Perry wants a “level playing field” & an end to ethanol mandate (audio)

Radio Iowa ^ | August 28, 2011 | O. Kay Henderson

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry says it’s time for the federal government to quit picking winners and losers, and that includes federal efforts to boost the ethanol industry.

Perry, the governor of oil-rich Texas, opposes the federal “renewable fuels standard” which requires a certain amount of corn-based ethanol be produced in the U.S. each year.

“I’d like to see a level playing field for all of the energy producers in this country,” Perry told reporters in Iowa tonight.

Iowa corn farmers support the federal rule which requires an increasing volume of ethanol be produced through 2015. Perry told reporters tonight that he supports “all of the sources of energy” that are out there, including so-called biofuels like ethanol, but he’s against the federal government requiring a certain amount of ethanol be produced each year.

“We don’t need to have government picking winners and losers in this business,” Perry said during a news conference in Des Moines. “Let the folks get out there with the regulations off their back. I have a good idea that the farmers in Iowa can compete with anybody in the world.”

Perry’s view on ethanol is echoed by many “Tea Party” activists who have complained about tax breaks for ethanol and other industries and who have harshly criticized federal bail-outs for Wall Street and American automakers. Ethanol producers say they’re willing to give up their federal subsidies if federal tax advantages for the oil industry are abolished, too.

[businessprofessor]

Purposely worded to make it sound they will give up the same as what is taken away from the oil companies. They are setting up the unfair advantage they already have against oil.

Your statement is misinformation. You probably have your livelihood derived from ethanol. The major problem with ethanol is the federal mandate. Originally, ethanol was touted as a replacement for MTBE. This small mandate has grown into a monstrous 10 to 15 percent mandate. This mandate has been an economic, environmental, and moral disaster for everyone except the corn belt.

The oil industry is not on balance subsidized. Just the opposite, the oil industry pays large levels of taxes, fees, and royalties to governments at all levels in addition to being subjected to incredible levels of regulation and restrictions. The Heritage Foundation did an analysis of so called subsidies. It found that most subsidies are either given to small producers or are tax breaks available to a wide range of industries. There are some questionable practices but overall the practices are not important except to small producers. The ethanol mandates however have made the industry. Without the mandates, you know that the ethanol industry will collapse. I think a gradual elimination of the mandate is a good idea to give producers some time to make a transition.

[mazda77]

The “They” is the ethanol lobby.

[WOSG]

We DONT do it that way in Texas.
Texas is the most business-friendly of the large US states, and its that way due to tort reform, low taxes and a govt that gets out of the way as much as possible.

Perry is right on to oppose ethanol subsidies.

[RED SOUTH]

Perry received $37 million over 10 years from just 150 donors, which adds up to over a third of the $102 million he had raised as governor

Almost half of those donors received big contracts, tax breaks or appointments during Perry's tenure.

Clearly , Perry is for sale.

[WOSG]

Nice channelling of the Soros/liberal attack lines.
Do you feel better having repeated their allegations?

Perry’s record is pro-business.
Some business folk have supported him, while millions in trial lawyer money was raised to go after him. They support him because he is a probusiness conservative. That trial lawyer money used the same attacks you just used against Perry.

In the end, the $37m over 10 years is a fraction of what Obama raised in ONE election from wall street and hollywood donors.

[LomanBill]

Ethanol type field corn does end up on your plate ala the various animals that are fed what's left over after ethanol production.

 

Some of this little feller's corn-fed tasty bits are presently packaged neatly in my freezer.

[SunkenCiv]

Yes and no — Pat Buchanan is an idiot, but ethanol doesn’t consume more energy than it takes to produce.

[steveshoveler]

This puts Perry on the right side of at least two gigantic issues including AGW which to me is almost a litmus test.

[Eaker]

:(Rick Perry decision matrix - Is it good for my buds? Is it good for me? Is it good for Texas?)

So he should be in favor of things that are bad for his friends, himself and the State he is Governor of?

How stupid is that?

[Cincinatus' Wife]

He’s also going after public education.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Well, number three really isn't as much a decision point as it is an unintended consequence. And notice it is number three in the hierarchy.

[Eaker]

So you’re telling me that #3 is understandable?

Explain why it would make sense for him to do things that would harm his friends and himself in favor of his enemies.

I’ll reiterate, that is just stupid.

[Sudetenland]

Actually, producing ethanol from corn or other biomass does consume more energy than it produces.

[Grey Eagle]

I am with Perry. The ethanol is why the food costs are up so sharply.

[Grey Eagle]

Please post your sources and not just a long list of rants.

[Grey Eagle]

Perry is the longest serving Governor in the nation. Provide your sources for these comments. I am from TX and know what the truth is, and these comments are not.

[SunkenCiv]

No, actually, it doesn’t.

[Mr. Lucky]

The argument that Americans aren’t consuming sufficient fructose in their diets may not be the best argument against government interference in the fuels marketplace.