(BOSTON)—Proposed legislation making Massachusetts a sanctuary state is deeply unpopular with voters, according to a recent poll. Data also revealed a deep distrust amongst voters toward state senator Anne Gobi (D-Spencer), co-sponsor of the bill. 

"Senator Gobi's constituents aren’t buying her argument that the state should remove local control from cities and towns," Paul Craney said. Craney is a member of the board of directors at the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance, the non-profit advocacy and education group which commissioned the poll. "Senator Gobi has been in office since 2001, yet her favorability doesn't break 50 percent. What we see here is a Senator out of step with her district."

Surveyed were 300 voters in the Worcester, Hamden, Hampshire, and Middlesex state senate district, each of whom had voted in the 2014 election. The poll was conducted from in early October by nationally-recognized data specialist Advantage, Inc. 

Nearly half of people surveyed, 47 percent, said Gobi's support of the Sanctuary State legislation would make them less likely to vote for Gobi's re-election in 2018.  

About half were aware of Gobi’s support for the bill previous to the surveyor's call. Seven percent believed she did not support it, and 43 percent were unsure of her position. 

The numbers are consistent with other statewide polls, showing strong popularity for Governor Charlie Baker. 76 percent view the Governor as very or somewhat favorable.

A copy of the poll can be found here. The crosstabs information could be found here. 

Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance advocates for fiscal responsibility, transparency, and accountability in state government and increased economic opportunity for the people of our Commonwealth.

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