Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Climate Change

Climate Change and Health Care: A Tale of Two Polls

5:20 PM EDT on August 19, 2009

As health care reform remains the No. 1 item on Washington's agenda, the brewing Senate battle over climate change legislation -- which has the potential to dramatically reshape transportation policy -- is remaining in the background.

19climate_600.jpgThe audience at a Houston rally against Congress' climate bill, staged by the oil industry. (Photo: NYT)

Looking at two national polls released in recent days, however, suggests that the White House may be winning the fight that it's expending less political capital on waging.

The latest pulse-taking on health care, released yesterday by NBC News and the Wall Street Journal, found 36 percent opposed to the Obama administration's health care plans and 42 percent opposed.

Allies of the White House have questioned some of the wording used in the survey, which also revealed that major misconceptions about the health bill are winning credence.

But the wording was anything but misleading in a Zogby poll released last week and commissioned by the National Wildlife Federation. The survey found 71 percent of likely voters in favor of the climate bill passed by the House in June, and 54 percent proactively identifying themselves with the following statement (h/t Sightline):

I think the Senate should take action because I believe we need a new energy plan right now that invests in American, renewable energy sources like wind and solar, in order to create clean energy jobs, address global warming and reduce our dependency on foreign oil.

Imagine if the administration had decided to elevate climate change to the prime position in the national dialogue now held by health care. Would the prospects for substantive action in Congress be any brighter?

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Talking Headways Podcast: Local Culture and Development

We chat with Tim Sprague from Phoenix about supporting local culture through development projects and the importance of sustainable development and transportation.

September 21, 2023

How and Why to Start a Walking School Bus

Any caregiver for a kid in institutionalized education is familiar with the challenge of getting them where they’re going safely, on time, every single day, well before your own day’s assignments come into play. Here's how a walking school bus could help.

September 21, 2023

Thursday’s Headlines Have a New Pattern

Working from home may have killed the commute, but people are taking more frequent, shorter trips instead. Whether this adds up to less or more driving overall depends on the city.

September 21, 2023

New Calif. Slow Streets Offer a Sampler Platter of Quick-Build Safety Strategies

The city has a sampler platter of quick-build temporary traffic calming installations to experience for the rest of the year.

September 20, 2023

Wednesday’s Headlines Go Carless

A Washington state advocacy group for the disabled is challenging everyone to give up driving for the week of Oct. 2 to find out how hard it is to get around in most parts of the U.S.

September 20, 2023
See all posts