Posted on 03/07/2015 4:08:04 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Des Moines — Only weeks after taking this key state in the presidential race by surprise, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker defended his front-runner status in Iowa by pledging to support a federal ethanol mandate, shifting his position on renewable fuels at a Republican roundup on farm issues.
The GOP governor and a lineup of other major potential presidential contenders — including former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush — took the stage before hundreds of spectators and media at the Iowa Ag Summit at the state fairgrounds here.
In the moderated discussion with ethanol entrepreneur Bruce Rastetter, Walker dropped his previous flat opposition to ethanol mandates, offering a new stance that's well-suited to a state covered in cornfields. Walker signaled he now favors keeping the mandate for now and phasing it out over time — without saying over what period of time.
"I do believe it's an access issue so it's something I'm willing to go forward on renewing a (federal) Renewable Fuel Standard...so farmers going forward planting crops know what the standard is," Walker said, adding that he wanted to "get to a point where you address some of those market access issues...so you no longer need some of the subsidies."
Walker, a past critic of ethanol, acknowledged in January that he would have to spell out his position on the issue as part of his likely presidential bid. In another key issue for Iowa, Walker said that he favored drawing down federal tax credits for wind power over time.
"This is one of those where I believe it's served its purpose," Walker said of the credits. "I would support phasing that out over a period of time."(continued)
(Excerpt) Read more at jsonline.com ...
Not at all
Screw that, I want honesty.
So what did Walker say that was dishonest ?
Does anyone not? It’s sad that Ethanol is the key to Iowa. And Iowa is so important.
Yep, politicians being....politicians.
How ‘bout Iowa ethanol subsidies being paid by...Iowans.
Sounds like a win-win to me.
Oh, the stupidity of our election process.
How is it a breadbasket when it goes into a fuel tank?
Are you a Walkerbot?
If they switched the first in the nation to Wisconsin, we’d be hearing about cheese subsidies or some such.
100% of POTUS candidates have pandered to Iowa ethanol since 2008, Cruz being the sole exception. I suspect the agribiz guys were surprised, and impressed by his stance.
The Walkerbots are all over this thread. When you are taking flak, you are over the target.
It’s every bit the hoax Global Warming/Climate change is.
You actually think all the corn grown in Iowa goes into gas as ethanol ?
You think farmers in Iowa just grow corn on all their land...
“Don’t vote. It only encourages them.”
How is it a breadbasket when it goes into a fuel tank?
Let the record show Scott Walker said this.
I have no excitement for him for president although I stood with him (including $$) when he faced the union wrath.
Being against the union excesses is a good thing that I and the Corporatist business elites agree on generally.
Now with his ethanol subsidy position, Walker cozies up to crony capitalism ag business style.....
Cruz has cojones on this issue.....Walker doesn’t.
Scott Walker...a Karl Rove Republican for Republicans with their heads up their rear.
Exactly why I’ve opposed these pandering sessions.
Setup elections for the SAME day, across the country. Battle would be fought on ideals, not the pandering; plus, keeping fraud to a minimum (harder for those college kids to vote in 2 different States, etc.)
Course, I have a litany of other ideas as well, and hence why I would not be on any ballot anytime soon :P
The problem with Walker’s position is that it’s pandering and trying to have it both ways:
I’m against it but that will cost me votes here so, in consideration for your vote, I’m willing to suspend my previously stated ideological view on these subsidies for an indefinite period of time. Blah.
Several have posted that Congress has to act. That wasn’t Walker’s point and that’s a cop out. Even without the legislature rolling over and playing dead, the President is intended to be a strong check against the Congress’ intent.
At this point in the election cycle, issues aren’t about the dynamics of how things are done. What people want to know is basic ideology/strategy of how a campaign will come together. This is an important moment for Walker. Iowa, as a neighbor, is crucial to his success. He has to perform well there, likely top 2, or he’s done. So. He waffled on ethanol.
To suggest that his comments were about process or Congress’ role, etc., is silly. His new position is an acknowledgment of how important Iowa is to his primary strategy.
Bottom line: his ideological views CAN be bent to political expediency. This is true of most politicians. The real question is how easy and how often will this be the case...
I think what is missed by many conservatives on this site is Walker as the front runner, his biggest enemy is the liberal media...
So I look at it like he is pandering to the media, if you want to call it that, I call it smart and someone who knows how they operate...
His position is a prudent one that the media will have a difficult time using against him....
After all, all they really want is something to hang on him to drag him down and not argue his policy positions...
Disappointing...
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