Sen. Hutchison: “Freeze Ethanol Mandate”

[rookietrucker]

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Chairman of the Republican Policy Committee, today filed legislation to freeze the corn-based ethanol mandate at this year’s level. Legislation passed last year requires an annual increase in the amount of ethanol produced domestically, from 4.7 billion gallons in 2007, to nine billion this year and increasing to 15 billion in 2015. According to commodity price reports, since February 2006 the combined increase in the price of corn, wheat, and soybeans is over 416%.

Sen. Hutchison’s legislation allows for necessary adjustments in the Renewable Fuel Standard to transition to a more realistic and sustainable source which does not use food for fuel. “The ethanol mandate is clearly causing unintended consequences on food prices for American consumers,” said Sen. Hutchison. “Freezing the mandate is in the best interests of consumers, who cannot afford the increasing prices at the grocery store due to the mandate diverting corn from food to fuel.”

Sen. Hutchison’s legislation is cosponsored by Sens. John McCain (R-AZ), John Cornyn (R-TX), Wayne Allard (R-CO), John Barrasso (R-WY), Susan Collins (R-ME), Jim DeMint (R-SC), Elizabeth Dole (R-NC), Mike Enzi (R-WY), Ted Stevens (R-AK), and John Sununu (R-NH).

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[Ronnocomot]

Finally a good idea out of Washington.