Americans are split over who should control the nation's borders, according to a new United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connection poll.

Forty-three percent said it should be up to the federal Homeland Security Department, while 38 percent called it a state matter. The Senate is debating immigration changes, and border security is a key flashpoint.

If lawmakers tie such security to legalizing the status of undocumented immigrants, there is also division over what government agency should be responsible.

For those who thought such a link was a good idea, nearly half said homeland security should have the task. Thirty-four percent said state and local governments.

Of those who said the missions should not be linked, more chose local government over Washington, 42 to 39 percent.

And, the poll found, "The question produced a stark partisan split. Fifty-seven percent of Democrats think the Department of Homeland Security should be in charge and 26 percent pick local options. Among Republicans, there’s a greater belief in state and local governments, but the difference is smaller. Forty-six percent of Republicans said local authorities should have the power, while just 39 percent picked the federal government."

It also reported: "White men and women also hold far different views – 46 percent of white men believe state and local governments should have the responsibility while 49 percent of white women think the federal agency should."

The poll surveyed 1,004 adults June 13 to June 16. Margin of error is 3.6 percentage points.

To read more: http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressional-connection/coverage/should-u-s-or-local-authorities-judge-border-s-security-americans-divided-20130618

Congress' approval ratings remain dismal, according to a new CNN/ORC International poll.

Its June 11-13 survey found Congress' approval number at 16 percent, up 1 percentage point from November, when most of the current lawmakers were elected.

The poll surveyed 1,014 adult people by phone. Margin of error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Congress' ratings have been low for some time. Some figures: January, 2012, 11 percent; December, 2011, 16 percent; August, 2011, 14 percent.

Republicans really like Paul Ryan. But Democrats like New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

Those are key findings of a new Gallup poll released Friday. It tested the public's view of five potential 2016 Republican presidential candidates: Ryan, the 2012 party vice presidential nominee; Christie; Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.

"The five Republican officeholders currently appear to meet two minimum factors for a successful presidential campaign: they are generally well-liked by the Republican rank-and-file, and are more liked than disliked by the larger general population," said an analysis by Gallup's Jeffrey Jones.

But, he said, Christie and Ryan offer "interesting contrasts."

His analysis: "Ryan's high favorability among Republicans but lower favorability among the general public would position him to do well in the Republican primaries, but perhaps make him a less formidable general election candidate.

"Christie, on the other hand, would appear to be a stronger general election than Republican primary candidate, given his lower favorability among Republicans but higher favorability among Democrats and Americans more generally."

Americans should hardly be surprised the government has access to their personal data, a new Allstate/National Journal Heartland Monitor Poll revealed Thursday.

The poll shows "most Americans exhibit a healthy amount of skepticism and resignation about data collection and surveillance, and show varying degrees of trust in institutions to responsibly use their personal information. Recent headlines focusing on government collection of telephone records within the United States may further stoke the underlying worries that the American public has about data privacy."

The quarterly survey probes American attitudes and views on data collection, asking people "their impression of the likelihood that their personal information is available to the government, businesses, individuals, and other groups without their consent – and to what extent people believe they can control how much personal information is shared."

The survey found 85 percent thought their communications history, such as phone calls, emails and Internet use, are "accessible to the government, businesses, and others."

About two-thirds thoguht they had ittle or no control over the type of information that is collected and used by various groups and organizations.

The survey was conducted a few days before reports of top secret government spying programs. It showed 48 percent have "some" or a "great deal" of trust in the government when it comes to the use of their personal data. Similarly, cell phone and Internet service providers are trusted by just 48 percent of the public.

Most trustworthy institutions are healthcare providers and employers.

In addition, the polls found 0 percent supporting expanded government monitoring of phone and email activities.

"Rather," the survery said, "the public is more likely to favor increased use of camera surveillance of public places, with 44 percent supporting the measure, followed by 16 percent of respondents in favor of 'increased censorship of websites and less freedom to access sources on the Internet.'"

Forty-two percent opposed all three alternatives.

To read more: http://www.theheartlandvoice.com/category/insights

A bipartisan group of senators Tuesday introduced legislation to end the "secret law" that keeps details about government surveillance programs secret.

Under the bill, the Attorney General would be required to declassify "significant Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court opinions."

Doing so, the senators said in a joint statement, would allow "Americans to know how broad of a legal authority the government is claiming to spy on Americans under the Patriot Act and Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act."

Sponsors include Sens. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Mike Lee, R-Utah,, Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., Dean Heller, R-Nev., Mark Begich, D-Alaska, Al Franken, D-Minn., Jon Tester, D-Mont., and Ron Wyden, D-Ore. 

“Americans deserve to know how much information about their private communications the government believes it’s allowed to take under the law," Merkley said.

“There is plenty of room to have this debate without compromising our surveillance sources or methods or tipping our hand to our enemies.  We can’t have a serious debate about how much surveillance of Americans’ communications should be permitted without ending secret law.”

House Speaker John Boehner Tuesday declared Edward Snowden, who leaked top secret domestic spy data to the media, a "traitor."

Boehner, R-Ohio, spoke to ABC's "Good Morning America."

"He's a traitor," the speaker said. "The president outlined last week that these were important national security programs to help keep Americans safe, and give us tools to fight the terrorist threat  that we face."

Boehner supported the program. "The president also outlined that there are appropriate safeguards in place  to make sure that there's no snooping, if you will on Americans here at home."

What troubled the speaker was "the disclosure of this information puts Americans at risk.  It shows our adversaries what our capabilities are.  And it's a giant violation of the law."

Read the entire interview here.

Republican Jeff Chiesa was sworn in as New Jersey's newest U.S. senator a few minutes ago, replacing the late Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J.

Chiesa, an attorney with close ties to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, will serve only until the fall. State votes will choose a replacement in an Oct. 16 special election.

Chiesa, 47, has said he will not run.

In a statement, he said Monday “It is an honor to have the opportunity to continue to serve the people of New Jersey in this new role as their representative in the United State Senate. I want to thank Governor Christie for placing his trust and confidence in me by appointing me to this position. 

“I look forward to representing the people of New Jersey at this time of historic challenge and opportunity, and will work every day during my brief tenure to advance their interests with honor and distinction.”

Sen. Frank Lautenberg, a New Jersey Democrat who died Monday at age 89, will lie in repose in the U.S. Senate chamber Thursday afternoon.

Lautenberg's casket is due to arrive at the Capitol. A color guard ceremony is scheduled on the East Front steps, starting at 1:30 p.m.

The casket will then be taken inside the Capitol, where Lautenberg will lie in repose on the Lincoln catafalque in the Senate chamber during the afternoon.

Lautenberg was the Senate's oldest member and the last of its World War II veterans. He was eulogized Wednesday at a New York City synagogue. He was remembered as champion of transportation and environmental causes. Vice President Joe Biden, who served with Lautenberg in the Senate, was among the speakers.

That didn't take long.

Two days after the death of Sen. Frank Lautenberg, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is being lobbied to name a replacement who supports expanding background checks for firearm sales.

Americans for Responsible Solutions, the pro-gun control group founded by former congresswoman Gabby Giffords and her husband, Mark Kelly, sent an email to supporters asking them to sign a petition to be delivered to Christie.

"Frank Lautenberg spent a career working tirelessly to reduce gun violence in our country. He authored important legislation to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers, and one of the final votes he cast was in support of expanded background checks. He was wheeled down to the floor for that vote, as his colleagues applauded his determination," the couple wrote. "Senator Lautenberg cannot be replaced. However, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie must now select a successor. And he should pick one who supports expanding background checks to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and the deranged."

The Democratic-controlled Senate fell short of having the votes needed to approve the proposal after most Republicans and a handful of Democrats rejected them. Advocates expect the legislation to return for a second vote later this year.

Mark Pryor of Arkansas on Friday became the first Democratic senator to air a TV ad in advance of next year's elections. 

And that first ad is decidely anti-Barack Obama and his agenda.

In the statewide ad, Pryor defends his decision to vote against an amendment pushed by the president to expand background checks for firearm sales.

“Nothing in the Obama plan would have prevented tragedies like Newtown, Aurora, Tuscon or even Johanesboro," he says looking into the camera. "I’m Mark Pryor. And I approve this message because no one from New York or Washington tells me what to do. I listen to Arkansas.” 

The four Democrats that opposed the legislation have been targeted by gun control groups and even left-leaning groups who supported the amendment.