One aspect of the immigration debate currently churning in the Senate is that few people are paying attention to anything else the nation’s legislators are doing. Last week, the Senate passed energy legislation and no one noticed.

A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that just 11% of Americans were following news coverage of the legislation Very Closely. Another 26% say they followed the stories Somewhat Closely. By way of comparison, nearly 8-out-of-ten voters followed news stories about immigration reform legislation over the past month. A separate survey found that consumers are closely monitoring the price of gasoline. Most Americans are prepared to cut back other expenses--including groceries—if the price of gasoline keeps going up.

However, just 13% knew that the Senate had passed a bill last week. Another 6% of adults mistakenly thought the legislation was defeated while 31% thought no action was taken. Half (51%) admitted they were not sure.

Seventy percent (70%) of Americans say they support a key proposal in the legislation that would require an increase in fuel efficiency for cars over the next decade. Specifically, by the year 2020, auto companies would be required to provide a 40% increase in the average miles per gallon for all cars sold.

Fifty-eight percent (58%) also favored a proposal requiring that half of all cars sold by 2015 be capable of running on ethanol or on biodiesel fuels.

One proposal not in the Senate legislation is supported by a plurality of consumers. By a 43% to 33% margin, American adults say it is time for the United States to build more nuclear power plants.

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