Issue Position: Ethanol

Issue Position

Ethanol was supposed to help the United States become energy independent. However, it is one-third less efficient than regular-grade fuel, and the tax credit received by blenders of ethanol and gasoline costs American taxpayers $6 billion each year.

I recently introduced legislation (H.R. 1075) to repeal the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC). As a direct result of this tax credit, the use of corn for ethanol has more than doubled--driving up the cost of feed for farmers and food for consumers. Corn prices at this level are detrimental to businesses, producers and consumers.

Ethanol, as an alternative fuel source, has proven to be less than adequate. Our country remains heavily reliant on foreign sources of energy and though I believe exploring alternative resources are a must, driving up the cost of corn is crippling farmers and consumers alike in Arkansas, Oklahoma and across the country.

In my mind, it's pretty simple. There's no reason to tack additional financial hardship to the backs of hard working Americans when we don't have too.

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