[mazda77]

"Ethanol producers say they’re willing to give up their federal subsidies if federal tax advantages for the oil industry are abolished, too."

Yea, right. We'll give up our subsidies and keep our regular tax deductions offered to all corporations as long as they take away those tax deductions from the oil companies that are there for every business, no matter the industry.

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.

[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.