FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News from Progress Michigan
August 15, 2023
Contact: Denzel McCampbell, 313-400-0298, denzel@progressmichigan.org
New Poll: Voters Show Strong Support for Accountability Across the Board
Michiganders back accountability for corporate polluters, utility companies, and false electors
MICHIGAN — On Tuesday, Progress Michigan released the latest edition of Lake Effect, a monthly research newsletter that tracks public opinion about a variety of policy issues.
“It’s plain to see Michiganders have had it with greedy corporations being allowed to put their profits before the welfare of the people,” said Sam Inglot, executive director of Progress Michigan. “From corporate polluters and utilities to big pharma and big tech, Michiganders are eager for their elected officials to stand up for them and hold these corporate interests accountable. Polluter-pay laws continue to have near unanimous support and support for lawmakers holding utility companies accountable isn’t far behind. Michiganders are also concerned about nefarious AI-generated content influencing elections, and support regulations to curb that influence. Michiganders want accountability. It’s as simple as that.”
Results from this month’s poll are available here.
Some key takeaways include:
- 93 percent of respondents think it is very or somewhat important for the Michigan Legislature to hold utility companies accountable for providing reliable and affordable energy, while just 4 percent believe it is not important.
- 88 percent support lawmakers requiring DTE and Consumers Energy to invest more in maintaining and improving the power grid, with just 6 percent in opposition.
- 69 percent of respondents also support lawmakers working to lower energy costs for Michiganders by giving regulators more authority to act in the best interest of ratepayers.
- 66 percent support regulations requiring utility companies to pay Michiganders for wasted food and medicine and reimburse outage time, with just 14 percent and 18 percent opposed, respectively.
- An overwhelming 95 percent of those polled support requiring corporations to pay to clean up their own pollution, with just 2 percent in opposition.
- Similarly, 92 percent support reinstituting polluter-pay laws, while just 2 percent are opposed.
- 79 percent of respondents support creating a board of industry experts to review and cap prices to ensure prescription drugs are affordable, with only 11 percent opposed.
- When asked about artificial intelligence being used to influence elections, 88 percent of those polled were very or somewhat concerned, with just 7 percent not being concerned.
- 81 percent support state and federal regulations, such as those called for by Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, to fight AI influencing elections, while only 6 percent are opposed.
- 56 percent of respondents support charging the false Trump electors with crimes and believe the false electors who currently hold public office should resign. 32 percent oppose charging them with crimes and 33 percent oppose those who hold public office resigning.
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