Search
February 9, 2004 AMSA Fax Alert

Member Pipeline - Fax Alerts SpecialEdition - February 9, 2004

Click Here
to see previous Fax Alerts

February 9, 2004

Key Polling Data Reveals
Overwhelming Support for Water Infrastructure Funding
The Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies (AMSA) commissioned the services of prominent pollster and communications expert, Frank Luntz, to conduct a national survey to determine the degree of public support for a federal recommitment to America’s clean water infrastructure. As Luntz’s presentation last week at AMSA’s Winter Conference made clear, clean water funding has such overwhelming public support that it should be an election issue. Among its many other findings, the February 2004 survey memorandum (http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org/advocacy/releases/2004-02-09survey.pdf) finds that:

  • 91% of Americans are concerned that the nation’s waterways will not be clean for future generations;
  • 90% of Americans support a dedicated funding source for clean and safe water;
  • 83% would support a bill introduced in the U.S. Congress that would create a long-term, sustainable and reliable trust fund for clean water infrastructure;
  • 66% believe it is unfair and unjust that the federal government pays for just 5% of the cost to maintain clean water in America;
  • 62% believe clean water is in the greatest need of a dedicated trust fund, as opposed to only 25% for highways and 5% for airports; and
  • 54% believe clean water is a right, not a privilege.

AMSA Provides Members with
Press Release, Cover Letter for Local Distribution, Outreach
Because this election year is likely to feature key debates on the Administration’s environmental record, it is critical that both AMSA and its members get these survey results out as broadly as possible in order to shape this discussion. To this end, AMSA encourages members to contact their local officials and media to maximize attention on this critical issue. For your convenience, AMSA has drafted a template press release (http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org/private/legreg/outreach/020904prt.doc) with bracketed areas for you to incorporate local information as well as a draft letter to your local officials or other key contacts urging their support of dedicated federal funding for clean water. The Luntz survey results, press release and letter are available on AMSA’s website at http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org/private/leg_outreach.cfm.

Additionally, the contents of the survey memorandum discuss messages and word choices that resonate with the public and can help members achieve support not only for national but local clean water initiatives. If you have any questions regarding this issue, please contact John Thibodeau, AMSA’s Manager of Communications and Public Affairs, at 202/833-9836 or at jthibodeau@amsa-cleanwater.org. Please also forward to John any letters you distribute and any articles that result from your efforts.