Poll shows Mass. voters support 'cap-and-trade' bill

Scott Brown’s opposition to healthcare reform helped to fuel his improbable victory in Massachusetts. But another big bill under consideration in Congress that Brown campaigned against -- the effort to cap greenhouse gases -- may have more support in the state.

A poll by Benenson Strategy Group, which did polling for President Obama’s campaign, shows a healthy majority of special election voters favors a “cap-and-trade” bill to limit greenhouse gas emissions. Of those voters who pulled the lever for Brown, half also support cap and trade. And 56 percent of all respondents said they would have a more favorable view of Brown if he voted for a cap-and-trade bill.

The results are a bit surprising, and from the perspective the legislation's supporters should give wavering centrists a sign that climate change isn’t healthcare reform.

Generally, “cap-and-trade” polls poorly, although voters respond more favorably when asked about the need to tackle climate change or their support of clean energy technologies. The survey was paid for by Clean Energy Works, a coalition of organizations that support action on climate.

Brown said during his campaign that he opposed cap-and-trade legislation under consideration in the Senate, although he had supported a regional effort to curb greenhouse gases as a state legislator.

"The Senate take away is that poll after poll has shown consistent bipartisan support for action on climate and clean energy,” David Di Martino, a spokesman for Clean Energy Works, said in an email. “This is not a third rail issue - if the public and private polling is to be believed.”