washington state voter + small business owner survey content/attachments/1/1...survey summary...

Washington State Voter + Small Business Owner Survey

Summary Report December 10, 2014

1 Voter + SBO Survey Report

Overview

• GMA Research of Bellevue, Washington, conducted a random telephone survey of 250 registered voters and 250 small business owners on behalf of the Washington Office of the National Federation of Independent Businesses.

• Survey covered a number of topics and environmental issues.

• Specifically, the survey explored the views and opinions of registered voters and small business owners regarding the proposed program being considered by Governor Jay Inslee to lower greenhouse gas, or carbon emissions by requiring the use of lower carbon transportation fuels which would increase the per gallon cost of gasoline and diesel fuel for Washington consumers and businesses.

• Maximum margin of statistical error = 6%

• Interviewing conducted during November – early December, 2014


Survey Summary Observations

Key Highlights & Findings


Survey Summary Observations

• While Washington State voters and small businesses are open to ideas to lower greenhouse gas emissions, they have very strong opinions on how the governor and legislature should address the issue.

• First and foremost, it’s clear that the public needs more education on this issue, as 79% of voters and 86% of small business owners were not aware of any proposals to limit greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks.

• Both voters and small businesses overwhelmingly (96%) want an open and transparent process on Governor Inslee’s proposal.

• Both voters and small businesses are strongly opposed to unilateral executive action by Governor Inslee. Only 10% of voters and 5% of small business owners believe the governor should implement his program through executive action.


Survey Summary Observations, cont.

• In fact, 69% of small businesses and 67% of voters believe Governor Inslee’s proposal should be voted on via a state ballot measure. Others (25% of small businesses and 20% of voters) believe the legislature should vote on the proposal.

• There is also strong agreement that Washington should wait to take action until the environmental and economic impacts of a similar proposal in California, slated to go into effect in January, are known. 78% of small business owners and 66% of voters believe a wait and see approach is best, considering California’s proposal on lower carbon fuel standards is so similar to Governor Inslee’s proposal.

• Voters and small businesses believe the price of gasoline/diesel and availability of renewable energy are the two most important energy issues in Washington State.

• By a wide margin, both voters and small businesses think fuel efficiency standards (26% and 28% respectively), development of renewable resources (23% and 20%), and increased public transportation and carpooling options (21% and 24%) are far more preferable to increasing gas prices by requiring lower emitting fuels for controlling GHG emissions (3% and 7%).


Survey Summary Observations, cont.

• Washington voters and small businesses are also concerned about how much good Governor Inslee’s proposal would do for the environment. Two-thirds of voters and small businesses are likely to oppose the governor’s proposals if they had no noticeable or significant environmental impact in Washington State.

• 62% of voters and 74% of small businesses believe Governor Inslee’s proposal should not be considered unless the increases in fuel prices provide clearly defined environmental benefits for Washington State residents.

• In addition, there are deep concerns over how much Governor Inslee’s proposal would raise gas and diesel prices, as half of all voters and small business owners would oppose paying any more for a gallon of gas or diesel.

• 80% of voters and 75% of small business owners also believe that price increases between $.13 and $1.46 per gallon, the estimated impact of Governor Inslee’s proposal, are too much.

• While a plurality of votes and small business owners believe air quality would be positively impacted by Governor Inslee’s proposal, a majority also believe consumers and families would be negatively impacted.


Survey Results

Registered Voters vs. Small Business Owners


MAJOR ISSUES FACING WASHINGTON STATE TODAY (Note: All figures in percents)

20

9

3

10

3 2

4

19

4

9

21

4

0

2

0

5

10

15

20

25

Jobs/Economy Education Gov Spending Taxes Wages Environment Transportation

Voters Small Business Owners


MOST PRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE FACING WASHINGTON (Note: All figures in percents)

18

5

11

7

5

0

19

4

7 6

13

18

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

Water quality Climate change Coal trains Air pollution Nuclear waste Lack of recycling



FAMILIAR WITH TOPIC OF GREENHOUSE GAS/CARBON EMISSIONS (Note: All figures in percents)

29

44

19

8

1

13

56

19

11

1

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Very familiar Somewhat familiar Not very familiar Not at all familiar Don't know



MOST PRESSING ENERGY ISSUE FACING WASHINGTON (Note: All figures in percents)

24

18

20

29

9

27

21

15

27

10

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Price of gasoline - dieselfuels

Price of electricity -natural gas

Reliance on foreignenergy sources

Availability of renewableenergy

Don't know



BEST WAY TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS/CARBON EMISSIONS FROM CARS AND TRUCKS

(Note: All figures in percents)

7

21

23

26

3

24

20

28

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Increase gas prices by requiring lower emittingfuels for vehicles

Increase availability of public transportationand carpooling options

Increase public research and development foralternative fules

Increase fuel efficiency standards for vehiclemanufacturers

Small Business Owners Voters


AWARENESS - WASHINGTON STATE PROPOSAL TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS OR CARBON EMISSIONS FROM CARS AND TRUCKS


20

79

1

13

86

1 0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Yes No Don't know



Governor Jay Inslee and some state officials would like to implement a program to lower greenhouse gas or carbon emissions by requiring the use of lower carbon transportation fuels. This would increase the

per gallon cost of gasoline and diesel for Washington consumers, businesses and state government.

For each of the following statements, please tell me whether you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree or have

no opinion one way or the other.


REGISTERED VOTERS VS. GOVERNOR’S PROGRAM (Note: All figures in percents)

64

96

36

62

33

68

53

30

3

56

31

63

24

45

6

1

8

7

4

8

3

0 25 50 75 100

7) The program SHOULD require a vote in the State Legislature byelected officials

6) The program's potential costs and benefits SHOULD BE explainedto the public in an open and transparent manner before being…

5) The program SHOULD BE considered regardless of the type orlevel of environmental benefits it creates for Washington State…

4) The program SHOULD NOT be considered unless the increasedcosts for gasoline and diesel fuels provide clearly defined…

3) The program SHOULD BE considered regardless of any increasedprices for gasoline and diesel fuels.

2) The program SHOULD NOT BE considered if alternative ways tolower emissions exist that would not increase the cost of gasoline…

1) The program SHOULD NOT BE considered at all if it would increasethe price of gasoline and diesel fuels

Agree Disagree No Opinion


SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS VS. GOVERNOR’S PROGRAM (Note: All figures in percents)

75

96

35

74

33

70

61

20

2

60

22

64

25

36

5

2

5

4

3

5

3

0 25 50 75 100

7) The program SHOULD require a vote in the State Legislature byelected officials

6) The program's potential costs and benefits SHOULD BE explained tothe public in an open and transparent manner before being…

5) The program SHOULD BE considered regardless of the type or levelof environmental benefits it creates for Washington State residents

4) The program SHOULD NOT be considered unless the increased costsfor gasoline and diesel fuels provide clearly defined environmental…

3) The program SHOULD BE considered regardless of any increasedprices for gasoline and diesel fuels.

2) The program SHOULD NOT BE considered if alternative ways to loweremissions exist that would not increase the cost of gasoline and diesel…

1) The program SHOULD NOT BE considered at all if it would increasethe price of gasoline and diesel fuels

Agree Disagree No Opinion


HOW MUCH MORE PER GALLON OF GASOLINE OR DIESEL FUEL WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO PAY TO HELP REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS?


50

20

11

6 6

0 3

5

50

25

8 6

4 2

4 2

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Nothing Up to 10 cents Up to 25 cents Up to 75 cents Up to $1 Up to $1.50 Over $1.50 Don't know



ACCORDING TO GOVERNOR INSLEE’S ADMINISTRATION, THE PROGRAM COULD INCREASE THE PRICE OF GASOLINE AND DIESEL FUEL BY BETWEEN 13 CENTS AND

$1.46 PER GALLON. IS THAT……….? (Note: All figures in percents)

80

0

15

4

75

1

21

3

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Too much Too little About right Don't know



IF GOVERNOR’S PROGRAM WAS IMPLEMENTED, WHO DO YOU BELIEVE WOULD BE MOST POSITIVELY AFFECTED?


17

25

4 3

1

18

21

18

9

1 1

34

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Consumers Families Small businesses Large employers Unions State & localgovernments


19

IF GOVERNOR’S PROGRAM WAS IMPLEMENTED, WHO DO YOU BELIEVE WOULD BE MOST NEGATIVELY AFFECTED?


26

28

11

4

2

10

26 27

24

5

0

9

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Consumers Families Small businesses Large employers Unions State & localgovernments



IF GOVERNOR’S PROGRAM WAS TO BE IMPLEMENTED, WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE WOULD BE MOST POSITIVELY AFFECTED?


30

2 3

9 8 9

34

4 2

6

12 13

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Air quality Water quality Wildlife protection Economic growth Jobs - Employment Energy costs


21

IF GOVERNOR’S PROGRAM WAS TO BE IMPLEMENTED, WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE WOULD BE MOST NEGATIVELY AFFECTED?


2 1

2

28

16

28

1

3 2

31

14

32

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Air quality Water quality Wildlife protection Economic growth Jobs - Employment Energy costs



In the program Governor Inslee is considering were to be implemented, greenhouse gas or carbon emissions in Washington

State would likely decrease. But because these emissions mix freely in the atmosphere, even if the program was implemented statewide it would not likely result in noticeable environmental improvements

in Washington State. Significant environmental improvements would only occur if many other states and/or a large number of other countries throughout the world also adopted similar measures.

If there was noticeable or significant environmental benefit for Washington State

would you be more or less likely to support or oppose Governor Inslee’s program?


IF THERE WAS NO NOTICEABLE OR SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFIT FOR WASHINGTON STATE, WOULD YOU BE MORE LIKELY

TO SUPPORT OR OPPOSE GOVERNOR INSLEE’S PROGRAM? (Note: All figures in percents)

24

66

10

30

66

4

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

More likely to suport More likely to oppose Don't know



The only other state in the US to adopt a program similar to Governor Inslee’s is California. California’s plan includes what is called a “fuel mandate” that requires the use of fuels that emit less greenhouse

gases. It goes into effect in January 2015 and is expected to increase the cost of each gallon of gasoline or diesel fuel for consumers and

businesses in California.

Based on this, how should Washington proceed?


HOW SHOULD WASHINGTON PROCEED? (Note: All figures in percents)

13

21

66

6

16

78

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

Don't know

Move forward to implement Governor Inslee'sprogram here in Washington State no matter what

happens in California

Wait and assess the economic and environmentalimpacts of California's fuel mandate before

implementing Governor Inslee's program here in…



HOW SHOULD THIS ISSUE/PROGRAM BE ADDRESSED IN WASHINGTON STATE? (Note: All figures in percents)

4

10

20

67

1

5

25

69

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Don't know

The Governor should take executive action on hisown

The State Legislature should publicly debate and voteon Governor Inslee's program

Voters should cast their own individual votes by wayof a state ballot measure



washington state voter + small business owner survey content/attachments/1/1...survey summary...

Documents