GOP Presidential Hopefuls Split over Federal Biofuels Mandate
by Seth McLaughlin (The Washington Times) Free market conservatism collided with farm-state jockeying this weekend in Iowa, where several GOP presidential hopefuls said they support the federal fuel mandate that has boosted Iowa’s all-important corn market — arguably at the expense of consumers’ wallets and engines.
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Sen. Lindsey Graham all told a Saturday gathering in Des Moines that they support the federal Renewable Fuel Standard, or RFS, that has required corn-based ethanol to be blended into almost every gallon of gasoline sold in the U.S.
“In general, on any issue, I am someone who believes in a free and open market. I don’t like a whole lot of government interference,” Mr. Walker said at the inaugural Iowa Agricultural Summit, a year out from the state’s caucuses that kick of the presidential primary season. “But I do believe … it is an access issue, and so it is something I am willing to go forward on, continuing the Renewable Fuel Standard.”
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Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas said he supports the alternative energy industry, but added that Washington should not be in the business of picking winners and losers.
“When it comes to energy, I think we should have an all-of-the-above approach, but it should be driven by the market,” Mr. Cruz said, adding that the “easy thing” to do would be to voice support for wind tax credits and the biofuels mandate.
Responding to concerns that the petroleum industry is trying to block access to the market, Mr. Cruz said ethanol companies have legal protections, even without the RFS.
“If you have the refiners and gas stations working with big oil to cut off access, there are remedies in the federal antitrust laws to deal with that,” the senator said. “But I think the right answer is to enable biofuels to keep innovating, keep producing and not have Washington dictating what is happening.”
Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry delivered a similar message on biofuels, saying “this is substantially more a state issue than it is a national issue.”
The comments put the Texans at odds with a number of their potential rivals for the 2016 GOP nomination, including Mr. Walker and Mr. Bush, the two front-runners in early national polling. READ MORE and MORE(Reuters) and MORE (Washington Times) and MORE (DomesticFuel.com; includes audio comments and interviews.) and MORE (Cleveland.com)
