06 Jun 2008 Senator Byrd In Step with West Virginians, Poll Shows

Byrd Opposes Lieberman-Warner Global Warming Bill Rejected by Overwhelming Majority in Region

Washington, DC – Senator Robert Byrd, who opposes America’s Climate Security Act presently scheduled for a key Senate vote at 9 AM Friday, is in sync with a majority of West Virginians, says a poll released by the National Center for Public Policy Research.

The survey found 64% of likely voters in mid-Atlantic states (WV, VA, MD, PA, NY, NJ and DE) oppose spending more for gasoline to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 71% oppose spending more for electricity to reduce such emissions.

“Econometric studies conducted by researchers at the EPA, Duke University, MIT, the National Association of Manufacturers and others have different estimates of the cost of the bill, but all agree it would increase energy costs,” said David A. Ridenour, vice president of the National Center for Public Policy Research.

“West Virginians don’t support price increases of any kind in either gasoline or electricity.  By opposing this bill, Senator Byrd shows he is in touch with the sentiments of people back home.  The question now is whether Senator Jay Rockefeller will join Senator Byrd and the people of West Virginia or the special interests promoting this bill.”

The America’s Climate Security Act (S. 3036) — also called “Lieberman-Warner” after chief sponsors Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) and John Warner (R-VA) — would cap the greenhouse gas emissions of power plants, fuel refiners and producers, chemical producers and other manufacturers.  The proposal — frequently referred to as a “cap-and-trade” — would also establish an trading system to permit companies that emit fewer greenhouse gases than they are permitted to sell the excess portion to companies exceeding their allowances.  Sponsors claim the bill would reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions up to 63% by 2050.

“Lieberman-Warner would ration power, raise the cost of energy and consumer goods, and effectively impose the largest tax increase in history on the American people,” said Ridenour.  “Americans are already struggling with rising costs.  The least their elected representative can do is not make matters worse.”

“Senator Byrd understands that this bill wouldn’t just make matters worse, but do it for no reason whatsoever,” Ridenour added.  “Even if Lieberman-Warner targets for reducing greenhouse emission could be met, which they can’t, any temperature reductions would be imperceptible.”

The poll questions and cross-tabs are available at www.nationalcenter.org.
The National Center is a non-partisan educational foundation established in 1982.  99% of its funding comes from 72,000 individual active donors.

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For more specific information about the poll: The text of the questions asked in the poll can be found here (pdf). The cross-tabs can be found here (pdf).