Trump Decision Bolstering Ethanol Becomes Campaign Flashpoint

2020 Election, Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Agency, Federal Regulation, Opinions, Policy, White House

September 17, 2020

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(The Gazette) President Donald Trump has been receiving praise from farm state Republicans for his decision to deny the “gap year” waivers and increase access to E15 corn-based ethanol. But it also was panned by Democrats Wednesday as nothing more than a political ploy.

“What the administration has done is really an insult,” said Michigan U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, ranking Democrat on the Agriculture Committee. “It would be welcome news if it was at the beginning of a Trump presidency. But already the damage has been done.

“So our farmers are hurting and they need more than just some lip service right before the election,” Stabenow said Wednesday on a call organized by Biden for President.

Trump has failed to deliver on the promises he made to Midwestern farmers four years ago — better trade deals, investments in rural infrastructure and support for the renewable fuel industry, added former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack.

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Ernst on Wednesday received the “Fueling Growth” award for the sixth consecutive year from Growth Energy, a trade association, for her support of biofuels.

Her Democratic challenger, Theresa Greenfield, said the president’s decisions “does nothing to erase the damage Sen. Ernst did by voting for a fossil fuel lobbyist to run the EPA. Unlike Ernst, I’ll always put our farmers first, not Big Oil donors.” READ MORE

With rural voters’ support at risk, Trump administration backs most ethanol mandates (The Hawk Eye)

Wyoming oil refineries stung by Trump administration’s support of ethanol (Casper Star Tribune)

Vilsack and Judge say the damage is done, Trump actions still hurt farmers and biofuels (Biofuels Digest)

Ethanol waivers become central issue in presidential battle for Minnesota farm votes (Star Tribune)

Trump, Biden vie for Minnesota (The Hill)

Trump’s Targeted Moves Seek to Shore Up Support for GOP Senators: Announcements on ethanol, offshore drilling and farmer aid could benefit key constituencies in 2020 race; Democrats see changes as superficial fixes (Wall Street Journal)

Branstad’s back. But Iowa belongs to Trump (The Gazette)

Ethanol again driving campaign conversation in 2020 (Radio Iowa)

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