The Iowa Freedom Summit & Ag Summit (preparation for Iowa Caucus): on Environment
Chris Christie:
Ethanol in gasoline is the law; and that's just the minimum
"Don't mess with the RFS," Gov. Terry Branstad [R-IA] said, offering a not-so-subtle warning as he kicked off a daylong agriculture summit that featured a string of likely Republican presidential candidates. The RFS [the Renewable Fuel Standard,
which requires corn-based ethanol] is a major issue that White House hopefuls are forced to address whenever they visit the No. 1 corn-producing state.
But it's a less popular policy for small government conservatives, who decry the mandate as federal overreach in the private sector.Other contenders offered entirely opposite positions. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, for example, said he "absolutely"
supports the RFS. "That's what the law requires. So let's make sure we comply with the law. That should be the minimum," he said, drawing applause from the crowd.
Source: CNN coverage by Ashley Killough, of 2015 Iowa Ag Summit
Mar 7, 2015
George Pataki:
Opposed to RFS: no ethanol mandate in gasoline
The Republicans' stances differed little except on the Renewable Fuel Standard, a federal mandate that outlines how much ethanol and biodiesel must be blended annually into the country's fuel supply. Most said they understand
and accept the need for the mandate, at least until it can be phased out. Santorum and Huckabee in particular passionately defended it. But Pataki expressed vocal opposition to the RFS, as did Cruz, whose answers were met with applause.
Source: Des Moines Register coverage of 2015 Iowa Ag Summit
Mar 7, 2015
Jeb Bush:
Let the market decide on RFS' ethanol in gasoline
In his first 2016 visit to Iowa, Jeb Bush sought to delicately explain his desire to see the RFS [Renewable Fuel Standard, which requires corn-based ethanol] disappear over time. "The market's ultimately going to have to decide this," he told the
audience at the agriculture summit which took place at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.Bush acknowledged that the mandate, which passed in 2007, has helped lower dependence on foreign oil and boost corn-heavy economies. "But as we move forward over the
long haul, there should be certainty for people to invest," he argued, saying ethanol will no longer need help from the government. "So at some point we'll see a reduction of the RFS need, because ethanol will be such a valuable part of the
energy feedstock for our country." He declined, however, to suggest when exactly that may happen.
Bush's frank statements on the RFS indicated that he plans on sticking with his positions, no matter how unpopular they may be to certain audiences.
Source: CNN coverage by Ashley Killough, of 2015 Iowa Ag Summit
Mar 7, 2015
Mike Huckabee:
Ethanol mandate is a matter of national security
[On the RFS, the Renewable Fuel Standard which requires corn-based ethanol] Mike Huckabee argued that the ethanol mandate was a matter of national security: "America need to do three things to be free: feed itself, fuel itself, fight for itself," the
former Arkansas governor said, adding that relying on foreign governments for energy leads to a weakened United States.Huckabee, who won the Iowa caucuses in 2008, hit back at criticism that politicians like him simply support the
RFS for political reasons: "The decisions are made not just frankly for what's best for Iowa--that's not the rationale. You can't make a decision and say, 'It's good for Iowa.
Gee, they're the caucus state, we better suck up to them.' We better make decisions that are good for every consumer," he said.
Source: CNN coverage by Ashley Killough, of 2015 Iowa Ag Summit
Mar 7, 2015
Rick Perry:
Ethanol waiver in Texas but not in Iowa: let states decide
Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry defended his decision to request a waiver that would exempt Texas from the federal mandate for the RFS [the Renewable Fuel Standard, which requires corn-based ethanol]. If individual states want to require that ethanol
be used in gasoline, that's fine, he said, but not the federal government: "I philosophically don't agree that Washington, D.C. needs to be making these decisions that affect our agriculture industry," Perry said.
Source: CNN coverage by Ashley Killough, of 2015 Iowa Ag Summit
Mar 7, 2015
Rick Santorum:
Ethanol mandate brings jobs & energy independence
The RFS [the Renewable Fuel Standard, which requires corn-based ethanol] is a major issue that White House hopefuls are forced to address whenever they visit Iowa, the No. 1 corn-producing state.
Rick Santorum, who won the Iowa caucuses in 2012, ticked off what he called a "laundry list" of benefits, including more energy independence and more jobs for farmers. "It is very important for rural Americans," said the former senator from Pennsylvania.
Source: CNN coverage by Ashley Killough, of 2015 Iowa Ag Summit
Mar 7, 2015
Scott Walker:
Keep ethanol mandate until oil companies allow free market
[On the RFS, the Renewable Fuel Standard which requires corn-based ethanol] Scott Walker made clear that while he's generally a free market guy, he believes ethanol is being blocked from consumers and needs government
assistance: "Right now, we don't have a free and open marketplace, and so that's why I'm willing to take that position," he said.
But Walker said that his goal would be to get to a point where ethanol can compete openly and "you no longer need in the industry to have these subsidies."
Ethanol proponents argue that because oil companies own gas stations, consumers are unable to access ethanol and therefore it needs the government's support to break through oil's stronghold of the market.
Source: CNN coverage by Ashley Killough, of 2015 Iowa Ag Summit
Mar 7, 2015
Ted Cruz:
Don't pick winners & losers like RFS' ethanol in gasoline
Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas flat out opposed the RFS [the Renewable Fuel Standard, which requires corn-based ethanol], saying Washington shouldn't be "picking winners and losers.""I have every bit of faith that businesses can continue to compete and
continue to do well without having to go on bended knee asking for subsidies, asking for special favors," he said. "I think that's how we got in this problem to begin win."
Ethanol proponents argue that because oil companies own gas stations,
consumers are unable to access ethanol and therefore it needs the government's support to break through oil's stronghold of the market. Cruz acknowledged that his view wouldn't be well-received: "Look, I recognize that this is a gathering of a lot of
folks who the answer you'd like me to give is, 'I'm for the RFS, darn it.' That'd be the easy thing to do. But I'll tell ya, people are pretty fed up, I think, with politicians that run around & tell one group one thing, tell another group another thing.
Source: CNN coverage by Ashley Killough, of 2015 Iowa Ag Summit
Mar 7, 2015
Scott Walker:
Freeze stewardship program for state lands
When White House hopeful Scott Walker talks to potential voters, he hawks himself as a leader who tells people what he will do and then does it. But the line has a snag. As a candidate for governor, Walker didn't spell out or even mention some of the
measures that would become key achievements in office.During his 2014 race to secure a second term, Walker didn't campaign on some of the most sweeping changes in his current budget proposal:
freezing a stewardship program for state lands; borrowing $1.3 billion for transportation; and cutting state universities by $300 million in exchange for unhooking them from many state laws.
For his part, Walker is sticking to his description
of himself as a politician who lays out an agenda in advance and then delivers, saying that voters "want leaders who are going to spell out what they're going to do and then have the courage to act on it," Walker said this week.
Source: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel on 2015 Iowa Freedom Summit
Mar 2, 2015
Page last updated: Dec 07, 2018