The Wisconsin BizTimes reports that a vast majority of small businesses oppose pending federal cap-and-trade legislation. Key findings from the National Federation of Independent Business survey include:

• 66 percent of small business owners and managers oppose a federal cap-and-trade system while 24 percent are in favor of such a system.
• 54 percent of small business owners and managers believe a federal cap-and-trade system would lead to more job losses while 15 percent believe it would have no effect and 17 percent believe it would create jobs.
• 71 percent of small business owners and managers believe a federal cap-and-trade system would increase energy costs while 14 percent it would have no effect and only 5 percent believe it would lower costs.
• 58 percent of small business owners and managers believe a federal cap-and-trade system will limit economic growth while 14 percent say it will have no effect and 14 percent believe it will increase growth.

Not surprisingly, the survey found that the economy and jobs are the biggest issues. A majority of small businesses believe that a federal cap-and-trade program would lead to job losses and increase energy prices.