Transcript Voters’ Attitudes Regarding the Clean Water Rule
Voters’ Attitudes Regarding the Clean Water Rule
Key findings from a nationwide telephone survey among 800 likely 2016 general election voters (Margin of error = ±3.5 percentage points) conducted May 4 – 7, 2015 for
Voters’ Attitudes Regarding the Clean Water Rule
May 2015
Hart Research
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Overview
Voters support the Clean Water Rule by an overwhelming margin after hearing a brief description of it. Support for the rule crosses party lines, and voters who already were familiar with the rule break decisively in its favor.
Support for the rule is rooted in the personal concern that many voters have about water pollution, and in the belief held by a large majority that the federal government should be doing more to protect the nation’s waters from pollution.
Considerations about the impact on drinking water and children/ grandchildren are the most important to voters in deciding the merits of the Clean Water Rule.
A lot 5%
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Voters’ Attitudes Regarding the Clean Water Rule
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Overview
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Support for the Clean Water Rule remains strong even after voters hear a point-counterpoint debate from both sides of the issue.
Voters express notably more trust in the EPA and US Army Corps of Engineers than in Congress to make the right decision on protecting the nation’s smaller waterways.
The bottom line is that voters do not want Congress to block the Clean Water Rule, and a majority of voters say they would feel less favorable toward a senator who votes against the Clean Water Rule.
A lot 5% Voters’ Attitudes Regarding the Clean Water Rule
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Water pollution is an important issue and a personal concern for many.
Water pollution is a very or fairly important priority
Very important priority 64% 84%
The issue of water pollution is a very or fairly big concern to me personally
Very big concern 36% 61%
4 Water pollution is a very/fairly important priority Democrats 92% Water pollution is a very/fairly big concern to me 69% Independents 83% 68% Republicans 75% 48%
Voters’ Attitudes Regarding the Clean Water Rule
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Majorities think that the federal government should be doing more to protect the nation’s streams and wetlands from pollution.
Proportions saying that the federal government should be doing more to protect these water sources from pollution:
Lakes and rivers
62%
Demo crats Inde pendents Repub licans 77% 63% 46% Drinking water supply
61%
75% 62% 44% Streams/wetlands feeding into larger water sources
61%
77% 61% 45%
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Among those who feel they know enough about the Clean Water Rule to express an opinion about it, support outnumbers opposition by four to one.
Initial Support for the Clean Water Rule
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60% 32%
Democrats Independents Republicans
Strongly favor 21% 8% Favor Oppose Don’t know enough to say Voters’ Attitudes Regarding the Clean Water Rule
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Favor 44% 33% 17% Oppose DK enough to say 1% 10% 16% 55% 57% 67%
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Voters overwhelmingly are supportive of the Clean Water Rule when given a basic description of it.
The Clean Water Rule proposed by the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers clarifies which waters are and are not protected under the Clean Water Act. Specifically, the rule would restore pollution protections that used to exist for streams and wetlands that feed into bigger lakes and rivers and ultimately end up in our drinking water supply.
With this background in mind, do you favor or oppose the Clean Water Rule?
80%
Democrats Independents Republicans
Total favor
Strongly favor
Oppose
94% 75% 68% City Suburbs Small town Rural 80% 84% 85% 69%
Strongly favor 50% 14%
Men Women 77% 82%
6%
Whites African Americans Hispanics 78% 83% 82%
Favor Oppose Not sure Voters’ Attitudes Regarding the Clean Water Rule
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65% 49% 34% 55% 49% 57% 39% 45% 54% 48% 56% 53%
4% 15% 24% 14% 12% 10% 23% 18% 11% 15% 14% 9%
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Voters have greater trust in the Army Corps and the EPA than in Congress to make the right decision on protecting the nation’s smaller waterways from pollution.
Generally speaking, how much do you trust the following to make the right decision on how to best protect our nation's smaller waterways from pollution?
Trust a lot Trust some Army Corps of Engineers
26% 72%
Democrats Independents Republicans 79% 67% 68% EPA
19% 62%
Democrats Independents Republicans 79% 55% 49% Congress
4% 25% Voters’ Attitudes Regarding the Clean Water Rule
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Voters trust the government agencies more than Congress to make the best decisions to protect smaller waterways.
In each pair, whom do you trust more to have the right approach on how to best protect our nation's smaller waterways from pollution?
EPA vs. Congress
Trust EPA/EPA and Corps of Engineers more
EPA and Army Corps of Engineers vs. Congress
Trust both/neither/not sure Trust Congress more
9% 14% 77% 7% 15% 78%
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Voters’ Attitudes Regarding the Clean Water Rule
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Majorities of voters across party lines think that Congress should allow the Clean Water Rule to go forward rather than block it.
Congress is considering whether to block the Clean Water Rule proposed by the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers: Which approach do you think Congress should take?
Congress should allow the Clean Water Rule to go forward and closely monitor how the rule is being implemented
79%
Congress should block the Clean Water Rule and prevent it from being implemented
12%
Democrats Independents Republicans Strongly favor Clean Water Rule Somewhat favor Clean Water Rule Oppose Clean Water Rule
Allow Clean Water Rule
94% 78% 66% 96% 85% 28%
Block Clean Water Rule
3% 12% 21% 2% 5% 60%
Voters’ Attitudes Regarding the Clean Water Rule
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Additionally, nearly seven in 10 voters say they would feel LESS favorable toward their US senator if he/she voted to block the rule.
If your US senator voted to BLOCK the Clean Water Rule from going into effect, how would this affect your feelings toward him/her?
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69%
Democrats Independents Republicans
Total less favorable
Much less favorable
More favorable
81% 71% 55%
51% 38% 24%
10% 11% 29%
17% Much less favorable 38% 9% Much more 6% Would feel more favorable Would feel less favorable No effect on my feelings Voters’ Attitudes Regarding the Clean Water Rule
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The potential impact on the nation’s drinking water supply and on future generations are the electorate’s top priorities when evaluating the Clean Water Rule.
Which two of these considerations do you think should be the most important in deciding whether or not the Clean Water Rule should be implemented?
All voters 54%
By support for Clean Water Rule
Strongly favor Somewhat favor Oppose 64% 52% 32%
Impact on our drinking water supply Impact on our children and grandchildren Impact on wildlife and natural habitats Impact on agriculture and farming Impact on jobs and the economy Impact on landowners’ property rights
52%
26% 24% 15% 15%
62%
28% 20% 12% 5%
49%
29% 28% 15% 16%
33%
11%
30%
26%
51% Voters’ Attitudes Regarding the Clean Water Rule
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Support for the Clean Water Rule holds when voters are presented with core arguments from both sides.
Agree more with opponents of Clean Water Rule Agree more with supporters of Clean Water Rule OPPONENTS: (same in both pairs) The Clean Water Rule would immensely expand the authority of the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers to dictate land-use decisions and farming practices in or near smaller bodies of water. Congress should block this rule because it is goes too far in imposing unnecessary restrictions that will hold back our economy and threaten jobs by having a negative impact on farmers, homebuilders, and other job creators.
SUPPORTERS: The Clean Water Rule is needed to
protect the streams and wetlands
that feed into the drinking water supplies of one in three Americans. It will
help protect the more than 60% of the nation's streams and 20 million acres of wetlands
currently vulnerable to pollution and destruc tive development. Congress should allow the rule to be implemented because clean water is
critical for the health of our families, the health of our environment and wildlife, and the health of our economy
from manufacturing and farming to fishing, swimming, and other kinds of recreation.
17% 78%
SUPPORTERS: The Clean Water Rule is needed to
reinstate protec tions
for the streams and wetlands that feed into the drinking water supplies of one in three Americans.
The Clean Water Act was adopted in 1972 and it worked well until court decisions and decisions by former administrations created
confusion and legal loopholes, leaving these smaller waterways vulner able
to pollution. These supporters say that Congress should allow the rule to be implemented to ensure that these smaller waterways that feed into our drinking water supply are protected from pollution and destructive development.
21% 74% Voters’ Attitudes Regarding the Clean Water Rule
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Focusing on the debate as related to farmers does not change the dynamic: the large majority side with supporters of the rule.
With whom do you agree more?
OPPONENTS: agriculture Some farming and groups, including the Farm Bureau, oppose the rule because they say that it would give the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers the power to regulate normal farming activities such as building fences, digging ditches, and applying fertilizers or pesticides.
Congress should block this rule because
these regulations would make it harder to farm, making farming more costly and leading to higher food prices
at a time when American farmers and families are already struggling to make ends meet.
22%
SUPPORTERS: The Clean Water Rule is needed to protect the streams and wetlands from pollution and destructive development, and it
will NOT get in the way of farming
activities such
supporters,
. Farmers, ranchers, and foresters who are conducting everyday as plowing,
including the
tilling, planting, harvesting, and building and maintaining roads, ponds, and ditches have always been allowed to do these things under the Clean Water Act, and this rule will not change that. These only important for families
Rocky Mountain Farmers Union and the Ohio Farmers Union, say that the rule offers greater clarity for farmers
, so Congress should allow the rule to be implemented because clean water is not and communities but for the success of our nation's farms.
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74% Voters’ Attitudes Regarding the Clean Water Rule
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There are several compelling arguments for the Clean Water Rule, but protecting waterways for future generations and protecting American’s drinking water are particularly persuasive themes.
Proportions saying each is a very or fairly convincing reason Congress should allow the Clean Water Rule to be implemented
80%
Our families depend on clean water. By restoring protections to streams and
(49% very)
wetlands, the Clean Water Rule will again
protect the waterways our children and grandchildren use
to drink, swim, and play in.
80%
The Clean Water Act currently protects large sources of water such as lakes
(42% very)
and rivers from pollution, but streams and wetlands that feed into those larger bodies of water no longer enjoy the same level of protection. This rule would
restore the safeguards for smaller waterways that filter out pollution and feed into drinking water
supplies.
80%
Our economy depends on clean water, and
many business groups have
(41% very)
said that protecting these smaller waterways is vital to maintaining our economy
. Manufacturing, farming, ranching, energy, tourism, and recreation sectors all need clean water for their businesses, and to support new jobs.
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Voters’ Attitudes Regarding the Clean Water Rule
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There are several compelling arguments for the Clean Water Rule, but protecting waterways for future generations and protecting American’s drinking water are particularly persuasive themes.
Proportions saying each is a very or fairly convincing reason Congress should allow the Clean Water Rule to be implemented
79%
(49% very)
This rule will restore protections to streams and wetlands that have an impact on the communities, cities, businesses, schools, and farms that are downstream, and thus
help communities avoid threats like last year's toxic algae contamination of Lake Erie
that left more than 500,000 people in Toledo, Ohio, without access to safe drinking water for nearly three days.
78%
(50% very)
Today
one in three Americans gets their drinking water from sources currently lacking protection
from pollution and destructive development.
Without this rule the
drinking water of 117 million Americans will be at risk
.
77%
(40% very)
Healthy streams and wetlands
support wildlife habitat
places for rare and endangered animals to live.
and provide critical
76%
(39% very)
The Clean Water Rule will protect streams and habitat for wildlife, support our $646 billion outdoor recreation industry, and
fishing traditions can be passed along ensure that our hunting and
to the next generation.
64%
(29% very)
Economic analysis of the rule indicates that it will
provide an estimated $388 million to $514 million annually in benefits to the public
, which will significantly outweigh the rule's costs.
Voters’ Attitudes Regarding the Clean Water Rule
May 2015
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