Recent findings from the Gallup Poll suggest that Americans generally trust their local government more than their state government, which is an interesting finding for those of you involved in implementing EPA’s polluted runoff regulations. Also, the market research firm finds that Americans have more trust in the Supreme Court and less trust in Congress than any other branch of government they asked about — bad news for those of you looking to pass the Clean Water Restoration Act to undo the infamous SWANCC decision on wetlands and headwater streams.

It’s not new for Americans to report warmer feelings for government close to home than for the government in Washington. For example, the Harris Poll asked voters in 2005 about which institutions were doing “more than their share, just about right, or less then their share to help reduce environmental problems.” The summary shot is below. Click the link to read the entire environmental survey.

Environmental Survey Results

What does seem to be new is how low trust for Congress and “politicians” has fallen. Gallup says that these are the lowest numbers they have ever recorded for either. Yikes!