NPG Demands More Action From State Legislators

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Dec. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Negative Population Growth (NPG) President Donald Mann has called on all of America's 7,300 state legislators to step up their involvement in helping to gain control of America's soaring population numbers that threaten the social, economic and environmental future of our states and nation.

Mann cited the preliminary results of NPG's 2011 National Survey of State Legislators which was mailed to all of the State Senators and Assemblymen throughout the country in late October.  The Survey contained 42 questions related to population trends, financial pressure of increasing population, infrastructure needs, the impact of illegal immigrants, and the interest of legislators in meeting future population-driven challenges.

"We have learned a lot from the Surveys returned to us thus far," Mann said, "but what was truly shocking was the answer to the question, What is your personal philosophy when it comes to population growth in your jurisdiction?  Given a choice of five answers, 27% of respondents replied that "Population growth is inevitable and we can't stop it" and 32% chose the option that read "Government has no authority to control population growth."

Mann decried those legislators who provided those answers by stating:  "The fact that a majority of state decision-makers would take such a cavalier attitude toward a burgeoning crisis such as population growth is an insult to their constituents."   He emphasized the fact that these are the men and women who are confronted with population-driven problems every day as they work to rein in state budgets and vote on such important issues as new roads, repairing and building infrastructure, protecting open spaces and wildlife habitats, and delivering costly social services to more and more people.  He added, "We definitely need more leaders willing to address the reality of increasing population in relation to these issues, and so many others.

On a positive note, Mann said:  "The NPG Survey was a big plus in that it brought forth many state legislators willing to partner with us in helping to find reasonable and workable solutions to population growth which will ensure that we can leave a livable nation to our children and grandchildren.  Every elected leader in America has a critical role to play in meeting that goal."

SOURCE Negative Population Growth