Poll Shows Senator Baucus Out of Step with Montana: Baucus Supports Lieberman-Warner Global Warming Bill Rejected by Overwhelming Majority in Region

The survey found 69% of likely voters in Mountain states (Montana, Wyoming,Idaho,Nevada,Colorado,Utah,Arizona andNew Mexico) oppose spending more for gasoline to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 71% of likely voters from the region oppose spending more for electricity to reduce such emissions.

"Studies conducted by researchers at MIT, Duke University, the EPA, the National Association of Manufacturers and others have different estimates of the cost of this bill, but they all agree it would increase energy prices," said David A. Ridenour, vice president of the National Center for Public Policy Research. "Montanans don't support further price increases of any kind in either gasoline or electricity. Senator Baucus is acting contrary to the wishes of his constituents. Whether Senator Jon Tester will stand with most Montanans or with the state's senior Senator is still unknown."

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 that would permit companies that emit fewer greenhouse gases than they are allowed to sell the excess portion to companies exceeding their allowances. The Act's sponsors claim the bill would reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions up to 63% by 2050.

"Lieberman-Warner would ration power, raise energy and consumer prices, and essentially impose America's largest ever tax increase," said Ridenour. "Americans are already struggling with rising costs. The least their elected representatives can do is not make matters worse."

"Senator Baucus would make matters worse for no reason whatsoever," Ridenour added. "Even if Lieberman-Warner targets for reducing greenhouse emission could be met -- and they can't -- any reductions in global temperatures 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. It is a truly independent foundation, with approximately 99% of its funding coming from some 72,000 active donors.

SOURCE National Center for Public Policy Research

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