Senators Kyl and Feinstein Call for Eliminating Ethanol Import Tariff

http://kyl.senate.gov ^ | 5/5/06

[defenderSD]

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senators Jon Kyl (R-AZ) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) today announced that they will introduce legislation on Monday to strike the 54 cent ethanol import tariff. If passed, the bill would provide more economical options to U.S. refineries that are now required to use ethanol as part of the comprehensive Energy Bill that was signed into law last year.

“Suspending the tariff on ethanol is another step that Congress can take to ease the pressure at the pump,” said Senator Kyl. “The federal government set mandates for ethanol use in gasoline. Due to this mandate, the demand is outpacing supply, which further contributes to the soaring gas prices we are experiencing. Suspending the ethanol tariff will help open alternative avenues of supply.”

[defenderSD]

Thank you Sens. Kyl and Feinstein. I think the vast majority of Arizonans and Californians support the repeal of the current 54 cent ethanol tariff.

I didn't mind too much paying $3 per gallon after Hurricane Katrina, but I resent paying that price just to provide unnecessary trade protectionism for out-of-state ethanol producers.

[sinkspur]

The ag lobby will, on cue, start peeing in its pants.

[defenderSD]

Considering that the US is the world's low-cost producer of farm products and an Ag powerhouse, they don't need this stinking tariff and I'm already real tired of paying it.

[c-b 1]

The ag lobby, bought, and paid for by Archer Daniels Midland.

[Paleo Conservative]

They ought to repeal all ethanol requirments.

[sinkspur]

The thing is, imported ethanol is made from non-corn products, which means it'll burn cleaner and won't drag mileage down, the way E-85 does.

If this passes (over Chuck Grassley's dead body), it ought to have an immediate impact on prices.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

ADM will be the likely importer. So will Cargill and the other grain/commodity giants.
Memo to investors in Iowa/Minnesota ethanol; Get it while you can.

[Toddsterpatriot]

U.S. Senators Jon Kyl (R-AZ) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) today announced that they will introduce legislation on Monday to strike the 54 cent ethanol import tariff.

Hmmmmmm.....tariffs are bad because they raise our prices? Don't tell Willie Green, he thinks tariffs lower our prices.

[randita]

The ag lobby will, on cue, start peeing in its pants.

The ag lobby is peanuts compared to the oil lobby. The oil lobby will not let this happen easily.

[P-40]

The tariff keeps our ethanol industry from having to compete with an established foreign industry before ours is completed. The tariff is a smart move on Bush's part. It certainly won't make him popular though.

[sinkspur]

Tariffs are taxes. There shouldn't be tariffs on anything. Get rid of the sugar tariffs, so we can use domestic sugar cane for ethanol.

[P-40]

There shouldn't be tariffs on anything.

That was the position of the South right before the Civil War. :)

We should be using what local sugar we can get from cane or beets or whatever though.

[Toddsterpatriot]

The tariff keeps our ethanol industry from having to compete with an established foreign industry before ours is completed.

Right, it's more important to protect a local industry that doesn't produce enough ethanol than it is to bring in supplies from yucky foreigners.

[defenderSD]

You're assuming that our ethanol industry needs a tariff right now to be competitive. Do you have any evidence to back up that claim? Brazil isn't the most efficient high-tech chemical manufacturing country in the world. Why do we need a tariff to compete with Brazil? Generally the US is the low-cost agricultural producer of the world.

[defenderSD]

I don't understand this concern about Chuck Grassley. The 80 senators from states that don't produce much corn or ethanol should be able to form an alliance and out-vote the 20 senators from the corn belt. How can Grassley stop the repeal of this tariff?

[defenderSD]

The high price of gasoline is really hurting the GOP politically right now. Grassley cannot be allowed to put the interests of his state ahead of his party and the country.

[groanup]

That was the position of the South right before the Civil War. :)

You're exactly right. All those tarriffs were going to a place called Washington. The South wondered why Washington needed it more than the states did. Now we see why.

[groanup]

The high price of gasoline is really hurting the GOP politically right now.

Or to re-phrase: the economic ignorance of the electorate who have been schooled by liberals is really hurting the GOP right now.

[sinkspur]

Grassley heads appropriations. Chuck can cut off your water in a big hurry if you get crossways with him.

[decal]

"Don't tell Willie Green, he thinks tariffs lower our prices."

Can't tell that fool anything - he finally got himself bounced from here last month.