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Scott Walker Flip Flops Again On Ethanol Mandates. Or Did He Never Actually Support Then?
Reason ^ | 8/17/2015 | Scott Shakelford

Posted on 09/01/2015 3:52:45 PM PDT by conservativejoy

Governor calls for two-year 'winding down' of the Renewable Fuel Standard.

"Now that Iowans have shrugged, let me tell you what I really think." Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker took heat back in March for apparently flip-flopping on his position on federal ethanol mandates in fuel. He once was a vocal opponent of mandates of all types from the state and federal government as an example of "central planning."

But then, earlier this year, with eyes focused on Iowa and a possible presidential run, he appeared to reverse course. Matt Welch took note of the reversal, where Walker said he wanted to deal with "market access issues" before eliminating the mandates and subsidies. Timothy Carney at the Washington Examiner criticized Walker's collapse on ethanol, noting that Walker appeared to want to keep the mandate until ethanol fuel was competitive with oil. "Given ethanol's inherent shortcomings, that day may never come," Carney pointed out.

Now, months later, Walker has come back and explained that actually he wants to wind down the ethanol mandate over two years. He said so directly to Carney in a phone interview:

If Walker really would push for a two-year sunset of the [Renewable Fuel Standard], paired with legislation removing market access issues for ethanol, that puts him in a similar place to Rand Paul. Paul has proposed a bill (co-sponsored by Iowa's Chuck Grassley, an ethanol champion) to remove EPA limits on how much ethanol refiners can blend with gasoline, and Paul has also said he opposes the ethanol mandate.

If Jeb Bush can clarify his position, you could get a GOP field in Iowa where all the top-tier candidates oppose the ethanol mandate.

What's interesting is that Walker had months to correct the perception that he had flip-flopped on ethanol mandates and mention this proposal, but he's just doing so now. What has happened? Well, once Walker was the undisputed front-runner in polls for the Iowa Caucus. His poll numbers improved even further when he explained his reversal on ethanol in March. But the latest numbers have him dropping below both Donald Trump and Ben Carson following the first debate. Pandering to Iowan interests might not even get him a win there, let alone any other state.

Peter Suderman extensively analyzed Walker's history in our July issue of Reason, including his shift of position on ethanol.


TOPICS: Society
KEYWORDS: 2016election; election2016; energy; epa; globalwarminghoax; methane; opec; petroleum; popefrancis; romancatholicism; scottwalker; wisconsin
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To: mtrott

“Cruz was the only one at that Iowa confab who declined to support the Renewable Fuel Standards.”

He has distinguished himself by speaking the truth instead of pandering, one of the reasons he has my unwavering support.


21 posted on 09/01/2015 4:51:39 PM PDT by conservativejoy (We Can Elect Ted Cruz! Pray Hard, Work Hard, Trust God!)
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To: Erik Latranyi
It is so bad now that you can hear Walker coming

Flip, flop, flip, flop...

22 posted on 09/01/2015 4:53:31 PM PDT by gov_bean_ counter (Beware the Wisconsin Weasel - GOPe Plan B)
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To: conservativejoy

The pressure that the Trumpster has put on the 15 weak sisters has been extraordinary in exposing their putrid behavior and complete lack of character, resulting in total meltdowns by practically all of them.

We should all get down on our knees and thank God for The Donald every night.


23 posted on 09/01/2015 4:53:52 PM PDT by catnipman (Cat Nipman: Vote Republican in 2012 and only be called racist one more time!)
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To: Original Lurker

Yes, it is a blessing and we have an abundance of oil. We just haven’t had the leadership that would allow us to use that God given resource. Hopefully, that will change soon.


24 posted on 09/01/2015 4:53:55 PM PDT by conservativejoy (We Can Elect Ted Cruz! Pray Hard, Work Hard, Trust God!)
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To: gov_bean_ counter

“It is so bad now that you can hear Walker coming
Flip, flop, flip, flop...”

That just cracks me up! :):):)


25 posted on 09/01/2015 4:55:35 PM PDT by conservativejoy (We Can Elect Ted Cruz! Pray Hard, Work Hard, Trust God!)
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To: conservativejoy

:)


26 posted on 09/01/2015 4:56:46 PM PDT by gov_bean_ counter (Beware the Wisconsin Weasel - GOPe Plan B)
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To: catnipman

The two that seem solid are Trump and Cruz. I am so glad they are coming together to protest the Iran deal. Hopefully that will be the first of many times they will take the stage together to stand for America.


27 posted on 09/01/2015 4:58:23 PM PDT by conservativejoy (We Can Elect Ted Cruz! Pray Hard, Work Hard, Trust God!)
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To: conservativejoy

Walker is looking even more flexible than Rubberio


28 posted on 09/01/2015 5:02:30 PM PDT by Lurkinanloomin (Know Islam, No Peace - No Islam, Know Peace)
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To: conservativejoy

The man Peter- principled as governor of Wisconsin

He needs to go home and stop wasting time and money


29 posted on 09/01/2015 5:13:19 PM PDT by silverleaf (Age takes a toll: Please have exact change)
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To: Lurkinanloomin

“Walker is looking even more flexible than Rubberio.”

Contortionist even.


30 posted on 09/01/2015 5:14:40 PM PDT by conservativejoy (We Can Elect Ted Cruz! Pray Hard, Work Hard, Trust God!)
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To: Clay Moore

Check your gas pumps

The 10% labels may already be gone in favor of coming engine killing 15%


31 posted on 09/01/2015 5:15:17 PM PDT by silverleaf (Age takes a toll: Please have exact change)
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To: conservativejoy

Walker has been doing gymnastics lately, even more than Trump


32 posted on 09/01/2015 5:16:06 PM PDT by GeronL (Cruz is for real, 100%)
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To: conservativejoy

Indeed!


33 posted on 09/01/2015 5:21:08 PM PDT by Original Lurker
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To: conservativejoy

Indeed we can’t, my friend. Indeed we can’t.


34 posted on 09/01/2015 6:37:05 PM PDT by RIghtwardHo
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To: Clay Moore; conservativejoy

Why would the repubs be for this ?


35 posted on 09/01/2015 8:40:07 PM PDT by stylin19a (obama = Fredo Smart)
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To: conservativejoy

That is a lie.

He has been consistent.


36 posted on 09/02/2015 2:39:46 AM PDT by Erik Latranyi (Trump - He likes progressive taxes and criticizes Walker for not raising taxes in WI)
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To: conservativejoy
The two that seem solid are Trump and Cruz.

THIS statement proves you are mentally unstable.

Cruz flip flopped on Iran and TPA....at behest of his US Chamber masters......the constitution be damned.

Trump has NO core, no record, no consistency....except saying what his audience wants to hear. He changes his tune depending on who is listening.

No wonder you hate Walker, who has a CONSISTENT track record of conservative achievements.

37 posted on 09/02/2015 2:47:04 AM PDT by Erik Latranyi (Trump - He likes progressive taxes and criticizes Walker for not raising taxes in WI)
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To: Erik Latranyi

I’ll form my own opinion of Trump based on having read several of his books that were written before he was running, his business success, and the actions he wants to take as President.

Cruz voted against TPA because of McConnell’s back room deals. Every Senator but one voted in favor of the Corker Bill because without it Obama was going to do the Iran Deal on his own with no input from Congress.

Cruz has done more to protect our Constitutional rights than anyone else currently serving, by fighting and winning several landmark cases before the Supreme Court protecting Religious Liberty and the 2nd Amendment.

Deny the facts if you wish, but the changes in position on several issues that Walker has taken are still there for all to see. BTW, Walker supported TPA and even TPP in comments he made previously, unless, of course, he changed his position on that, too.


38 posted on 09/02/2015 7:05:25 AM PDT by conservativejoy (We Can Elect Ted Cruz! Pray Hard, Work Hard, Trust God!)
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To: conservativejoy
Every Senator but one voted in favor of the Corker Bill because without it Obama was going to do the Iran Deal on his own with no input from Congress.

This demonstrates how STUPID you are.

How is 34 votes in the Senate a threshold for "input from Congress"?

Only the most dumb, naive, butt-licker would believe that the Corker deal gave Congress any input at all.

They should have let Obama go it alone and hang the whole deal around his neck.

But your precious Ted Cruz was speaking out against the deal before the Corker vote. Then the US Chamber got hold of Cruz and told him to be a good lapdog and vote for the Corker amendment. Ted, you can speak out against it after that so you still look like you have some credibility.

So, here is the big Trump-Cruz rally.....for nothing.

Thanks sellout TED CRUZ!!!! You are no different than McConnell

39 posted on 09/02/2015 1:12:37 PM PDT by Erik Latranyi (Trump - He likes progressive taxes and criticizes Walker for not raising taxes in WI)
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To: Erik Latranyi

Exactly how does the Iran Deal benefit the Chamber of Commerce?


40 posted on 09/02/2015 5:36:06 PM PDT by conservativejoy (We Can Elect Ted Cruz! Pray Hard, Work Hard, Trust God!)
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