A new poll tests the views of registered Iowa voters on two controversial issues: climate change and same-sex marriage.
The data comes from a Quinnipiac University Poll conducted over a 12-day period in July. The poll finds 55 percent of registered Republican, Democrat and independent voters oppose an amendment to the U.S. constitution that would ban same-sex marriage.
Fifty-eight percent of Iowa voters oppose letting businesses refuse, in general, to serve gays and lesbians, but they were “conflicted” about whether a person who opposes same-sex marriage because of their religious views should be forced to do business with same-sex couples. Forty-six percent said yes, they should and 46 percent said no, they shouldn’t.
On the issue of climate change, the poll found 65 percent of voters agree with the pope’s call for action on the issue, although there is a difference among the parties. Democrats almost universally agree with Pope Francis and 60 percent of independents do as well, but Republicans are almost evenly divided, with 44 percent of the Iowa GOP voters surveyed said they disagree with the pope.
The Quinnipiac Poll also tested voters views on some of the issues being discussed by presidential candidates. The survey found 53 percent of Iowa voters oppose the Affordable Care Act. The poll found 55 percent of Iowa voters say it’s time for action to address income inequality and 60 percent support raising taxes on the wealthy to reduce taxes on middle income Americans.
The Iowans polled gave President Obama a 56 percent disapproval rating.