Eliminate Mandates and Subsidies for Ethanol & Biodiesel

Open email to Rep. Fred Upton (MI), Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce:

Dear Rep. Upton,
    This concerns gasoline and ethanol.
    I emailed you yesterday on this subject and included a message concerning gasoline pricing from one of my Associates. That same associate has come back with additional information as follows:  

 

    "A couple of days ago, I commented on the perverse forces driving up the price of gasoline.  It turns out that these same misguided federal policies are significantly affecting food prices as well.  Phil Nye reports that the price of farm land in Illinois has reached $15,000 per tillable acre - an all time high.  At the same time, corn and soy bean prices are at all time highs. The relationship of crop prices to farm land prices should be obvious.  That  apparently is not the case with Obama and this Congress who continue the destructive renewable fuel policies - ethanol from corn and biodiesel from soy bean oil.  At the same time, we are watching crude oil and natural gas production continue to grow.  Simply ask yourself the question:  why do we need renewable fuels subsidized with tax dollars when crude oil and natural gas production is rising rapidly?  The only answer is wrongheaded energy policies.

     Of course, the other consequence is the escalation of food prices.  Food crop and energy prices are the foundation of food prices.  According to Obama and the Federal Reserve, price inflation is modest.  Anyone who shops for food knows that prices have risen substantially.  This morning I stopped at MacDonalds to buy breakfast.  Less than a year ago my usual breakfast cost about $6.  This morning it was about $10.  Whom do you believe: the Federal Government or your pocketbook? " 

 

    Rep. Upton, please eliminate mandates for use of ethanol and biodiesel and eliminate all subsidies for production and use of same. Those promotions are not needed with respect to the present automotive fuel supply, and they are doing damage to the general economy, particularly in higher food prices and exaggerated farmland prices.