Rasmussen - Voters Not Happy With EPA "Greenhouse Gas" Regulations

Monday afternoon the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declared carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions a danger to public health and said it will begin to draft and enforce regulations. Even the EPA realizes these moves will be a disaster for the US economy (and to our own selves as one of those gases, CO2, is what humans ad to the atmosphere every time they exhale).

Rasmussen asked American "likely voters" what they thought about the EPA announcement and reaction was split 41% to 41%. But the EPA can write and enforce their regulations without the consent of Congress. When reminded of that fact, Americans overwhelmingly (53%-24%) said the EPA should not be able to implement greenhouse gas regulations without congressional approval.

The ruling on Monday could pave the way for the agency to impose its own regulations without Congressional approval.  The reason behind the EPA announcement was giving a message to congress, "you pass cap and trade, or we will screw-up the economy."

The EPA’s action identifies carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases as air pollutants and therefore subject to regulation. Those who blame human activity for global warming see such regulations as a way to fight climate change.

Critics view the EPA’s move as a way to circumvent Congress where passage of climate change legislation is seen as politically very difficult because of its major potential impact on the U.S. economy.

Fifty-eight percent (58%) of men say the EPA should not be able to regulate greenhouse gases without Congress’ okay, compared to 49% of women. But then a plurality of women (45%) says the gases are a health threat, while 54% of men reject that belief.

Fifty-eight percent (58%) of investors oppose letting the EPA able to implement the regulations without congressional approval, a view shared by just 47% of non-investors.

Democrats are almost evenly divided over whether the EPA should be allowed to act against greenhouse gases on its own. But 76% of Republicans and a plurality (46%) of independents want the agency to get the approval of Congress first.

Part of the reason for the caution surrounding the EPA ruling is the fact that by a 47%-37% margin American's do not believe that mankind has anything to do with causing global warming.  Belief among voters that human activity is the primary cause of global warming has declined significantly over the past year.

Fifty-two percent (52%) of Americans believe that there continues to be significant disagreement within the scientific community over global warming, and even more (59%) say it’s at least somewhat likely that some scientists have falsified research data to support their own theories and beliefs about global warming.

Seventy-one percent (71%) of Americans say stimulating the economy to create more jobs is a bigger priority for U.S. leaders than stopping global warming to protect the environment.

Seventy-one percent (71%) of voters nationwide say they’re at least somewhat angry about the current policies of the federal government, up five points from September. That figure includes 46% who are Very Angry.

 Can't really blame them for their anger, the President and his Progressive-Democrat majority in congress is pushing through an agenda that has little resemblance to the priorities of the people who put them in office.