SENATE BILL: Ethanol Subsidy Reform Act (Law'd)

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I will oppose all efforts to end ethanol subsidies for the sake of ending them.  It will have no appreciable impact on food prices since all it will do is increase oil demand and thus raise the price of oil, which in turn will raise the price of growing crops.

In the end, all we've done is save a penny while sending a pound overseas... rather than keeping it at home.

I'd hope any senators with common sense would agree with me on this and oppose this bill.

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I still have to oppose this bill, though I do agree with provision two.

One of my biggest issues is this:  Ethanol is required in the formulation of gasoline.  By removing subsidies, you will drive the cost of ethanol up as demand for ethanol increases as laws come into effect legislating that higher concentrations of ethanol be used in gasoline.

On the edges, such as E-85 and such, where no government requirement is in effect and the supply/demand structure is heavily affected by subsidies, will see demand collapse with the rising prices.  This will put more pressure on traditional petroleum and drive up oil prices.  This raises food prices and adversely affects Atlasians in a huge way.  That alone will negate a good chunk of any drop in food prices we see, especially since cheaper food substitutions are much easier to make than cheaper transportation substitutions.

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Basically what I'm saying:  At this point, all removing the subsidies will really do (unless we repeal all ethanol legislation), is drive the price of both food and ethanol up.

The high food prices worldwide aren't being caused by ethanol nearly as much as they are by high oil prices (which drive the switch to ethanol in the first place) and a series of natural disasters that hit several key grain growing regions of the world.

The U.S. made out like bonkers thanks to very good weather and the high prices meant farmers made money.

But like in many issues, what's good for the farmer is often not so good for the rest of us.

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Use of ethanol just encourages maintaining the use of gas rather than alternative, cheaper, and more environmental friendly forms of energy.

Much in the same way a lack of adequate income and a downpayment encourages the use of my current home rather than an alternative, cheaper, and more environmentally friendly home.

What's your point, exactly?

Stick it to the poor because someday we'll find an alternative?

[Ban my account ffs!]

I still have to oppose this bill, though I do agree with provision two.

One of my biggest issues is this:  Ethanol is required in the formulation of gasoline.  By removing subsidies, you will drive the cost of ethanol up as demand for ethanol increases as laws come into effect legislating that higher concentrations of ethanol be used in gasoline.

yes, If there are any requirements on ethanol content we need to repeal those along with this.

Unfortunately it's not that easy since the states tend to have the most stringent requirements.  And while it's easy to say "let the regions take care of it"... that's much easier said than done.

[Ban my account ffs!]

Nay