Public souring on EPA

Some people just couldn’t sell spring water during a drought. Everybody likes the environment, right? What’s not to like? So if you happen to be a government agency specifically tasked with protecting it, that should be an automatic winner. Not so.

While the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been taking a beating in conservative circles for some time now, that sentiment seems to be spreading to the public. A new poll out from Rasmussen shows that approval ratings for the agency are slipping noticeably.

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.

The more interesting figures in this poll come below the top line numbers. A plurality believe that policies enacted by the agency are harmful to the economy. (Gee… ya think?) There is an even larger desire for more accountability to the people via their representatives. 49% feel that “all proposed EPA regulations should be approved by Congress before implementation.”

Somehow I don’t think you’d get a lot of arguments from Congress on that one, either. But one has to wonder about the seeming disconnect on the part of poll respondents. If you want that type of accountability, you’d think that you must have a fair amount of faith in the folks you would have oversee the process, right? So people must be trusting Congress a bit more these days. Well… not so much.

Just 8% Approve of Job Congress Is Doing

Voter approval of Congress’ job performance has now fallen to a near five-year low.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only eight percent (8%) of Likely U.S. Voters think Congress is doing a good or excellent job. Fifty-two percent (52%) rate Congress’ performance as poor.

Of course, these are the same people who overwhelmingly want Washington to cut spending and reduce the debt, but don’t want them to change entitlement programs in any way. I’ve pretty much given up on being surprised.