These poll numbers were released earlier today by Rasmussen Reports -- "an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information."
42% Say Climate Change Bill Will Hurt The Economy
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Americans have mixed feelings about the historic climate change bill that passed the House on Friday, but 42% say it will hurt the U.S. economy.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that just 19% believe the climate change bill passed by the House on Friday will help the economy. Fifteen percent (15%) say it will have no impact, and 24% are not sure.
A majority of both Republicans (56%) and adults not affiliated with either major political party (52%) think the bill will hurt the economy. Among Democrats, however, 30% say it will help the economy, 23% that it will hurt and 21% say it will have no impact.
Forty-seven percent (47%) of investors say the bill is bad for the economy, compared to 37% of non-investors.
The divide on the question between populist or Mainstream America and the Political Class is a wide one. Fifty percent (50%) of Mainstream Americans say the climate control measure will hurt the economy, but two-thirds of the Political Class (67%) say it will help.
As for the bill itself, 37% of all Americans at least somewhat favor it, while 41% are at least somewhat opposed to it. Twenty-two percent (22%) are not sure what to make of it.
But there's more intensity on the "no" side: Only 12% strongly favor the measure, but more than twice as many (25%) strongly oppose it.
Under strong pressure from the Democratic congressional leadership, the House on Friday passed a bill aimed at reducing heat-trapping gases that some scientists say cause global warming. The bill, which includes a so-called "cap and trade " plan, is expected to drive up the cost of traditional sources of energy, thus forcing utilities to find alternative energy sources. The bill, according to the New York Times, "could lead to profound changes in many sectors of the economy, including electric power generation, agriculture, manufacturing and construction."
The bill passed by a 219 to 212 vote, with 44 Democrats against it, and is expected to face tougher going in the Senate, despite Democratic control of that chamber as well. The measure has little Republican support because of questions about the science behind it and the potential cost.
Sixty percent (60%) of Democrats at least somewhat support the bill, compared to 18% of Republicans and 24% of unaffiliated adults. While 20% of Democrats strongly favor the bill, 37% of Republicans and 38% of unaffiliateds strongly oppose it.
Nearly half the Political Class (48%) strongly favors the climate control measure versus 33% of Mainstream America who strongly oppose it.
Most Americans (52%) say they have been following news reports about the bill at least somewhat closely, with 22% who are following very closely. Eleven percent (11%) are not following at all.
In May, just 24% of voters could correctly identify the "cap-and-trade" plan as something that deals with environmental issues.
Forty percent (40%) of U.S. voters say global warming is a very serious problem, but voters are closely divided over whether it is caused by human activity or long-term planetary trends. In recent months, voters have been trending away from the idea that humans are to blame.
At least three-out-of-five voters have consistently said that developing new sources of energy is more important than reducing the amount of energy Americans now consume.
Voters rank development of new energy sources as third among the four top priorities President Obama listed in February, but, along with health care reform, it's the goal voters think he is most likely to achieve.
Forty-two percent (42%) of voters believe that major lifestyle changes are needed to save the environment, but 44% disagree .
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To view the original report, please use this link: Try Heating This Up!