Carolyn Morrisroe, carolyn.morrisroe@sierraclub.org
PHOENIX, AZ -- As Congress considers the scale of investment in climate, jobs, and justice in the Build Back Better Act, it’s clear that voters in Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s home state of Arizona want climate and clean energy priorities to be fully funded.
In new state polling conducted by Global Strategy Group, Arizona voters express overwhelming support for a robust $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill, and voice opposition to efforts to scale back the size or scope of the bill. Nearly two in three voters statewide (65%) say they want to see the $3.5 trillion legislation passed, including overwhelming majorities of Democrats (88%) and Independents (69%). Hearing attacks from opponents does not sway their opinion, with 62% supporting the bill after hearing arguments from both sides of the issue.
Arizona voters also reject efforts to dilute the plan to reduce its price tag. If certain climate and health provisions were eliminated to reduce the cost to $2 trillion, almost half of Arizona voters (44%) would be less supportive of the legislation while just 17% would be more supportive. Not only would Independents and Democrats be less likely to support, on net, but Republican voters would be, too. Indeed, Arizona voters’ support for the current bill’s specific climate and health provisions ranges from 62% to 91% support.
The new poll reveals that Arizona voters are poised to reward a “yes” vote on the Build Back Better Act, and to penalize a “no” vote. In a generic ballot test, a Democrat who votes for the Build Back Better Act would move from a virtual tie with a Republican candidate in the next election to a 17-point lead over a Republican. Meanwhile, a Democrat who votes against the Build Back Better Act would lose by 31 percentage points to a Republican who supports the bill. In fact, Democratic voters in Arizona would be particularly likely to punish a Democratic candidate who opposed the legislation, as they would shift to favoring a Republican lawmaker who supports the bill over a Democrat who opposes it. This is among the largest political impacts of a piece of legislation that Global Strategy Group has seen in any poll.
Coming on the heels of Sinema’s public support for climate action in the Arizona Republic and New York Times last week, this new poll data demonstrates how strongly her own constituents support passage of a big, bold climate bill.
"Arizona voters recognize that we are feeling significant negative impacts from climate change, including extreme heat and drought and larger wildfires, which is why they overwhelmingly support passage of the Build Back Better reconciliation package, including its important climate and clean energy provisions. The inadequate bipartisan infrastructure bill does not on its own tackle the climate crisis anywhere near the speed or scale necessary, so we need the robust investments laid out in the Build Back Better Act. Arizonans — Democrats, Independents, and Republicans — don't want a halfway diluted climate package. In fact, they are less likely to support this important bill if the climate and clean energy provisions are weakened. Our senators should take note and put their support behind the full Build Back Better Act." — Sandy Bahr, Chapter Director, Sierra Club - Grand Canyon Chapter
“Many polls have demonstrated the popularity of the Build Back Better agenda, and these new data coming out of Arizona demonstrate that Arizona voters want to see lawmakers pass the full, robust reconciliation bill and oppose efforts to dilute the plan to reduce its price tag. In fact, these data suggest that standing behind a robust bill is a political winner for lawmakers, whereas opposing it could be a liability. Behind this overwhelming support for the reconciliation package is deep concern about the climate crisis and widespread public support for many of the key components of the Build Back Better agenda, especially investments in public health and clean energy.” — Andrew Baumann, Senior Vice President of Global Strategy Group
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.