Legislation introduced this week by Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, a Republican, would cap U.S. corn-based ethanol production at 9 billion gallons in 2009. The 2007 energy bill that was enacted raised the level to 15 billion gallons by 2015. Ten other Republican lawmakers have signed on as cosponsors, including Republican presidential nominee John McCain, long a foe of federal subsidies for ethanol. Other cosponsors include Senators Sununu, Collins, Dole, Barrasso, Allard, Cornyn, DeMint, Stevens, and Enzi. The legislation is S. 3031 (available here in PDF format).
Power Politics
May 23, 2008