Opinion
Survey finds three-fourths of African-Americans have big worries about Obama-Waxman-Markey
By: Mark Tapscott
Editorial Page Editor
06/26/09 7:00 AM EDT
With a vote likely to be taken today in the House of Representatives on the Obama-Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade anti-global warming energy bill, a new survey of African-Americans finds significant concerns that the measure will have a disproportionately harmful impact on Blacks.
The survey was conducted for the National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR) by the Wilson Research Strategies firm and has a margin of error of +/- 3.4 percent. The survey can be found here.
Among the findings, according to NCPPR:
* 38% believe job losses from climate change legislation would be felt most strongly in the black community. 7% believe job losses would fall most on Hispanics and 2% on whites;
* 56% believe Washington policymakers have failed to adequately consider economic and quality of life concerns of the black community when addressing climate issues;
* 52% of respondents don't want to pay more for gasoline or electricity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 73% are unwilling to pay more than 50 cents more for a gallon of gas; 76% are unwilling to pay more than $50 more per year for electricity;
* Black Americans are virtually deadlocked on plans to reduce emissions if it would increase prices and unemployment. 44% opposed reductions under these circumstances, 45% supported them.
* 76% want Congress to make economic recovery the top priority.
* 56% believe Washington policymakers have failed to adequately consider economic and quality of life concerns of the black community when addressing climate issues;
* 52% of respondents don't want to pay more for gasoline or electricity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 73% are unwilling to pay more than 50 cents more for a gallon of gas; 76% are unwilling to pay more than $50 more per year for electricity;
* Black Americans are virtually deadlocked on plans to reduce emissions if it would increase prices and unemployment. 44% opposed reductions under these circumstances, 45% supported them.
* 76% want Congress to make economic recovery the top priority.
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