Regulation Alert: Voters see lifting the ban on exporting U.S. crude oil as a good idea to save jobs and improve the domestic economy

To:      Regulation Alert, Inc. From: John McLaughlin Re:      National Survey Results Date: January 15, 2015                                                                                                                                      

National Survey Results

  “Are you aware or unaware that since 1967 there has been an “U.S. Oil Export Ban” which prevents the U.S. from shipping crude oil overseas?”  

• Currently less than 2 in 5 voters, 38%, are aware there is ban on exporting U.S. crude oil. While more than 3 in 5 voters said they were either unaware, 54%, or don’t know, 8%.
  • Among those who were unaware, that number includes 63% of Independents, 60% of moderates, and 61% of seniors.

  “This ban was enacted to preserve America’s oil resources, but in recent years, new technologies have secured America’s energy supply. Is it time to lift the oil export ban to allow American producers to compete in the international marketplace?”

• The majority of voters, 54%, believe it is time to lift the oil export ban and allow American producers to compete in the international marketplace. Only about 1 in every 5 voters, 22%, believe it isn’t time to lift the oil ban, and about 1 in every 4 voters, 24%, don’t know.
  • 56% of very likely voters are in favor of lifting the ban.
  • 61% of Republicans and 55% of Democrats responded yes it is time to lift the ban.
  • 59% of liberals and 57% of conservatives said it is time to lift the oil export ban.
  • 68% of Hispanics and 59% of African Americans believe it is time to lift the oil export ban.
  • The majority of Americans among all age groups believe it is time to lift the oil ban: 18-29, 53%; 30-40, 53%; 41-55, 56%; 56-65, 52%; and over 65, 55%.
  • 59% of men and 50% of women said “yes” it is time to lift the ban.

  “Some skeptics say lifting the ban will actually hurt the American consumer with higher gas prices at the pump. Do you believe that a more competitive international oil market will result in higher or lower prices for consumers?”  

• The plurality of voters, 34%, believe that lifting the ban on oil exports will actually result in lower prices for consumers. One in four voters, 24%, believe that lifting the oil ban will result in the same prices. Only 23% believe that lifting the ban will result in higher prices for consumers, while 19% don’t know.
  • 66% of Republicans said the same or lower, as well as 58% of Democrats and 50% of Independents.
  • 63% of Conservatives said the same or lower, as well as 58% of liberals and 55% of moderates.
  • The majority of voters under 55, 59%,  and over 55, 58%, said that prices would be the same or lower.

  “Do you approve or disapprove of the federal government allowing the export sale of U.S. crude oil to our allies to reduce their dependency on oil from Russia and OPEC nations like Iran, as well as the need for war?”  

• Almost 3 out of 5 voters, 58%, approve of the federal government allowing the export sale of U.S. crude oil to our allies to reduce their dependency on oil from Russia and OPEC nations like Iran, as well as the need for war. Less than 1 in 4 voters, 24%, disapprove, while 18% of voters don’t know.
  • 61% of very likely voters approve, while only 23% disapprove.
  • 63% of Republicans, 59% of Democrats and 52% of Independents approve.
  • 65% of liberals, 62% of conservatives and 50% of moderates approve.
  • 72% of Hispanics, as well as 56% of both Whites and African Americans approve.
  • Almost 2 in 3 seniors, 65% approve.

   
  “Do you think that it is fair or unfair that the federal government bans the export sale of U.S. crude oil while foreign oil that is imported from the Middle East, Iran, Venezuela and Russia has no limits to be sold in America, sending American dollars and jobs abroad while American oil producers are prohibited from selling American oil in any other country?”  

• The majority of voters, 55%, believe it is unfair that American oil producers are prohibited from selling American oil in any other country while foreign oil has no such limits or restrictions on its sale in the U.S. Only 1 in 5 voters, 20%, believe it is unfair, while more than 1 in 4 voters, 26%, don’t know.
  • 60% of Republicans, 54% of Democrats and 51% of Independents believe it is unfair.
  • 64% of conservatives and 53% of moderates believe it is unfair.
  • 59% of African Americans, 55% of whites and 53% of Hispanics all believe it is unfair.
  • 57% of voters over 55 and 53% of voters under 55 believe it is unfair.
  • 55% of both men and women believe it is unfair.

“Are you aware or unaware that Arab oil producing members of OPEC have been using oil as an economic weapon for 50 years and the United States has unilaterally disarmed itself by not allowing the sale of American oil to foreign countries??”  

• The majority, 54%, of voters are aware that Arab Oil producing members of OPEC have been using oil as an economic weapon for 50 years and the U.S. has unilaterally disarmed itself by not allowing the sale of American oil to foreign countries. One-third, 33%, of voters said they were unaware and 13% didn’t know.
  • 61% of Republicans, 51% of Independents and 50% of Democrats are aware.
  • 60% of conservatives and 58% of liberals are aware, but only 45% of moderates.
  • 58% of Hispanics and 56% of whites were aware, but only 41% of African Americans were aware which is actually less than were unaware, 45%.
  • 60% of voters over the age of 55 were aware, while only 47% of voters from 41-55 were aware.
  • 65% of men were aware while only 43% of women were aware.

 
  “Are you aware or unaware that Arab oil producing members of OPEC have increased production to unprecedented levels in order to flood the U.S. market with cheap oil in order to drive American oil producers out of business, cease U.S. domestic production and keep America dependent on foreign oil?”  

• Voters for the most part are split on issue of being aware that Arab oil producing members of OPEC have increased production to unprecedented levels in order to flood the U.S. market with cheap oil in order to drive American oil producers out of business, cease U.S. domestic production and keep America dependent on foreign oil. The plurality, 44% said they were unaware, however 41% said they were aware and 15% said they don’t know.
  • Republicans were aware 48%/38% while Democrats, 39%/48%, and Independents, 38%/46%, were unaware.
  • Liberals were aware, 49%/39%, while moderates, 35%/48%, and conservatives, 43%/44% were unaware.
  • Hispanics were aware, 52%/37%, while Whites, 40%/45%, and African Americans, 35%/50%, were unaware.
  • Voters under and over 55 were unaware, 41%/45% and 41%/42%, respectively.
  • Men were aware, 50%/38% while women were unaware, 34%/49%.

  “As the price of oil drops, American oil producers are very likely to cut production which in turn causes them to layoff and fire American workers. In order to keep these Americans working would you approve or disapprove of the federal government lifting the ban on the export sale of U.S. crude oil and allowing them to sell oil to foreign countries like India, China and Japan?”

• Almost 2 in 3 voters, 65%, approve of lifting the ban on the export sale of U.S. Crude Oil and allowing American producers to sell oil to foreign countries like India, China and Japan in order to keep American oil production up in order to keep American workers employed. Less than 1 in 5 voters, 19% disapprove and even less, 16% don’t know.
  • More than 3 in 5 Republicans, Democrats and Independents approve, 68%,  64% and 61%, respectively.
  • 71% of liberals, 68% of conservatives and 56% of moderates approve.
  • 73% of Hispanics, 64% of Whites and 58% of African Americans also approve.
  • Both voters under and over the age of 55 approve, 65% and 64%, respectively.
  • Almost 7 in 10 men, 69% and 6 in 10 women, 61% approve.

  “America is the only country in the world where landowners own the minerals and resources beneath their land. In every other county in the world the government has seized these rights. Do you support American landowners’ rights to produce and sell the energy they develop?”  

• 4 out of 5 voters, 81%, support landowners’ rights to produce and sell the energy they develop. Only 7% said no, while 12% don’t know.
  • 86% of Republicans, 79% of Democrats and 79% of Independents support landowners’ rights to produce and sell the energy they develop.
  • 86% of conservatives, 80% of moderates and 78% of liberals said yes.
  • 83% of whites, 81% of Hispanics and 76% of African Americans said yes.
  • 87% of voters over the age of 55 support landowners’ rights to produce and sell the energy they develop, while only 77% of voters under the age of 55 support it, which is still more than 3 out of every 4 voters.
  • 84% of men and 79% of women support the rights of landowners’ to produce and sell the energy they develop.

  “Do you agree or disagree that America should define “energy independence” as our ability to dominate global energy markets, meeting America’s domestic needs, assisting countries that are our allies, and keeping our enemies in check?”  

• 3 out of 4 voters, 74%, agree that America should define “energy independence” as our ability to dominate global energy markets, whilst meeting America’s domestic needs, assisting countries that are our allies and keeping our enemies in check. Only 12% disagree and 15% don’t know.
  • 79% of Republicans, 74% of Democrats and 69% of Independents agree
  • 80% of conservatives, 76% of liberals and 69% of moderates agree.
  • 83% of Hispanics, 74% of Whites and 69% of African Americans agree.
  • 78% of voters over 55 agree while 72% of voters under 55 agree.
  • 78% of men agree while 71% of females agree.

CONCLUSIONS: As we know from current media headlines, jobs are being lost nationally in the oil and gas industry. We know that voters are heavily in favor of improving the economy and creating jobs. These same voters see lifting the ban on exporting U.S. crude oil as a popular idea to save jobs and improve the domestic economy. The voters clearly see lifting the export ban as a way to save American jobs. Voters are also in favor of lifting the ban for security reasons to give America an economic weapon against countries like Russia and OPEC nations like Iran.   Demographic Breakdown  01-14- 2014

Methodology: This national survey of 1,003 likely 2016 general election voters was conducted from January 10^th to 14^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 1,003 likely general election voters has an accuracy of +/- 3.1% at a 95% confidence interval.   To view the memo in .pdf form please click here.