What Do Ethanol Subsidies Have to Do with Tax Cuts?

HEARTLAND INSTITUTE, 12/15/2010 by Steve Stanek - EXERPTS: A vote to extend the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts could happen Monday, and the wheeling and dealing to win the necessary votes includes agreements to continue multi-billion-dollar boondoggles. One of the worst would be continuing subsidies to the ethanol industry.

[SNIP] The truth is there’s lots of science that says ethanol produces more of those emissions than straight gasoline. And, oh yes, ethanol has about one-third less energy than gasoline, so fuel with ethanol in it reduces gas mileage, which means we spend more to run our vehicles.

Ah, but ethanol in the U.S. is made primarily from corn, and what’s more American than corn?! It’s a mainstay crop of farmers across the country because of federal agriculture subsidies. Who could say ‘no’ to raising a crop the government pays you to grow even as it pays other people to turn the crop you were paid to grow into a lousy motor fuel? Read more at Heartland...

Call your legislators! --bc