Posted on 02/04/2016 6:00:21 PM PST by justlittleoleme
If Texas Sen. Ted Cruz does nothing else in the 2016 Republican primary, he's at least done this - he has laid low the ethanol lobby. The once-sacrosanct Renewable Fuel Standards, which mandate the use of dirty, inefficient ethanol in our gasoline, are no longer invulnerable.
"The ethanol lobby is a paper tiger, and Ted Cruz just tore it to shreds," wrote Tim Carney for the Washington Examiner. "Cruz, the country's most famous enemy of the federal ethanol mandate, just won Iowa, winning more votes than any person in the history of the caucuses. Cruz thus busted the myth that you can't mess with the ethanol lobby and still win Iowa."
It's a shame so many other presidential candidates refused to stand up to the ethanol lobby. The RFS, signed into law by President George W. Bush, are inarguably harmful to everyone - except Iowa corn farmers.
"The 'corn boom' RFS created has impacted over 5 million acres of land once set aside for conservation," pointed out The Federalist. "Landowners have filled in wetlands and have sprayed billions of pounds of fertilizer to facilitate the demand for corn to fulfill gas ethanol requirements. As a result, rivers have been contaminated and the habitat of waterfowl and other wildlife has been damaged."
Perhaps even more importantly, "RFS has not reduced carbon emissions - one of the primary objectives of the policy. Scientists at the University of Wisconsin found that the corn boom has released as much carbon dioxide as 34 coal power plants in one year. It turns out ethanol is not carbon-neutral, as promised, and it actually worsens gas mileage, making cars less fuel-efficient and worse for the environment."
The Congressional Budget Office warns that the RFS could cause fuel prices to increase from 13 to 26 cents per gallon by 2017.
"It's not just prices at the gas pump and costs at the repair shop increasing because of RFS - it's prices at the grocery store, too," The Federalist notes. "Anything corn goes into is more expensive because of the RFS. Purdue University researchers found that repealing the RFS would cause food prices to fall 13 percent overall. In 2012, the average U.S. family of four faced a $2,000 increase in food costs due to the higher corn prices RFS has caused."
So Cruz's victory was important. It also wasn't supposed to happen. The ethanol lobby went after him hard.
"Gov. Terry Branstad went on a jihad against Cruz, attacking him as 'the biggest opponent of renewable fuels,'" Carney reported. "Branstad took to Fox News the morning before the caucuses to pound Cruz. America's Renewable Future, the ethanol lobby headed by Gov. Branstad's son Eric, spent $300,000 this election, according to campaign finance filings, basically all of it against Ted Cruz. They spent on mailers, on robo calls, on radio ads and on print ads."
Yet Cruz won more votes than anyone in Iowa caucus history.
And as Carney added, "Cruz's win also sends a message to other corporate welfare lobbies: You're next."
The tax will add about twice as much to the price of gasoline as ethanol does, but hey, we'll still hear what a great victory it is for the Senator from Texas.
The gullible crowd will bleed but cheer for their favorite lawyer/politician.
JMHo
It wasn't for his staff to repeat Carson's announcement, or the CNN headline. Cruz openly said, "What the team then should have done was send around the follow-up statement from the Carson campaign clarifying that he was indeed staying in the race when that came out."
But again, nobody can find the words "dropping out" anywhere... not from Carson, not from CNN, not from Rubio's people (who were also broadcasting the news as it hit), and not from Cruz's people... but somehow, only Cruz's people are to blame. Hmm.
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The house has no filibuster, and they do have the “discharge petition.”
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>> “When is Cruz going to introduce and pass a bill in the senate?” <<
Spoken like the big gov “Drive By Candidate” that you work for!
When is tennmountainman going to make some sense?
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>> “Ethanol still exists and nothing has changed.” <<
You’re known for a load of stupid comments, but that one takes the cake!
Everything has changed.
Cruz’ record victory proves that even the farmers of Iowa don’t vote for ethanol.
The big bad wolf is dead.
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Truly foolish comment!
Cruz garnered the largest victory in the history of the Iowa caucus.
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Like everything you’ve ever posted here, its a lie, accept it.
Bless your little heart!
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Corn is definitely not a renewable fuel.
Growing GMO corn for ethanol is killing the natural microbes and insects in the soil, and rendering it unfit for Agriculture.
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Sensible people do not buy or eat meat from grain fed animals.
The enzyme inhibitors found in all grains destroy your ability to digest your food, thus causing Colon Cancer.
Grass-fed for life!
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>> “Not a thing has changed, or will change, with our energy policy.” <<
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Until President Cruz takes office.
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Now, Little Red Riding Hood, you can take your lamb for a walk in the woods!
Says the person with a passionate commitment to Trust Fund Donnie Trump, who has built business and political careers on The Art Of The Lie.
You’re cute!
Hank
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Huh???
Bless your little heart!
SORRY! I thought you were directing this to me!
Please accept my apology. That was meant for the person to sent the post to.
Hank
Hey at least you didn't call me a moron like C. Edmund.
I'll take that as a compliment.
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Sensible people do not buy or eat meat from grain fed animals.
The enzyme inhibitors found in all grains destroy your ability to digest your food, thus causing Colon Cancer.
Grass-fed for life!
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Guess I will remain a happy insensible guy then.
Grass fed is not as tasty as is corn-fed. Has something to do with those horrible fat streaks through the meat.
What is RBOB?
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