Hulshof defends ethanol mandate; contends Steelman is aligned with Chavez
U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof, one of two Republicans running for governor, sent out an e-release this morning challenging rival “Sarah Steelman’s newfound commitment to repeal the state’s renewable fuel directive…”
Hulshof’s campaign contended that Steelman’s call to eliminate Missouri’s ethanol mandate could hike gas prices at a time when Missouri’s are the cheapest in the nation. (Many experts tie Missouri’s low price, in part, to our lower gas taxes.)
Said Hulshof’s campaign in a release: “An array of independent analyses debunk the proposals contained in The Steelman Plan, which could result in higher gas prices, job losses, and an enhanced dependence on foreign oil.
“To wit: - A recent analysis from Merrill Lynch concluded that oil prices would be about 15% higher, if it weren’t for biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel. (Multiple press accounts)
“- A U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Energy analysis found that without ethanol, gas would be higher by 35 cents per gallon. (USDA & DoE letter to Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman, June 11, 2008)
“- An Iowa State University study found that ethanol has lowered gas prices by 30 to 40 cents per gallon. (Omaha World-Herald, editorial, May 11, 2008)
“- A Missouri-based A.G. Edwards analyst asserted: “Ethanol blending could help ease U.S. refining bottlenecks and that could be ultimately reflected in lower prices at the pump.” (Reuters, February 14, 2008)
“- The International Energy Agency (IEA) states that biofuels make up about 50 percent of the extra fuel coming to the market from sources outside the OPEC oil cartel. William Ramsey, deputy executive director of the IEA, said: “If we didn’t have those barrels, I am not sure where we would be getting those half a million barrels.” (The Financial Times, April 26, 2008)
“- Excerpt from a recent letter to the editor penned by American Farm Bureau Federation president Bob Stallman: “The production of 6.5 billion gallons of ethanol in 2007 displaced the need for 228 million barrels of oil. That is equivalent to nearly half of the oil imported from Venezuela in 2007.” (American Farm Bureau Federation president Bob Stallman, letter to the editor of The New York Times, May 18, 2008)
“- Last week, Venezuela dictator Hugo Chavez, who seeks to create a South American version of OPEC, condemned the United States for its “crazy” initiatives to produce ethanol. (AP, July 1, 2008)
“Until last week, Steelman appeared to recognize the benefits of biofuels and the positive impact they have had on the state’s agriculture economy and the ongoing effort to wean our dependence on foreign oil. Now, in a dramatic about face, she’s proposing the elimination of Missouri’s ethanol mandate.
“ ‘The promotion of biofuels, including Missouri’s ethanol mandate, is clearly working,’ said Scott Baker, communications director for Hulshof for Governor. ‘If not for ethanol, Missourians would be facing significantly higher prices at the pump, and we would have to import millions of additional barrels of oil from dictators like Hugo Chavez. Steelman’s plan is dangerous for America and extremely harmful to Missouri.”
Gosh. Steelman is allegned with a socialist dictator because she wants to end giveaways to huge corn producers. I guess Hulshof would claim that 22 Republican Senators, governors, and Senator McCain himself are closet socialists alligned with Chavez since all these folks also oppose the mandate in its present form. Hulshof should step up, be courageous and publicly refuse to support Senator McCain. Anybody think that will happen. If so please contact me. George Strait and I have some ocean front property in Arizona for sale.