Public opinion on carbon regulations, minimum wage & Medicaid expansion

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Here are three BIG issues that always generate a lot of controversy in the South Carolina media.

  • The proposed Environmental Protection Agency “Clean Power Plan” regulations that have set carbon reduction goals for every state to address climate change.
  • Increasing the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to at least $10 per hour (South Carolina uses the federal minimum wage).
  • Expanding Medicaid by accepting federal dollars under the Affordable Care Act.

The South Carolina Small Business Chamber supports each of the above positions because we believe they would:

  1. Protect our coastal small business tourism economy from out-of-control rising seas.
  2. Put more money on Main Street to increase consumer demand for small business goods and services.
  3. Create a healthier workforce and eliminate a significant driver of health insurance premium increases—cost shifting of health care for the uninsured to the insured.

But inevitably whenever the media does a story on these issues, reporters always pit other business organizations against the Small Business Chamber.

So it is good to know, thanks to Public Policy Polling, that a majority of South Carolina citizens supports the Small Business Chamber position not just on one or two of these issues but ALL THREE!

According to the PPP poll taken from September 3rd to 6th,

  • 62% of South Carolinians support the EPA Clean Power Plan.
  • 66% of South Carolinians support increasing the federal minimum wage to at least $10.
  • 62% of South Carolinians support expanding Medicaid by accepting federal dollars.

While we at the Small Business Chamber do not take policy positions based upon public opinion, it sure is great when our positions are also supported by the public.

Below are the survey questions and results on these issues.

EPA Clean Power Plan

As you may know, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or E-P-A, has announced a plan to address climate change by placing limits on the amount of carbon pollution from power plants. Would you strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose or strongly oppose this plan?

39% Strongly favor

23% Somewhat favor

14% Somewhat oppose

17% Strongly oppose

7% Not sure

Minimum Wage

Do you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose or strongly oppose raising

the minimum wage?

47% Strongly support

19% Somewhat support

18% Somewhat oppose

12% Strongly oppose

5% Not sure

The minimum wage in South Carolina is currently $7.25- which of the following would you support most: increasing it to $15 an hour, increasing it to $12 an hour, increasing it to $10 an hour, keeping it at $7.25 an hour, or eliminating the minimum wage altogether?

19% Support increasing to $15.00 an hour

14% Support increasing to $12.00 an hour

38% Support increasing to $10.00 an hour

16% Support keeping it at $7.25 an hour

8% Support eliminating the minimum wage altogether

5% Not sure

Medicaid Expansion

Do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree with the following statement: South Carolina should accept federal funding to expand Medicaid, which will provide health care for thousands of South Carolinians who need it.

47% Strongly agree

15% Somewhat agree

13% Somewhat disagree

15% Strongly disagree

9% Not sure

The poll can be found here.

 

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