From Wisconsin’s 5th District Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner’s newsletter dated May 8:
Proponents of ethanol tout its capacity to reduce demand for gasoline and lower prices at the pump, as well as benefit the environment. However, a study in the February issue of the journal Science, reported that ethanol actually doubles the amount of carbon emissions into the atmosphere. Land-use changes, deforestation, and the extraordinary amount of water to produce one gallon of ethanol, are all having negative impacts on the environment.
It is for these reasons that I cosponsored legislation to end the ethanol mandate, and help get gas and food prices under control. The Remove Incentives to Produce Ethanol Act of 2008 (RIPE Act), will repeal the renewable fuel mandate, and save taxpayer dollars by repealing tax credits for ethanol producers.
What bothers me about the ethanol UNhype that’s taking place now is that ethanol was a bad idea a year ago and no one cared enough to do anything about it. I’d love politicians that made an effort at good legislation every day, not just when it’s good political capital in an election year for a non-corn district of SE Wisconsin.
Same with the legislation coming to the front about Wisconsin’s problem with impaired drivers and multiple offenses. But that’s another post entirely.
9 responses so far ↓
1 El gato // May 8, 2008 at 4:16 pm
When it comes to solving problems, politicians are the LAST people on the planet who can do it! Look at the morons (Dems) who are calling for a summer moritorium on the gas tax. First, we are running huge deficits, so we either have to further lower the value of the dollar with a bigger deficit or we have to forego needed infrastructure repairs. Secondly, the tax is a drop in the bucket on the total price. Thirdly, it does nothing long term to increase supply or reduce demand. The real fix is to declare a national emergency to get an end around the inevitable tree-huggers’ lawsuits and okay drilling in ANWAR and offshore in the Gulf, as well as force the construction of new refineries and nuclear plants. For the long term, we need to let the price of oil seek it’s own price in the market. That’s the only thing that will drive people to stop driving tanks and building in the boondocks far from their work. America needs to end its love affair with the automobile or pay the price to continue it. The politicians need to stop with their assinine proposals such as the above mentioned moritorium, windfall profits tax proposals, ethanol mandates, mileage mandates, etc.
2 Dan Harland // May 8, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Gato, I think McCain is a proponent of the summer moratorium (correct spelling) on the gas tax. Additionally, drilling in ANWR isn’t necessarily the quick fix option but would be a good investment for the future of oil supply. I also read a little tidbit this morning that suggested the oil supply and demand equilibrium is right where it needs to be for $60 a barrel - whats keeping us from that price is speculative pricing. The more economists report on personal speculations that some day oil might hit $200/barrel the further and further up the price goes.
3 BrkfldDad // May 8, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Forget all that, the key to breaking OPEC may lie here - http://www.energyandcapital.com/articles/bakken-oil-trade/658
Wonder why it hasn’t gotten more ‘press’?
4 Cindy Kilkenny // May 8, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Um, because the candidates wouldn’t have anything to pander?
(And yes, Shawn, I know McCain is on the list of wanting an oil tax holiday.)
5 Dan Harland // May 8, 2008 at 10:22 pm
So how do we buy in to Bakken?
6 Shawn Matson // May 9, 2008 at 12:45 am
I didn’t mention it, Dan did. But it merits attention that you knew i’d say something because I call bluff on this B.S.
Why hasn’t it gotten more press, Gato? I’ll tell you. Because the truth is that OPEC isn’t about towelheads stealing our money. It’s about corporate robber barons stealing money from average people. Not even the communist chinese would fall for the farce that we Americans have.
There’s a reason George Bush Sr. was holding hands with Arab businessmen on the morning of 9/11. You figure out why yourself.
7 Dan Harland // May 9, 2008 at 9:28 am
I had a hair brained idea the other day as I was getting on the highway…. Why is there only one carpool lane? Would people be more apt to carpool if there was only one lane in the on ramp for single drivers? I think everyone is feeling the oil crunch here but no one is really doing anything about it. Its been 8 days since I drove my car to work and last night I biked to get some groceries and then again for a quick pit stop at Gille’s on Bluemound. There needs to be more practical incentives for people at least trying… and for God’s sake - increase the refinement capabilities in the US. Old, outdated, crappy refineries are putting a stranglehold on gasoline production in the US. We have the crude oil, OPEC states have more than they know what to do with - we just can’t refine the crude into what we need. And hell, open up ANWR.
8 El gato // May 9, 2008 at 10:30 am
Shawn, why tell me why it hasn’t gotten more press? BrkfldDad is the one who asked!
I heard that oil has gone up 129% in Euros and 331% in dollars due to the declining value of the greenback and the fact that oil is priced in dollars. Blaming Bush is childish!
9 El gato // May 9, 2008 at 10:34 am
Good post Dan! Price is all that will get people to change their wasteful habits so let the “wasters” pay. Europe has lived with high oil prices for decades and they’re cleaning our clock when it comes to the value of their currency. Politicians are more worried about the bad press and tree huggers than they are about the average joe. Until the people start throwing some of them out of office, they will keep favoring the noisy minorities!
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