Coburn Pulls Anti-Ethanol Amendment from Small Business Bill
Grassley says it's counterproductive to single out homegrown energy.
Compiled by staff
Published: Apr 1, 2011
Senator Tom Coburn, R-Okla., on Wednesday withdrew his amendment to a Small Business bill to repeal the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit after Senator Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and other Corn Belt Senators blocked a vote on it.
"Not voting on something is the chicken's way out, it's the coward's way out," Coburn said. "Voting on something and defending your vote is honorable. You don't have to agree with me, but don't say you can't have an amendment and you can't have a vote."
Grassley preceded Coburn to the floor and characterized his colleague's amendment to end the blender's tax credit as an attack on homegrown energy.
"It's very counterproductive for Senators from Big Oil country to single out energy from American agriculture, renewable energy," Grassley said. "Repealing the ethanol tax incentive will raise taxes on producers, blenders, and ultimately consumers of renewable fuel. This amendment is a gas tax increase of over five cents a gallon at the pump."
Coburn did say that he would get a vote on the proposal.
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Tagged: ethanol, Corn Belt
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