Congressman Case shares survey results
Aloha! I hope you and yours had a great Thanksgiving and are looking forward to the rest of the holiday season.
I return to Capitol Hill tonight for an intense few remaining weeks of 2023 addressing critical issues facing our Hawai’i, country and world. As I do so, I want to share what you told me in my anonymous online survey on current issues and my performance from my last e-newsletter (Your Turn/What Do You Think?) here.
I deeply appreciate the thousands of responses to my survey — not only the answers to each question but the individual comments — all of which I read. These responses are invaluable guides for my actions and decisions in Congress, and assist me greatly in reviewing my performance to date and confirming areas for further focus and improvement.
Below are the straight results, after each of which I provide some quick comments. There is much more on my actions in these and other areas at case.house.gov, and I welcome your further questions and comments at ed.case@mail.house.gov.
What’s most concerning you now? (Please choose no more than five).
(Top 15 answers)
Inflation/cost of living 43%
Crime/public safety/gunviolence 41%
Environment/climate change 33%
Political division/polarization/gridlock 32%
Federal spending/budget deficits/debt 31%
Border security 31%
Social/Security/Medicare/kupuna 30%
Israel-Hamas conflict 27%
Roe v. Wade/abortion/right of choice 24%
Economy/business/jobs 22%
Other/comment (esp. housing) 22%
Civil rights and justice 20%
Health Care 19%
Education/child care/keiki 17%
Maui disaster/other wildfire risks 16%
(Each of these issues and the several others mentioned are critical components of our overall national agenda. I have taken action on each of them — see case.house.gov — and welcome this confirmation that we’re on the same page as to the challenges and opportunities we must continue to address.)
How much are you being affected by inflation and higher costs of living?
Somewhat affected 53%
Seriously affected 40%
Not Affected 7%
(Although inflation itself is back down to close to pre-COVID levels, that hasn’t reduced the sharp price increases of the past few years and the consequences to most of us, as reflected in answers to the next question. Reducing not just inflation but the costs themselves must continue as one of our top priorities at all levels of government).
If you are being affected by inflation and higher costs of living, which are affecting you most? (Please choose all that apply.)
Food 83%
Household goods and supplies 59%
Utilities/electricity 54%
Transportation/auto/gas 52%
Housing/rent 38%
Health Care 34%
Recreation 13%
Other/comment 11%
Education 9%
(These all reflect national trends, but all are made worse by our Hawaii’s own situation. Solutions must focus not just on national but on specific state and local causes.)
What are your views on our country’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine?
Current approach (defense and humanitarian aid but no troops is adequate 40%
Increase aid to Ukraine for defense and humanitarian needs 27%
Decrease U.S. aid to Ukraine 25%
Increase U.S. aid for humanitarian, but not defense needs 5%
Deploy U.S. troops to Ukraine to assist in Ukraine’s defense 2%
(It remains just as true as it did almost two years ago that Russia’s unjustified, unprovoked and criminal war on Ukraine cannot be allowed to succeed, and that any success by Russia will have very negative consequences not just for Ukraine but for the world, including our country. I thus agree with most that we must continue if not increase our aid, while assuring that our friends and allies especially Europe do their fair share.)
Which one of the following best states your views on the Israel-Hamas conflict?
I support a ceasefire (an indefinite cessation of military operations) 33%
I support Israel’s current efforts against Hamas 30%
I support Israel’s current efforts against Hamas, with humanitarian pauses
(time and space-limited pauses in military operations for humanitarian purposes) 29%
I oppose Israel’s current efforts against Hamas 8%
How should the U.S. respond to the Israel-Hamas conflict? (Please choose all that apply)
Support continued U.S. efforts with other countries to provide humanitarian assistance 61%
Support continued U.S. military assistance to Israel 39%
Other/comment: 22%
Oppose continued U.S. military assistance to Israel 21%
Oppose continued U.S. efforts with other countries to provide humanitarian assistance 4%
(As reflected in these results and the many comments, the current tragic Israel-Hamas war, the broader Israel-Palestinian and Middle East issues, and our country’s role in all are very difficult and divisive issues on which reasonable people, including my constituents, disagree, often deeply and passionately. I have responded in detail to thousands of constituent communications especially since the October 7th Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, and welcome your own input to ed.case@mail.house.gov so that I can provide a fuller response. But in short, as I believe these results and comments reflect: (1) I agree with the current time-limited pause for hostage release and humanitarian aid and would support further specific pauses that do not allow Hamas to regroup; (2) the many comments and my other constituent communications are clear that a “ceasefire” means different things to different people, but if it means a permanent cessation of military hostilities that allows Hamas to survive and regroup and attack again, I do not believe that is acceptable; (3) I agree with supporting continued U.S. humanitarian assistance partnerships and military assistance to Israel; and (4) we, our country and world, cannot turn away from the plight of the Palestinian people and must refocus on a realistic and permanent two-state solution.)
How do you rate the federal government’s response to the Maui wildfire disaster?
Positive 34%
Neutral 30%
Negative 14%
Very Negative 13%
Very Positive 9%
(Having devoted my office’s efforts since August 8th to the tragic Maui wildfires, and especially to the federal government’s response, my own views are positive with a lot of work still to be done over several years. I especially appreciate the constructive comments on how the federal government can improve its response.)
How do you rate my overall performance as Hawaii’s U.S. Representative (with 10 being highest and 1 being lowest)?
8 20%
10 18%
9 15%
7 12%
5 10%
6 7%
1 7%
3 4%
4 4%
2 3%
(I’m very grateful for the mostly positive ratings and comments, as they reflect that we’re on the right track. But I’m fully focused on where and how we can continue to improve our performance, especially for those who did not rate it positively, and especially appreciate the many constructive comments on how to do so. There were some comments wanting more information, communication and interaction. I try hard to keep my constituents informed on my actions (see case.house.gov) and to stay in touch through this e-newsletter, frequent talk story community meetings (I’m doing another round in January; details upcoming) and other means, but I’ll keep looking for other opportunities. Otherwise there was no one common area for improvement; it was mostly about specific issues on which folks disagreed, or about wanting me to be (for some) more or (for others) less partisan. I take very seriously differing views on specific issues, levels of partisanship and other areas that result from the fact that I represent a very diverse constituency of over 700,000 Hawai’i residents. I hope and believe that overall I fairly represent my constituents, and will continue to seek out and welcome all views to improve my representation.)
What is your general political philosophy?
Moderate 31%
Lean Liberal 18%
Strong Liberal 15%
Lean Conservative 13%
Strong Conservative 8%
Prefer Not to Answer 15%
(I’ve never been one for labels as I believe they are far too simplistic and rigid, don’t explain views on specific issues, and don’t fully account for diverse views any one of us has, much less my constituency of over 700,000 residents. But I agree that these responses do fairly reflect the mainstream of my own very diverse constituency, and remain committed to listening to all of my constituents regardless of general philosophy.)
As always, I deeply appreciate your consideration and assistance as we all work to find the best way forward for our country and Hawai’i. For more information on my efforts, and how we can help you, please visit my website at case.house.gov. If I can help you and yours with your own questions and needs, e-mail us at https://case.house.gov/contact/, or call us at (808) 650-6688.