Ethanol Gauntlet Tossed into Presidential Ring
Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty throws his hat in the ring and at the same time discusses tossing out ethanol support...in Iowa.
Compiled by staff
Published: May 24, 2011
During a town hall meeting in Iowa Monday, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty made his run for president in the 2012 race office. The quiet governor who wants to be called "T-Paw" according to his website, has also taking a "truth" approach that has already rankled at least one industry sector.
The old saying was that no matter what you thought about ethanol subsidies, if you wanted to Iowa, you had to support them. During his talk Monday, Pawlenty proposed the concept of phasing out support for all forms of energy, including ethanol. An interesting stance, but one he plans to run on as he discusses the need to make changes elsewhere too. In fact, wire services report he's headed to "senior-filled" Florida to discuss gradually raising the retirement age too.
Iowa Renewable Fuels Association President Walt Wendlend issued a statement after Pawlenty's ethanol talk in response. In the statement, Wendland says the ethanol industry is "united" behind Sen. Chuck Grassley's, R-Iowa, legislation to "phase down and reform the current ethanol incentive as part of the discussion on all energy programs. We appreciate Sen. Grassley's leadership on this issue. Governor Pawlenty's remarks today appear to be in line with Sen. Grassley's approach to ethanol reform. We welcome his support."
Wendland adds that Pawlenty says energy incentive reforms must be across the board. "We agree that the massive amount of federally funded petroleum incentives must be a part of any reform discussion," Wendland says. "Iowans look forward to Gov. Pawlenty further detailing his plants to 'phase out' petroleum subsidies, perhaps in a speech in Houston, Texas."
The 2012 race for president, on the Republican side, is firming up now that Mitch Daniels, governor of Indiana, announced he would not run. Jon Huntsman, former governor of Utah, is said to be considering a run and was in New Hampshire over the weekend. Whether this former ambassador to China in the Obama Administration will run against his former boss remains to be seen.
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