The FINANCIAL -- Protecting the environment is a concept most Americans embrace, but
they’re not so sure about the agency set up to handle that mission.
Just 47% of Likely Voters nationwide have a favorable opinion of the Environmental Protection Agency, sometimes known as the EPA. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that nearly as many, 45%, have an unfavorable view of the regulatory giant.
Those figures include 13% with a Very Favorable opinion of the EPA and 18% with a Very Unfavorable view.
One of the challenges for the EPA comes from the fact that 40% believe most EPA regulations are bad for the economy. Only 35% believe they offer a positive economic benefit. Nine percent (9%) think they have no impact and 16% are not sure.
There is also a desire by many for increased accountability. Forty-nine percent (49%) believe that all proposed EPA regulations should be approved by Congress before implementation. Thirty-one percent (31%) disagree.
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on June 18-19, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC.
Seventy-two percent (72%) of Democrats have a favorable opinion of the EPA while 66% of Republicans offer a negative review. Voters not affiliated with either major party are evenly divided. A similar pattern is found on other questions. Most Republicans believe EPA regulations are bad for the economy while most Democrats view them as good. Among unaffiliated voters, 27% say the regulations are good for the economy, 34% say bad, 14% say they have no impact and 25% are not sure.
When it comes to obtaining congressional approval for new regulations, most Republicans and a plurality of unaffiliated voters support the notion. Democrats are evenly divided.
Evangelical Christians and other Protestants tend to have a more negative than positive opinion of the EPA. Catholics are evenly divided. Outside of these faith groups, the perception of the EPA is much better, with 59% offering a positive opinion.
Men, by a 46% to 32% margin, believe that EPA regulations are bad for the economy. Women are evenly divided.
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