Iowa Ag Secretary Disappointed by GOP Platform

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Iowa Ag Secretary Disappointed by GOP Platform

By Becky Ogann

DES MOINES (AP) - Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey says he disagrees with the Republican party's platform, which calls for ending the renewable fuel standard for ethanol.

Northey is a Republican and is in St. Paul, Minn., serving as a delegate at the Republican National Convention this week.

Debate of the GOP's platform - which was agreed upon at the RNC - was cut short when Hurricane Gustav caused Republicans to cut back the first day of the convention. Northey says he would have spoken out loudly against the platform plank if proper debate had been held.

Northey says if the GOP appears to be against ethanol it could hurt them in the Midwest. He says ethanol production is something that "matters a lot to Midwestern folks."
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Thursday, Sep 4 at 6:19 PM bill wrote ...

then you got this sugar cane that out preforms corn on ethanol takes up less land to grow can you say grand standing here

Thursday, Sep 4 at 8:01 PM Adam wrote ...

McCain - Cotton Hill, Palin = Peggy Hill

Thursday, Sep 4 at 8:08 PM Time for a change wrote ...

why is it the people in charge don't know whats best, they only know what brings in votes for THEM? Food is not the answer to the fuel crises. Drill in the USA, pump the ground dry and in the mean time get going with solar and wind power, with electric and hydrogen cars. The government is helping bankrupt the people of this country with these high fuel costs, while lining their own pockets.

Friday, Sep 5 at 7:20 AM White snake wrote ...

You fools think obama's pretty speeches is going any thing? We need to develop cellulosic technology and use the whole darn plant and that ragweed we have so much of. Quit your whining and serve the people. Country first.

Friday, Sep 5 at 7:29 AM NO food for fuel! wrote ...

I totally agree with 8:08PM. Corn is for food not fuel. We need to drill NOW and look for alternatives in the interim. NO ONE fuel source is going to be the answer, we need diversified enegy solutions, Nuclear power, Clean coal, solar, wind, geothermal, ect. In the meantime we need to get drillin' to get these fuel prices down and get our economy going again. Obama does not have a clue on this, first NO OFFSHORE drilling, now maybe we should consider it, this guy is so wishsy washy. Vote McCain

Friday, Sep 5 at 8:55 AM Peter wrote ...

Food for thought; Why is it that no one seems to be talking about why Exxon and others have been raking in record breaking profits. If you want cheaper fuel and oil prices we should go after these companies because they are the ones controlling what we get. Why haven't they invested their earnings to make better refineries or help find alternatives because once the oil is wrung out by the republicans and anyone else who insists on using just oil then where will you be?

Friday, Sep 5 at 10:28 AM Scott wrote ...

With food prices soaring and the farmers blaming it on the sales price of corn to ethanol producers, I would not be for it either if I was trying to get ellected. Corn for food - yes. Cellulose technology produces MORE ethanol than corn at a lower cost and helps lower the amount of garbage being thrown into land fills, while taking corn OUT of the loop, lowering the cost of food for Jane and John Q. Taxpayer. We need our OIL now, and renewable sources to be worked out in the coming years.

Friday, Sep 5 at 1:15 PM James in DBQ wrote ...

I think ethanol matters to producers and farmers and not consumers. It's subsidized and that raises the price of corn. Win/win for producers and farmers. Loose/Loose for consumers. We pay higher prices for everything and flip the bill for the subsidies as well. This is not an industry for our Ag Sec. to be involved in. Proof is all around us, especially when driving on a less efficient, costlier fuel. Ethanol is a farce.

Saturday, Sep 6 at 10:44 AM To 8:55 Peter... wrote ...

The problem with that approach is now you open a door to YOUR profits that YOU make by attacking Exxon and their ilk. Who is to say that you made an 'extra' $10,000 this year that is a 'Windfall' that needs to be taxed at 60% or higher? See where this is going? Yes, oil companies have made record profits, and yes, the price of gas is hurting us, the consumer, but do you really want to open up a Pandora's box that allows the government into your records to deem a fair tax on your windfall?

Tuesday, Sep 9 at 3:45 PM Jon wrote ...

Just remember that subsidies that are received for ethanol and corn production pale in comparison to the subsidies given to the OIL COMPANIES themselves...money designated for research, development, and the retooling and building of refineries. And yet, where are the new refineries? If you think drilling is going to bring down fuel prices, you are wrong. Drilling now would mean oil in the pipe in 10 years, but you can bet we're going to pay for that development. And there will be less total oil

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