania agreed. When asked if they they think the plan is too expensive, 45 percent of Florida respondents said yes, compared to 41 percent who answered no. In Ohio, 43 percent said yes, and 41 percent said no. Among Pennsylvania respondents, 44 percent answered yes and 44 percent no.

Participants were asked whether they believe illegal immigrants should be allowed to stay in the U.S. and eventually apply for U.S. citizenship, be allowed to remain in the U.S. but not be allowed to apply for U.S. citizenship, or be required to leave the U.S. In all three states, more than 50 percent of respondents said they should be allowed to stay and apply for citizenship, with 53 percent from Florida and 52 percent from Ohio and Pennsylvania selecting that option. Thirty-one percent of Florida residents said they should not stay, while 36 percent in Ohio and 37 percent in Pennsylvania chose that option. (Read more)

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