Alaskans Do Not Support Special Session on Abortion Issues
Governor’s Actions on AGIA and Energy Issues Warranted
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ● August 1, 2008
ANCHORAGE – Alaskans care about AGIA, energy relief and health care for children. In a recent poll commissioned by The Alliance for Reproductive Justice, Planned Parenthood of Alaska Advocates, and the American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska, respondents felt it would be important for the Governor to call a special session to deal with these issues.
However, the survey of registered voters conducted by Hellenthal & Associates determined that nearly 70% of voters did not believe a special session on abortion issues was necessary.
In the random digit dialing survey, conducted between July 7th and July 14th, registered voters were informed: "The Governor just called the Alaska State Legislature into a special session in Juneau on the gas pipeline project, AGIA. Special sessions cost about $30,000 per day." 83% of respondents felt such a session was very or somewhat important. As to the Governor calling additional special sessions, 71% felt a session expanding health coverage for children was very or somewhat important, and 76% stated a session to consider energy cost relief was very or somewhat important.
When asked: “How important do you think it is that the Governor call a special session on abortion issues?” only 25% of voters felt such a session was very or somewhat important. The survey sample size was 390 voters, with a margin of error of +/- 4.96%.
“These results show that any action by Governor Palin to call a special session on failed legislation related to abortion issues would be inappropriate and out of step with the views of Alaska voters,” stated Geran Tarr, Director of the Alliance for Reproductive Justice.
"We commissioned this poll to assess public support for a special session on abortion," said Clover Simon, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Alaska Advocates. "This poll reinforces our belief that there are a small number of voters who think this issue should take up valuable legislative time. I hope candidates will pay special attention to these results as they run for office and plan for legislation during the 2009 session."
“Voters have strong opinions on when and how the peoples’ work should be done by our elected representatives,” said Jeffrey Mittman, Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska. “It is clear that a special session is decidedly not the appropriate vehicle for considering issues regarding reproductive justice.”
Download and read the report:
For additional information, please contact Geran Tarr at 360-4047, Clover Simon at 240-7449, or Jeffrey Mittman at 230-0665.
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