Tucked away on page two of this MSNBC story, the headline jumps out:

And by a 58-to-35 margin, they favor charging a fee to companies that emit greenhouse gases — even if that will results in higher utility bills — and using that money to provide tax cuts for middle-class Americans.

Here are a few highlights from the full study (pdf):

Spending $120 billion in government funds over the next decade to develop clean energy technology. Approve-Disapprove = 68-27.

Charging a fee to companies that emit greenhouse gases, which might result in higher utility bills, and using the money to provide tax cuts for middle-class Americans. Approve-Disapprove = 58-35.

The next question goes even further in affirming the level of support for a cap and trade program. Without even mentioning the dividend check Americans will end up getting under the program if Democrats get their way, support is still solid:

Would you approve or disapprove of a proposal that would require companies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming, even if it would mean higher utility bills for consumers to pay for the changes? Approve-Disapprove = 53-40.

Republicans are using the “energy tax” argument to scare Americans into opposing cap and trade. But it is also Republicans who want to structure the program so polluting industries, rather than American consumers, would receive the resulting dividend (rebate check). Either way, the data above shows that Americans are concerned first and foremost with capping C02, while the potential for minimal increases in utility prices is a mere afterthought.

Thanks to Bill Scher of Campaign for America’s Future for the heads up on this story.