The American Petroleum Institute has kept polling firm Harris Interactive busy lately, commissioning a string of polls related to renewable fuels, offshore drilling and other matters. Yesterday API revealed the results of a new Harris survey showing bipartisan majorities are opposed to changes in the tax code that reduce energy investments and hinder energy production. Eighty-one percent of participants agreed that now is not the time for Congress to raise energy taxes, 69% agree that tax increases on oil and gas companies can increase costs for consumers. Party loyalty did not appear to affect the participants’ views on the aforementioned taxes - 56% of Democrats oppose them, which is still 13 percentage points lower than the proportion of Republicans who responded in the same manner. President Obama is expected to convene with congressional leaders in the coming months to discuss potential tax code changes designed to cut spending and raise revenue for the federal government.
