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Latest poll shows strong support for MT educators, health care workers

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Monday, November 4, 2024   

Results of a new poll showed likely voters strongly oppose candidates who back cuts to labor law protections and would probably vote in favor of increased support for public sector workers and teachers, in Montana and nationwide.

The poll, by the bipartisan research group Red America, Blue America, said 64% of respondents oppose reducing people's access to overtime pay, 57% oppose weakening child labor laws and nearly two-thirds oppose efforts to weaken employment protections for health care workers, educators and public safety officers.

John Davis, partner at the polling firm, said the support is wide-ranging.

"In this climate, I would say it's hard to gauge which issues will be decisive come Election Day," Davis acknowledged. "But I would say that if you are personally impacted by changes to overtime pay, or if you're worried about your child's class size, if you care about the social services, public services that you're currently receiving, you are likely motivated."

Montana voters will decide on several ballot measures this week, one of which would amend the state Constitution to "expressly provide a right to make and carry out decisions about one's own pregnancy, including the right to abortion."

In addition to the workplace protection and overtime issues, the poll also showed 58% of respondents oppose eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and thousands of teachers' jobs along with it. The proposal has been discussed as part of the Republican Party's platform.

Davis noted such issues resonate across party lines and are the things voters are asking themselves as they decide whether they are pleased with the status quo.

"Folks aren't particularly interested in having their kids in a classroom with more children," Davis outlined. "Folks don't seem that interested in not honoring overtime pay rules as they currently exist, and folks don't seem particularly interested in losing benefits, the public services, that they're used to being provided."

Just over half of the poll respondents opposed school voucher programs, which allow taxpayers to use their money to home-school children or send them to private schools. Montana is set to consider a school voucher measure when the Legislature convenes in January.


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