Regulation Alert, Inc. – National Survey Results – U.S. Oil Export Ban

To:      Regulation Alert, Inc.

From: John McLaughlin

Re:      National Survey Results

Date: July 17, 2015                                                                                                                                             

 

The Results of our just completed national survey shows that among American voters, winning public support to repeal the U.S. Oil Export Ban is highly achievable. Most voters are not aware that there is currently a ban but when told are likely to support lifting the ban. Furthermore, when told about the impact on jobs, consumers and security, three in four voters approve of lifting the U.S. Oil Export Ban.

 

• Public Opinion about the U.S. Oil Export Ban is ready to be defined.
  • Only 36% of voters are aware of the U.S. Oil Export Ban. 2 in 3 voters are either not aware, 56%, or don’t know, 7%.
  • The majority, 52%, agree it’s time to lift the U.S. Oil Export Ban. One quarter, 24%, disagree as well as another quarter (24%) who don’t know.
  • Two-thirds of the voters, 63%, approve of allowing the sale of U.S. oil to allies and friends to reduce dependency on Russia and OPEC. Only 23% disapprove.
  • Half the voters, 50%, agree that lifting the U.S. Oil Export Ban would lower prices. One in four, 27%, disagree.
  • Two in three voters, 63%, agree that the U.S. should define “energy security” by the ability to dominate global energy markets and assisting our allies. Only 1 in 5 voters, 20%, disagree.
  • Six in ten voters, 62%, would like to see the President and Congress work together to lift the U.S. Oil Export Ban to create jobs and ensure security. Less than 1 in 5 voters, 18%, said no.
  • Two in three voters, 65%, were aware of the connection between oil production and manufacturing jobs. Only 1 in 4 voters, 25%, were not aware.
  • The majority of voters, 58%, prefer lifting the U.S. Oil Export Ban so the U.S. has long term savings on world pricing. One-fifth, 19%, would risk continued volatility based on production and pricing from OPEC.
• American voters would support lifting the U.S. Oil Export Ban to help our allies like Israel.
  • Seven in ten voters, 69%, agree that exporting oil to Israel makes sense in terms of politics, economics and security. Less than 1 in 5 voters, 18%, disagree.
  • Two-thirds of voters, 67%, would export oil to Israel to strengthen ties between our two nations. Only 17% disagree.

 

• Jobs, consumer savings and security messages move opinions so that 3 in 4 voters, 77%, would approve of lifting the U.S. Oil Export Ban. Support for these messages is strongly bi-partisan and receive majority support from both Democrats and Republicans.

Total More Likely	Tot.
Lifting the U.S. Oil Export Ban would create thousands of jobs around the country, not just in the oil fields, as the capacity to produce, transport and ship oil requires tools, materials and labor that can all be developed and utilized domestically.	73%
There will be savings, not just at the pumps but on every front for the consumer.	73%
For every job created in the oil patch, there are 3 more American jobs created elsewhere in supply materials and support, as well as 6 more jobs in the broader U.S. economy.	71%
Lifting the U.S. Oil Export Ban today in 2015 could create 3.3 million new American jobs by 2020 as well as provide much needed federal and state tax revenues to strengthen the economy.	71%
Ship-builders, electricians, engineers, pipe-fitters, truck drivers and the efforts of thousands of other skilled American laborers would all be necessary to build and maintain the infrastructure required for exporting oil.	71%
Lifting the ban would increase the levels of production of durable goods and machinery as well as provide increased productivity in the agricultural, mining, manufacturing and construction industry sectors.	68%
Studies have shown that lifting the ban would result in an increase of  $2,000 to $3,000  in Real Household Income by the year 2025.	67%
U.S. Oil production with its strict environmental rules and regulations is better for the environment than oil production in more environmentally lax countries like Venezuela and Russia.	64%
America is the only country in the world where landowners receive income from the minerals and resources beneath their land. Lifting the U.S. Oil Export Ban will also benefit the 12 million average Americans in all 50 states who on average are over 60 years old and receive less than $500.00 in monthly income to supplement their social security retirement income.	62%
Originally the ban was put in place because oil was in short supply due to OPEC. This is no longer the case, oil is in surplus and this surplus would allow U.S. producers to assist U.S. allies such as the Netherlands, Poland, Belgium, India, Japan, South Korea, Lithuania and Israel.	61%

 

 

CONCLUSIONS:

The voters clearly see lifting the U.S. Oil Export Ban as a way to save and create new American jobs. Voters are also in favor of lifting the ban for security reasons to give America and our allies, like Israel, an economic weapon against countries like Russia and OPEC nations like Iran.

 

Demographic Breakdown  07-13- 2014

 

Methodology: This national survey of 1,000 likely 2016 general election voters was conducted from July 8^th to 13^th, 2015.  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.

 

For More Information Please Contact:

 

Carolyn Malenick – (202) 547 – 3392

John McLaughlin – (845) 365-2000

 

To view this memo in downloadable .pdf form please click here.