From the diaries by Erick. To quote my friend ‘Ironman’, “If an uncontested re-election doesn’t give John Thune the political courage to say no to BP and the ethanol robber barons, then he has no business getting near the White House when the successor to Obama needs to stop trillions in red ink.”
————-

The ethanol mandates are one of the most regressive socialist interventions into the free market that have been peddled by the progressives.  Unfortunately, many Republicans, red state ones at that, are signing onto the extension of these backdoor taxes on food and fuel.

It is an unconstitutional regulation that has enriched a few special interests with $7.7 billion taxpayer dollars, regressively drove up the cost of food and fuel; and by extension all products and services that rely on fuel based delivery.  The tax credits for energy producers who blend fuel with ethanol have created so many unintended (or intended by some)  negative consequences that even Al Gore is calling for its repeal.  The tax credits are slated to expire in one month and yet, we have not heard much from the newly elected Republican majority in the House.  Is your Republican Congressman more conservative than Al Gore?

According to analysts at Goldman Sachs, the ethanol industry consumes 41% of the domestic corn crop.  Corn is at the top of the food chain, so by creating an artificial shortage in supply of corn, the feds have caused a spike in the cost of meat and chicken as well. In addition, it costs much more to produce a barrel of ethanol than it does a barrel of oil.

Yet, 6 Republicans joined seven Democrats in penning a letter to Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell demanding that the subsidies be renewed before the end of this congress.

Here is a list of the Republicans who signed the letter together with their socialist compatriots.

Chuck Grassley
Kit Bond
Sam Brownback
John Thune
Mike Johanns
Mark Kirk

Mark Kirk is no surprise.  He has wasted no time in voting with the democrats on virtually every issue since the minute he took office.  The rest of these guys are from red states.  Did we gain anything from the midterm elections, or did it never take place?  Kit Bond and Sam Brownback are retiring and it remains to be seen if Moran and Blunt will be any better on this issue.  Chuck Grassley?  Well, he is …. Chuck Grassley after all.  Johanns and Thune are really upsetting.  Is this the best we can do from ruby red states?  John Thune should kiss his bid for the presidency goodbye.

Cross-posted to Red Meat Conservative