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 week on legislation that seeks to do precisely that, American Energy Alliance (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 American people.

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

“Chairman Waxman may have bought a few votes on the committee with corporate carve outs, but in time, the American way of life and the public-at-large will suffer considerably because of political and self-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.
• Interest in fighting global warming has dropped from a low priority (8%) in 2007 to receiving virtually no attention (3%) in 2009.

The American Energy Alliance (AEA) is a not-for-profit organization that engages in public policy advocacy and debate surrounding the function, operation, and government regulation of global energy markets.  AEA, an independent affiliate of the Institute for Energy Research, works to educate and mobilize citizens around the idea that freely-functioning energy markets provide the most efficient and effective solutions to today’s global energy and environmental challenges.

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