RegulationWatch.org National Survey Results

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To:      RegulationWatch.org

From: John McLaughlin

Re:      National Survey Results

Date: June 2, 2014                                                                                                                                              

National Survey Results

 

“Do you agree or disagree that since this country was founded upon the idea of “no taxation without representation”

 

• Currently 8 in 10 voters, 79%, agree that since the country was founded upon the idea of “no taxation without representation,” that it should apply not only to the President and Congress but also to federal agencies. Meaning that federal agencies shouldn’t be able to levy taxes or fines without congressional approval. Little more than 1 in 10 voters, 11%, disagree.
  • 78% of Independents agree that federal agencies shouldn’t be allowed to levy taxes without congressional approval, 78% of moderates, 81% of whites, 84% of seniors and 77% of undecided voters on the generic ballot also agree.

 

“Do you approve or disapprove of the President being able to create new federal agencies by Executive Order which are capable of imposing even more regulations on Americans without congressional approval?”

 

• Currently almost 7 in every 10 voters, 69%, disapprove of the President creating new federal agencies capable of imposing even more regulations on Americans without congressional approval. Less than 1 in 4 voters, 23%, approve.
  • 75% of Independents agree that federal agencies shouldn’t be allowed to levy taxes without congressional approval, 71% of moderates, 75% of whites, 77% of seniors, 70% of women and 70% of undecided voters on the generic ballot also disapprove.

 

 

“As you may or may not be aware, currently the Bureau of Land Management is involved in a “land grab” in the Western United States taking land from ranchers, cattle raisers, farmers, etc. and then imposing million-dollar fines on them for continuing to have their cattle graze on those lands? Do you believe this to be the appropriate role of government, or do you believe this to be an example of government overreach and an attack on property owners?”

 

• Currently 7 in 10 voters, 70%,  believe that the current “land grab” by the Bureau of Land Management in the Western United States is an example of government overreach and an attack on property owners. Only 17% believe this is the appropriate role of government.
  • While this might presumably be seen as a regional problem for western ranchers and farmers, voters across the country believe this to be an example of government overreach. The smallest percentage of voters by region occurs in the South Atlantic, where still 2 out of 3 voters, 66%, believe this is an example of government overreach.
  • 72% of Independents believe this to be an example of government overreach, 72% of moderates, 74% of whites, 75% of seniors and 75% of undecided voters on the generic ballot also believe this to be governmental overreach.

 

“The Sage Grouse and Prairie Chicken could be 2 of more than 700 new species added to the endangered list between now and 2018. Putting these birds on the endangered species list empowers federal bureaucrats to limit the use of millions of acres of privately owned lands thus taking them out of energy exploration and development. This would effectively halt the U.S. energy boom. Do you agree or disagree that the federal government should have the right to seize and/or limit what you can do on your land if an endangered species like the Gunnison Sage Grouse or Prairie Chicken is found to live there?”

 

• Almost 3 in 5 voters, 58%, don’t believe the federal government should be able to limit the use of private land if an endangered species is found to live there. Less than 1 in 3 voters, 31%, believe they should be able to.
  • 60% of undecided voters on the generic ballot for Congress believe the federal government shouldn’t be able to limit the use of private land if an endangered species is found to live there. 63% of Independents, 57% of moderates, 64% of whites, 63% of seniors, 58% of men and 58% of women all believe the federal government shouldn’t be able to limit the use of private land just because an endangered species is found to be living there.

 

 

“The Congress in both the House and the Senate have Appropriations committees which have the responsibility to set the funds each agency receives. Should a review of the federal regulations process be done by Congress and if necessary funds be restricted in order to remove the “hidden taxes” passed on to you the consumer?”

 

• Almost 3 in every 4 voters, 73%, believe Congress should conduct a review of the federal regulations process and limit/withhold their funding in order to remove the “hidden taxes” passed on to consumers. Less than 13%, don’t believe this should be done.
  • 73% of undecided voters on the generic ballot for Congress believe Congress should conduct a review of the federal regulations process and if necessary withhold funding from the agencies responsible for passing on “hidden taxes” to the consumer. 76% of Independents, 73% of moderates, 74% of whites, 76% of seniors all  believe this as well.

 

“Federal regulations force community banks to foreclose on homeowners who receive assistance from a third party with their mortgage payments. Should federal regulators be able to affect your standing with your bank?”

 

• Three in four voters, 75%, don’t believe federal regulators should be able to affect your standing with your bank. Only 11% believe they should.
  • 79% of undecided voters on the generic ballot for Congress oppose federal regulators having the ability to affect your standing with your bank. 76% of Independents, 78% of moderates, 78% of whites, 77% of seniors, 75% of men and 74% of women all believe federal regulators shouldn’t have the ability to affect your standing with your bank.

 

“Washington D.C. is viewed as broken and unable to fix itself. Too much money which increases the federal debt has been spent on regulations or “hidden taxes” with no accountability or oversight. The result is too much government in every aspect of American life. Would you approve or disapprove of starting with the immediate freeze of any new regulations and a gradual reduction in current regulations as a way to reduce this abuse of power by the federal government?”

 

• More than two-thirds, 68%, of voters approve of an immediate freeze of any new regulations and a gradual reduction in current regulations.
  • 68% of undecided voters on the generic ballot approve of an immediate freeze of any new regulations and a gradual reduction in current regulations. Also, 68% of Independents, 64% of moderates, 70% of married voters, 71% of whites and 72% of seniors.

 

 

“Are you aware or unaware that the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) which governs how federal agencies and bureaucrats govern, make rules and set regulations, has not been modernized since its passage in 1946?”

 

• Almost 4 in 5 voters, 79%, were unaware that the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) which governs how federal agencies and bureaucrats govern, make rules and set regulations, has not been modernized since its passage in 1946.
  • 83% of undecided voters on the generic ballot for Congress were unaware that the rules that govern how federal agencies and bureaucrats operate haven’t been changed since 1946 when the Administrative Procedure Act was passed. Also, 81% of Independents, 83% of moderates, 83% of whites, 86% of seniors and 82% of women.

 

“The APA led to the creation of federal agencies like the FCC, FDA, EPA, IRS, etc. who continue to act independently passing new regulations every year that cost families and businesses more and more without congressional approval. Do you believe that there needs to be more congressional oversight of the changes made and new regulations OR that there needs to be a complete and full overhaul of the system where Congress takes back the authority they gave to these agencies almost 70 years ago? If you believe things are fine the way they are, just say so.”

• Almost 3 in 4 voters, 74%, agree that there needs to be more congressional oversight of federal agencies like the FCC, FDA, EPA, IRS, etc. A plurality, 47%,  believe there needs to be a complete and full overhaul of the system where Congress takes back the authority they gave to these agencies almost 70 years ago. Only 9%, less than 1 in 10 voters, believe these federal agencies are just fine as is passing new regulations every year costing families and businesses more and more without congressional approval.
  • 66% of undecided voters on the generic ballot for Congress agree that there needs to be more congressional oversight of the “alphabet agencies.” This number includes a plurality of 47% who believe Congress needs to take back the authority they gave to these agencies over 70 years ago. Likewise 72%/48% of Independents, 73%/46% of moderates, 76%/48% of married voters, 75%/51% of whites and 85%/58% of seniors.

 

 

CONCLUSIONS:

Voters believe that the federal government has become too controlling with regards to many facets and freedoms of their everyday lives. Reducing the size, scope and power of many federal agencies is popular with many key voter sub-groups that determine elections, among which are undecided voters, Independents, moderates and seniors. Seniors and whites are especially important sub-groups in off-year elections and the issues tested all resonated especially well with these voting blocs.  The current administration’s mismanagement of many federal agencies and inability to provide accountability is no secret to the voting public. They have lost faith in the ability of many of the “alphabet agencies” to operate reliably and independently in the best interests of the general public. With the public’s current attitude toward a Congress that has been stuck in the mud, it only further speaks to the public’s disdain for bureaucracy when they believe Congress should provide more oversight or actually take back the power they gave to federal agencies  more than 70 years ago by enacting the APA.

 

Demographic Breakdown

 

Methodology: This national survey of 1,000 likely 2014 general election voters was conducted from May 14^th to 18^th, 2014.  All interviews were conducted online; survey invitations were distributed randomly within predetermined geographic units. These units were structured to correlate with actual voter turnout in a nationwide general election. This poll of 1,000 likely general election voters has an accuracy of +/- 3.1% at a 95% confidence interval.