Poll: Energy Bush's Top Task

(CBS)  The energy and gas crisis is now the top problem that Americans want government to address, according to a CBS News poll. But less than half the public believes the shortage of energy they are hearing about is real. Nearly as many, 44 percent, think people are just being told there are shortages of energy. In addition, many Americans are skeptical about the environmental priorities of the Bush administration.

ARE ENERGY SHORTAGES REAL?
	Now	11/79
Yes	46%	37%
	Now	11/79
No		54%

More Americans now believe that energy shortages are real than did in 1979, toward the end of the last oil shortage. But whether or not energy shortages are real, most Americans expect rising gasoline prices to hit them where it hurts – in their wallets. Nearly three in four say that if gas prices rise to three dollars a gallon, it will have a serious or extremely serious effect on them.

This is about what was seen during the oil crisis in 1977. Then, 65 percent said a dollar a gallon for gas would have an extremely serious or serious effect on them.

IMPACT OF $3/GALLON GAS
	Extremely Serious	Serious	Minor
	32%	40%	27%

The concern about energy as the top issue for government to solve is new – just two months ago no one cited energy as the top problem. Now 13 percent name it and it leads the economy (mentioned by 11 percent), taxes (10 percent) and education (9 percent).

This poll suggests that many Americans are not convinced the Bush administration has the public's interest at heart. Sixty-two percent think the oil industry has too much influence on the Bush administration's energy policies, while only 16 percent say it has the right amount of influence.

OIL INDUSTRY INFLUENCE ON BUSH ADMINISTRATION
	Too much	Too little	Right amount
	62%	5%	16%

Both President Bush and Vice President Cheney have spent part of their working lives in the oil industry, and many Americans think this will affect government policies. More than half say these ties will make the administration more likely to favor the oil industry in its energy policies, while only 22 percent think these ties will have no effect; 7 percent think it less likely the administration's energy policies will favor the oil industry.


THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY PRODUCTION

Americans continue to place a priority on preserving the environment, even if there are costs associated with doing so. Fifty-five percent of Americans agree that we must protect the environment, even if it means paying higher prices for electricity and gasoline because of it; 38 percent disagree.

While Democrats and Independents are firmly on the side of the environment, Republicans have mixed feelings. Forty-five percent of Republicans agree with protecting the environment even if that means paying more at the gas pump, and 45 percent disagree.

As has been the case since early this year, given a choice the public would rather protect the environment than produce energy. Fifty-eight percent think protecting the environment is more important, and 32 percent think producing energy is.

Views of George W. Bush's stance on the issue are very different; more Americans think he favors energy production. Sixty-six percent say Mr. Bush thinks producing energy is more important, and 12 percent say he places more importance on protecting the environment.

The Bush administration has come out strongly in favor of increasing energy production, and has been skeptical about the ability of energy conservation to meet demand. That position is not what the public believes the government should be doing in response to the current situation. Only 26 percent of the public thinks the government's priority should be to increase the production of petroleum, coal and natural gas. Sixty percenthink the government's priority should be to encourage people to conserve energy.

Another proposal being promoted by the Bush administration is to increase the number of nuclear power plants. There is mixed public support for this solution; 49 percent approve of doing this, and 43 percent disapprove. Support for increasing nuclear power usage has increased slightly since ten years ago, when just 41 percent approved, but is not much different from public reaction in 1979, after the accident in the power plant at Three Mile Island. Then, 46 percent approved.


CALIFORNIA BLACKOUTS

Two-thirds of Americans say the problems that have resulted in high electric costs and rolling blackouts throughout California are likely to happen in their area. Those living in Western states are most likely to believe this could happen to them.

Although the California state government – not the electric companies – is most likely to get the blame for the situation, 52 percent believe the federal government should step in and help California with its energy problems. Forty-one percent think it is a state problem that the federal government should stay out of. There is more support for federal action now than there was in February.

Relatively few Americans blame California consumers for their state's problem. Just 19 percent say it is the fault of California consumers.


THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION'S PERFORMANCE

Americans' perceptions of President Bush's performance overall and on specific issues have not changed much since last month. His job approval rating is now 57 percent, while 30 percent disapprove of the job he is doing as president.

Fifty-three percent say they approve of the way he is handling foreign policy – identical to last month. His ratings on handling the economy and the environment remain relatively low – 46 percent approve of Mr. Bush's handling of the economy and just 42 percent approve of his handling of the environment.

Evaluations of the state of the economy have improved slightly since the last CBS News poll, perhaps because of some recent good economic news. Right now, 68 percent say the U.S. economy is in good shape, 30 percent say it is in bad shape. Still, Americans don't see much improvement for the economy yet. Forty-four percent think the economy is getting worse, same number say it is staying about the same, and only one in ten think the economy is getting better.

Vice President Cheney continues to get high marks from the public. Fifty-six percent of the public approves of the job Cheney is doing as vice president and only 17 percent disapprove. Cheney's approval rating is up since February. Then, 52 percent of Americans approved of Cheney's job performance while 11 percent disapproved.

Opinions of the way Congress is handling its job, though lower than in March, are also generally positive. Forty-five percent approve of the way Congress is handling itjob and 36 percent disapprove. In March, 50 percent of Americans approved of the way Congress was handling its job and 33 percent disapproved.

A higher number of Republicans – 55 percent – approve of the job Congress is doing, while 31 percent disapprove. Democrats are more divided, however – 42 percent approve of the job Congress is doing and 38 percent disapprove.

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This poll was conducted among a nationwide sample of 1,063 adults, interviewed by telephone May 10-12, 2001. The error due to sampling could be plus or minus three percentage points for results based on the entire sample. Sampling error for subgroups may be higher.

For detailed information on how CBS News conducts public opinion surveys, click here.


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