New Survey of Arizona Voters Reveals Support for Build Back Better
The BlueGreen Alliance released a new survey of voters in Arizona revealing support for the Build Back Better plan—the broad economic, infrastructure, care economy, and climate crisis package currently being considered by Congress. Specifically, the survey found that more than half of voters (56%) in the state are in favor of the package, which would cost up to $3.5 trillion spread out over ten years, mostly paid for by raising taxes on corporations and the wealthy.
“Arizonans know that the time to act to address the many interconnected challenges facing our nation is now. They know that the smart provisions in the Build Back Better plan will create good-paying jobs here in America and grow vital clean technology sectors,” said BlueGreen Alliance Executive Director Jason Walsh of the results of the survey. “The message is clear; voters are tired of kicking the can down the road. They want real solutions, like those in the Build Better Plan, to put the nation on a path to a clean, thriving, and equitable economy for all.”
“Arizona needs an historic level of investments to update and modernize our infrastructure while creating good-paying jobs that will help rebuild the middle class,” said Fabian Sandez, Local 1912 President and Regional Manager at the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters. “Investing in union labor not only guarantees fair wages and quality health benefits for tens of thousands of Americans, but it also guarantees a quality of work that is built to last.”
The survey reveals that voters are particularly interested in the job creation potential of the Build Back Better plan. More than half of those surveyed said the following are very or fairly important reasons to pass the Build Back Better plan: helping rebuild the middle class with jobs that pay enough so that people can support their families (64%); bringing good jobs back to the United States by making sure more of the products we use in America are made in America (67%); and creating millions of new, good-paying jobs for working people in communities across the country in fields that are important to America’s economic future (62%).
When asked about specific provisions included in the Build Back Better Plan, Arizona respondents had favorable responses to:
- Rebuilding America’s water infrastructure to have cleaner, safer water, delivered more efficiently, and removing hazards like lead in water pipes, while creating good-paying jobs (76%);
- Ensuring that major public investments include requirements that the products, technology, and materials used are made in America and the jobs provide good pay and benefits (74%);
- Strengthening and supporting America’s human services workforce, including care providers, front-line healthcare workers, and educators (69%);
- Upgrading and modernizing our schools to save money through energy efficiency and remove toxins from school environments (67%); and
- Rebuilding and retooling American manufacturing and modernizing our factories to build more products and clean technology here in the United States (70%).
“As we build back better, we have the opportunity to seize this moment and create good-paying, union jobs building the clean energy and energy efficiency technology right here in Arizona,” said Sandy Bahr, Director of the Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter. “The world is rushing to develop and produce the clean energy technology, clean vehicles, and energy-efficient technology that will be needed in the fight against climate change and with the right investments, Arizona can be a leader in this clean energy economy.”
“Arizona is ready and waiting for the job growth that will come with the passage of the Build Back Better plan. This survey clearly illustrates the level of excitement in the state for the smart policies included in the legislation,” said Kate French, BlueGreen Alliance Rocky Mountain Regional Field Organizer. “The message is clear, voters support this legislation and want it passed now.”
Hart Research Associates conducted the survey with representative cross-sections of 400 voters in Arizona September 11 – 15. The memo is available for download at the link below.