Interviewing: April 9-11, 2010

Sample: 1,000 adults nationwide

Margin of error: + 3.1 for all adults
Ph: (202) 544-2550

YouGovPolimetrix National Omnibus Poll

Thomas Riehle
and

All numbers represent percentages unless otherwise labeled.

“TAX ON TRANSPORTATION FUELS” POLL

1. Now I’d like to ask you a few questions about new energy policies being considered by Congress.
Congress is now considering a “linked carbon fee” which would impose a new tax on every gallon
of transportation fuels such as gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. The new tax would be paid at the pump
on a per gallon basis by consumers and businesses, and would increase as mandated government
emissions targets become stricter over time.

Supporters say that such a tax would reduce greenhouse gas emissions; the costs of which would be
transparent to consumers and businesses whenever they pay for fuels, leading to greater use of
efficient cars and other energy efficient behaviors. Revenues could be returned to consumers or used
for new clean energy programs.

Opponents say that it is a costly new tax on consumers and businesses that will increase prices for
goods and services, making the U.S. less competitive and causing significant job losses. Revenues
form the new tax also would likely be directed toward new government spending programs rather than
actually being returned to consumers.

After hearing this, do you (ROTATE:) support or oppose the establishment of a new per gallon tax
on transportation fuel, called a “linked carbon fee,” in order to limit greenhouse gas emissions? (IF
SUPPORT/OPPOSE, ASK: “Do you strongly (SUPPORT/OPPOSE) the “linked carbon fee,” or
only somewhat (SUPPORT/OPPOSE) it?) (IF NOT SURE/SKIP, ASK: “Well, do you lean a little
more toward (ROTATE:) supporting or opposing the “linked carbon fee”?)

TOTAL Strongly/Somewhat/Lean Support ....................................................

22
TOTAL Strongly/Somewhat/Lean Oppose ....................................................
71
Strongly support ................................................................................................
10
Somewhat support ............................................................................................
7
Not sure/Lean support .......................................................................................
5
Not sure/Lean oppose .......................................................................................
4
Somewhat oppose.............................................................................................
10
Strongly oppose ................................................................................................
57
Not sure...........................................................................................................
6

2. Noting that consumers already pay a nearly 50 cents per gallon on average in state and federal
taxes on fuel, how much more would you be willing to pay per gallon for a new tax aimed at
reducing greenhouse gas emissions?

10 cents per gallon............................................................................................

22
50 cents per gallon............................................................................................
6
 YouGovPolimetrix Page 2
Interviewing: April 9-11, 2010
806 D Street SE, Washington, DC 20003 202-544-2550 Tax on Transportation Fuels

$1 dollar per gallon ...........................................................................................

2
$2 dollars per gallon ..........................................................................................
2
Opposed to any new per gallon tax to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions ...................................................................
69
Not sure ..........................................................................................................
-
3. Do you believe a new per gallon tax on transportation fuels will ultimately create jobs, have not
affect on jobs or lead to more lost jobs?

Increase jobs.....................................................................................................
8
Have no affect on jobs ......................................................................................
25
Lead to more lost jobs .......................................................................................
53
Not sure ..........................................................................................................
14

4. Do you believe a new per gallon tax on transportation fuels will ultimately increase economic
growth, have no effect on economic growth or limit economic growth?

Increase economic growth ................................................................................

11
Have no affect on economic growth ..................................................................
19
Limit economic growth ......................................................................................
57
Not sure ..........................................................................................................
13

5. Who do you believe would be hardest hit financially if Congress does establish a new tax on
transportation fuels? (RANDOMIZE ITEMS.)

Consumers........................................................................................................
61
Businesses........................................................................................................
9
State and local governments.............................................................................
2
Workers.............................................................................................................
20
Not sure ..........................................................................................................
8

6. Thinking ahead to the elections in November for Congress, would you be (ROTATE:) more likely or
less likely to vote for a candidate for Congress who supports a new per gallon tax on transportation
fuels such as gasoline and diesel (IF MORE/LESS LIKELY, ASK:) Is that (much more/much less)
likely or (somewhat more/somewhat less) likely to vote?

TOTAL Much/Somewhat More Likely To Vote ..............................................

17
TOTAL Much/Somewhat Less Likely To Vote...............................................
64
Much more likely to vote ...................................................................................
10
Somewhat more likely to vote ...........................................................................
7
Somewhat less likely to vote .............................................................................
8
Much less likely to vote .....................................................................................
56
Not sure ..........................................................................................................
18

7. How much confidence do you have that a new transportation tax on fuels paid at the pump will
significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions? (ROTATE ANSWERS 1-4, STARTING AT
BOTTOM OF LIST EVERY OTHER INTERVIEW):?

TOTAL A Great Deal/Quite A Bit Of Confidence ...........................................

16
TOTAL Very Little/No Confidence At All........................................................
83
A Great deal of confidence ................................................................................
4
Quite a bit ..........................................................................................................
12
Very little............................................................................................................
32
No confidence at all ...........................................................................................
51
Not sure .............................................................................................................
-
 YouGovPolimetrix Page 3
Interviewing: April 9-11, 2010
806 D Street SE, Washington, DC 20003 202-544-2550 Tax on Transportation Fuels

DEMOGRAPHICS

NOTE: Results for demographic questions represent all elites unless otherwise indicated.

Now, just a few questions for statistical purposes only:

D3. In what year were you born?

18-29 ................................................
15
30-44 ................................................
25
45-64 ................................................
44
65 and older .....................................
16
Refused/not sure ............................
-

D4. What is the highest level of education you have completed?

High School or less .................................................................. 49

Some college ............................................................................ 22
College Graduate...................................................................... 28
Did not graduate from high school ............................................. 6
High school graduate ................................................................. 43
Some college, but no degree ..................................................... 17
2-year college degree................................................................. 5
4-year college degree................................................................. 16
Postgraduate degree (MA, MBA, MD, JD, PhD, etc.). ................ 12

D6. What is your marital status?

Married, living with spouse .........................................................

57
Separated ..................................................................................
1
Divorced .....................................................................................
11
Widowed ....................................................................................
5
Single, never married .................................................................
21
Domestic partnership .................................................................
4

D7a. Are you the parent or guardian of any children under the age of 18?

Yes.............................................................................................
30
No ..............................................................................................
70

D7b. How many children do you have under the age of 18?

0, none .......................................................................................
70
1 .................................................................................................
11
2 .................................................................................................
10
3 .................................................................................................
5
4 .................................................................................................
2
5 .................................................................................................
1
6 or more ...................................................................................
-
 YouGovPolimetrix Page 4
Interviewing: April 9-11, 2010
806 D Street SE, Washington, DC 20003 202-544-2550 Tax on Transportation Fuels

D9. What racial or ethnic group best describes you?

White .................................................
71
Black or African-American................. 11
Hispanic or Latino ............................. 12
Asian or Asian-American................... 1
Native American................................ 1
Mixed Race ....................................... 2
Other .................................................
3

D10. Thinking back over the last year, what was your family’s annual income?

Less than $10,000 ............................ 6

$10,000 - $14,999 ............................. 4
$15,000 - $19,999 ............................. 4
$20,000 - $24,999 ............................. 6
$25,000 - $29,999 ............................. 6
$30,000 - $39,999 ............................. 8
$40,000 - $49,999 ............................. 9
$50,000 - $59,999 ............................. 10
$60,000 - $69,999 ............................. 7
$70,000 - $79,999 ............................. 7
$80,000 - $99,999 ............................. 7
$100,000 - $119,999 ......................... 6
$120,000 - $149,999 ......................... 3
$150,000 or more ............................. 5
Prefer not to say ............................. 12

D11. Thinking about politics these days, how would you describe your own political viewpoint?

Total Liberal ..........................................................

23
Total Conservative................................................
42
Very liberal ..............................................................
9
Liberal .....................................................................
14
Moderate ................................................................
26
Conservative ...........................................................
25
Very conservative ...................................................
17
Refused/not sure ....................................................
9

REGION:

NORTHEAST 17

MIDWEST 22

SOUTH 35

WEST 25

GENDER:

Male .................................................
48
Female .............................................
52
 YouGovPolimetrix Page 5
Interviewing: April 9-11, 2010
806 D Street SE, Washington, DC 20003 202-544-2550 Tax on Transportation Fuels

REGISTERED VOTERS

Are you registered to vote?

Yes ............................................................................
89
No ..............................................................................
10
Don’t know...............................................................
1

POLITICAL PARTY AFFILIATION

Republican ............................................. 25
Independent ........................................... 36
Democrat ................................................ 37
Republicans with leaners ......................... 39
Democrats with leaners ........................... 45
Strong Republican ................................... 17
Not very strong Republican...................... 7
Lean Republican ...................................... 15
Independent ............................................. 13
Lean Democrat ........................................ 8
Not very strong Democrat ........................ 14
Strong Democrat ...................................... 23
Refused/not sure ................................... 3