New Survey of Colorado Voters Reveals Support for Build Back Better
A new survey of voters in Colorado reveals support for the Build Back Better plan—the broad economic, infrastructure, care economy, and climate crisis package currently being considered by Congress. Specifically, the survey found that more than half of voters in the state are in favor of the package, which would cost up to $3.5 trillion spread out over ten years, mostly paid for by raising taxes on corporations and the wealthy.
“The results of this survey could not be clearer; Coloradans know that we have an opportunity to ensure that America is at the forefront of the next wave of clean tech innovation. They know that investing in clean energy and driving down emissions can create good-paying union jobs, and they know that to capture that future we must act now,” said BlueGreen Alliance Executive Director Jason Walsh of the results of the survey. “The smart policies in the Build Back Better plan will put the nation on the path to realizing a clean, thriving, and equitable economy for all.”
The survey was released during an event that featured local and state elected, labor, and environmental leaders, who focused on the need to invest now in Colorado’s energy transmission infrastructure to support good jobs, reduce energy waste, and ensure a resilient energy grid in the face of climate change.
“Coloradans understand the importance of robust investment in infrastructure, including in electric transmission, which will allow our state to adapt more quickly to renewables so that we can meet our strong climate goals,” said Colorado State Senator Chris Hansen. “A connected grid won’t just enable us to drive down emissions however, it will save people money and create good jobs right here in Colorado.”
“It is not enough that infrastructure investments create jobs;for these investments to be truly transformative, they must create good-paying union jobs,” said Rich Meisinger, Business Manager of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 111. “To do that, we have to make sure that strong labor and domestic content standards are tied to investments in our nation’s infrastructure.”
“Our state has set impressive greenhouse gas reductions targets, and we should be proud of the level of our ambition, but now it’s time to get to work. Through smart investments in our grid, we can more effectively use our renewable energy resources, enabling us to drive down our emissions more quickly,” said Jessica Gelay, Colorado Government Affairs Director of the Western Resource Advocates.
The survey reveals that voters are particularly interested in the job creation potential of the Build Back Better plan. More than half of those surveyed said the following are very or fairly important reasons to pass the Build Back Better plan: helping rebuild the middle class with jobs that pay enough so that people can support their families (69%); creating millions of new, good-paying jobs for working people in communities across the country in fields that are important to America’s economic future (69%); and bringing good jobs back to the United States by making sure more of the products we use in America are made in America (65%).
When asked about specific provisions included in the Build Back Better Plan, respondents had favorable responses to:
- Rebuilding America’s water infrastructure to have cleaner, safer water, delivered more efficiently, and removing hazards like lead in water pipes, while creating good-paying jobs (73%);
- Prioritizing investments to communities that need it most, including and low-income communities and communities of color (71%);
- Ensuring that major public investments include requirements that the products, technology, and materials used are made in America and the jobs provide good pay and benefits (75%);
- Strengthening and supporting America’s human services workforce, including care providers, front-line healthcare workers, and educators (68%); and
- Increasing clean and renewable energy sources so that eighty percent of our electricity comes from clean energy by 2030 (60%).
“In the Build Back Better plan Colorado’s voters see an opportunity to address the many interconnected challenges facing our nation in such a way that will create good-paying jobs here at home, help the communities that need it the most, and drive down the emissions causing climate change,” said Chris Markuson, Director of Colorado and State Economic Transition Policy for the BlueGreen Alliance. “The message is clear, Colorado’s voters support this legislation and want it passed now.”