BURIED: Scarcely Reported Poll finds that 78% of Americans Oppose Legislation…

BURIED: Scarcely Reported Poll finds that 78% of Americans Oppose Legislation that will Increase Electric Bills

Washington, DC – Nearly six out of 10 Americans would oppose Chairman Henry Waxman’s cap-and-tax scheme if it resulted in their electricity bills going up a single penny, a recent poll found. And nearly eight out of 10 respondents would consider a $50 per month increase in utility bills a “hardship,” even if that figure only represents a fraction of the cost burden that cap-and-tax is expected to inflict on working Americans.

As the House Energy and Commerce Committee begins debate this weekon legislation that seeks to do precisely that, American EnergyAlliance (AEA) president Thomas J. Pyle issued the following statement:

“Time appears to be of the essence with this cap-and-tax plan –even, and especially, if it means it gets passed without the support –or even knowledge – of the overwhelming majority of the Americanpeople.

“While this poll reveals startling information that has yet to bereported by mainstream media outlets, the more the American peoplelearn about the costs associated with Waxman-Markey, the more skepticalthey become. This poll is yet another in a long list of public opinionsurveys that show the American public is much more concerned about thethings that matter to them – jobs, food, energy – than the things thatmatter most to residents of the so-called People’s House.

“Chairman Waxman may have bought a few votes on the committee withcorporate carve outs, but in time, the American way of life and thepublic-at-large will suffer considerably because of political andself-interest by a few powerful Washington politicians.”

Key findings of latest cap-and-tax poll:

• 78% of all respondents say a $50 increase monthly in utility bills would be a hardship.
• 58% of respondents say they are unwilling to pay any more than they currently pay for electricity to combat climate change.
• Respondents are aware that climate change legislation will likely cause their electricity rates to go up.
• Interestin fighting global warming has dropped from a low priority (8%) in 2007to receiving virtually no attention (3%) in 2009.

The American Energy Alliance (AEA) is anot-for-profit organization that engages in public policy advocacy anddebate surrounding the function, operation, and government regulationof global energy markets.  AEA, an independent affiliateof the Institute for Energy Research, works to educate and mobilizecitizens around the idea that freely-functioning energy markets providethe most efficient and effective solutions to today’s global energy andenvironmental challenges.

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