Constituents Voice their Views on Immigration

It’s wedge weekin the US Senate, as Republican leaders force largely symbolic votes on issuesthat sparked the GOP base in past elections, such as a constitutional amendmentbanning gay marriage and permanent repeal of the estate tax.

But thiselection cycle, it appears that voters are fixed on bigger-ticket concerns -and they want results.

Back from aweek in their home districts, members on both sides of the aisle report agrowing disconnect between Congress and constituents on issues ranging from warto fuel prices. But voters seem to be reserving their greatest frustration forimmigration.

A recent poll by the Republican National Committee signals there may beroom for compromise. The RNC poll tested a number of messages on immigrationand found that the candidate who focuses only on border security loses to thecandidate who talks about comprehensive reform, 25 percent to 71 percent.Seventy percent of voters – and 64 percent of Republicans – say illegalimmigrants who have put down roots in the US should be granted legal status ifthey “go to the back of the line, pay a fine, pay back taxes, learnEnglish, and have a clean criminal record,” according to this poll. Only25 percent say that would be amnesty. Click here.

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