Poll: Environmental Issues Top of Mind for Pennsylvania Voters in 2022 | Friday morning coffee

Good Friday morning, Dear Researchers.

You don’t have to look far these days to find evidence that climate change is hitting Americans where they live. Of flash flood in the upper Midwest to forest fires that are reshaping California and the American West, scientists agree that climate change causes the incidence of extreme weather conditions.

And as a new poll clearly shows, concerns about climate change are top of mind for Pennsylvania voters heading into the 2022 midterms. And voters say they’re more likely to support lawmakers states that support limits on methane and carbon emissions.

Sixty-two percent of respondents to Global Strategy Group Survey controlled by the political arms of the Environmental Defense Fund and the Natural Resources Defense Council say state legislators should “make reducing air pollution a priority”, and an equal number believe the state needs more rules to protect Commonwealth air and water from oil and gas pollution.

As a reminder, the 203 members of the State House and half of the 50 members of the State Senate are eligible for re-election this fall. The Republicans who control both chambers, with the support of industry, generally resisted the democrat Administration of wolves efforts to limit emissions.

But a majority (56%) of the 1,200 voters likely to have responded to the poll agreed with the assumption that “rules to reduce pollution from oil and gas will create new jobs in manufacturing and in the field to inspect and repair leaks”.

Independent voters joined Democrats in accepting that premise — especially in suburban Philadelphia that’s less impacted by oil and gas exploration, but whose eco-friendly, predominantly blue voters tend to show up in favor. force during election years. Notably, however, voters in the Pittsburgh area, which is ground zero for natural gas exploration, also support this thesis, the poll showed.

The poll “shows very clearly that voters recognize the importance of tackling climate change and would be more likely to vote for elected officials who will actually take action.” Mandy Warnerthe Pennsylvania Director for EDF action, said in a statement. “A substantial majority of Pennsylvania voters support the carbon and methane emissions proposals and are eager to support the candidate who favors climate action.”

With a mid-term environment generally unfavorable to them, the poll is a dose of good news for Pennsylvania Democrats seeking to topple the State House and clinch seats in the state Senate.

Just over two months after Election Day, the state’s wildcard ballot for the General Assembly is tied at 46% each for Democrats and Republicans, according to pollsters.

A generic Democrat who supports carbon limits gets a 10-point bounce (51-41%) over a Republican who opposes them; while a generic Democrat who supports reducing methane emissions from oil and gas exploration gets an 8-point bounce (50-42%) over a Republican who opposes it, according to the poll.

In the much-watched gubernatorial race, the Democrat Josh Shapirocurrent state attorney general, leads the Republican Party Doug Mastriano, a state senator, 50-42 percent. And in the fight for the Democratic US Senate Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman directs a famous republican doctor Mehmet Oz 49-37 percent.

“Pennsylvanians support clean air and climate action and seek leaders who will make progress on these issues,” Jackson Morristhe main adviser for the NRDC Action Fund, said in a statement. “Candidates who support efforts to reduce dangerous carbon and methane pollution will be rightly rewarded for prioritizing the health of our citizens and communities over the profits of big industry polluters. .”

The poll, conducted July 14-19, had a margin of error of 2.9%.

Our things.
Republican candidate for governor by Doug Mastriano education finance plan would devastate public schools in Pennsylvaniasay the defenders. Stone Room to the story.

Florida Jewish and Democratic leaders urged Sunshine State Governor Ron DeSantis to cancel his Friday appearance in Pittsburgh where he must campaign for Mastriano, Stone Room also reports.

Federal public health officials said Thursday they were work with national and local health departments to boost messaging and vaccinations for those most at risk of contracting monkeypox, including at large-scale events. Jennifer Shutt, Washington Capital-Star reporter and Cassie Miller have the story.

Ancient U.S. Senator Rick Santorum, R-Pa., was about to storm the Iowa State Fair Thursday to build support for a constitutional convention, Robin Opsahl, from our sister site, reports the Iowa Capital Dispatch.

In the Estrella-Capital: The State Functionaries Alientan to the Residents of Pensilvania to serve as electoral workers before the November elections. Veinte estados, incluyendo a Pensilvania, join the opposition of Texas’ request for emergency abortion care.

On our comments page this morning: New Federal Law Providing Health Care for Burning Hearth Victims puts an end to a decades-old injusticea Virginia Tech scholar writes. And the agri-titans fusion Sanderson Farms and Cargill is a bad deal for farmers and consumerslawyer Tim Gibbons written in an op-ed first published by our sister site, the Missouri Independent.

Somewhere else.
Black residents of Philadelphia are at higher risk for monkeypox, but do not have equal access to vaccinesthe Applicant reports.

The Post-Gazette features today’s Steel City rally for the Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano, with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

A federal judge blocked DeSantis’ “Stop-WOKE” law dealing with workplace training around race, finding its policies “bordering on unintelligible” and in violation of the First Amendment, Politics reports. DeSantis is sure to please, notes the news agency.

A new announcement from the Democratic gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro complaints Mastriano hired ‘alt-right extremists’ after a payment on the right social media site Gabthe Bucks County Mail Schedules reports (via GoErie).

Mastriano declined an invitation to debate of LancasterOnlinecalling its staff “left hacks”, PolicyAP reports.

Asset loyalist steve bannon called Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate John Fetterman ‘Satanic,’ PennLive reports. It’s going about as well as one might expect.

by Fettermann Republican Rival, Mehmet Oz, barn in luzerne county Thursday. The Voice of citizens has the details (paywall).

New internal polls show tight race for Northeastern Pennsylvania’s 8th congressional district, where the incumbent Democrat U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright faces a rematch with the Republican Jim Bognet, City and State Pa. reports.

The FBI has issued subpoenas to several Pennsylvania lawmakers – the reasons are still unclear, WITF-FM reports.

Lancaster County Prison Commission rejected a proposal to embezzle less money inmate purchases from the county general fund, LancasterOnline reports.

morning call five things to know on the future of passenger rail transport in the Lehigh Valley.

Philadelphia launched a new tool to connect residents with free and low-cost healthcare providers, WHY-FM reports.

Here’s your #Pennsylvania Instagram for the day:

What is happening
10:30 a.m.: Visit by State Department of Education officials Harrisburg Area Community College to tout higher education in this year’s state budget.

What’s Going On (Naked Political Edition)
Republican candidate for governor Doug Mastriano hosts a reception at 4 p.m. (presumably in Pittsburgh – you need to RSVP to find out). Admission costs $2,500 and $10,000. House Minority Leader Joanna McClinton, D-Philadelphiahosts a reception at 5:00 p.m. Bartram’s Garden in Philadelphia. Admission costs $75 to $5,000. and state Rep. Regina Young, D-Philadelphiahosts a reception at 5:30 p.m. ROAR in Philadelphia. Admission there costs between $50 and $1,000.

WolfWatch
At the time of this writing, Governor Tom Wolf has no public schedule today.

You say it’s your birthday department
Speaking of Joanna McClinton: Birthday wishes go out to the Democratic leader this morning as she takes another trip around the sun. Congratulations.

heavy spinning
We will be going out this week with one of Death Taxi for Cutie. Here is ‘Here forever.’

Free Friday Football Link
It’s Friday, and that means The Guardian has his list of top 10 things to watch in the round this weekend premier league stock. Notably, Arsenal will look for his third straight win as he faces a newly promoted Bournemouth Saturday.

And now you are up to date.