President Joe Biden greenlighted about $1 trillion toward tax credits, grants, and loans for clean energy when he signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law. While the 2022 law was popular among U.S. voters at the time, many aren’t seeing the value of Biden’s green spending spree.
In light of poor economic polling figures, the Biden administration has highlighted job creation, reduced costs for families, and the simplification of the tax code as benefits of the law. Yet, less than half the public thinks it will help them or the country. Over 40% report having heard “nothing at all” about the legislation, and only 12% say they have heard “a lot” about it.
“The community and the population doesn’t know about them, so it seems like nothing is being done,” Rebekah Pike, a 38-year-old undecided voter in Bay City, Michigan, told the Wall Street Journal. Despite climate change being one of the most important issues to her, Pike hadn’t even heard of Biden’s climate policies.
The Biden campaign has targeted the youth vote with climate initiatives, but a Wall Street Journal poll revealed that just 3% of voters ages 18-34 in seven swing states make climate change their top priority, compared to 2% of voters in general. It showed that by and large, young voters care more about the economy, inflation, and immigration.
On top of economic concerns, many young voters in left-leaning college towns are breaking with Biden over his handling of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. College campuses are hotbeds for anti-Israel demonstrations, initiatives, and hostilities, and the president has spoken of his “unwavering” support of the Jewish state following the Oct. 7 attack, even if that support has wavered in recent weeks.
Private groups, political philanthropists, and super PACs are spending hundreds of millions on climate initiatives and progressive campaigns this election cycle. Climate Power will spend $80 million, Invest in Our Future brings another $240 million in funding commitments, and the League of Conservation Voters plans to spend $120 million.
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Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg will additionally spend $200 million to help 25 cities tap into emissions-based federal funding opportunities. This will include funds provided by the federal government under the Inflation Reduction Act.
The Washington Examiner reached out to the White House for comment.
