McCain campaign clarifies subsidy elimination comments
October 6, 2008
BY Kris Bevill
Web exclusive posted Oct. 20, 2008 at 4:36 p.m. CST
AgriTalk, a nationally-syndicated AM agriculture radio program, recently partnered with the Renewable Fuels Association to invite representatives from both the Democratic and Republican presidential nominees to be guests of the show and discuss their respective energy policies.
Republican nominee Sen. John McCain's policy was discussed during the Oct. 16 broadcast. Speaking on behalf of McCain was Jim Moseley, former USDA deputy secretary and current member of McCain's Farm and Ranch team.
Host Mike Adams immediately questioned a statement made by McCain during the final presidential debate in which he said he planned to eliminate ethanol subsidies as well as the ethanol import tariff in order to reduce the federal deficit. Moseley said McCain's statements were in line with the senator's long-standing stance against subsidies of any sort. "As a farmer and a person involved in agriculture all of my life and as a former deputy secretary of the USDA - politically I would have to advise Sen. McCain to avoid this issue, but I think that tells us a little bit about who he is as a person and how deeply he feels about some of these issues," he added.
Moseley said that rather than incentivize ethanol on the price side, he would prefer to offer incentives that are income-based as a way to ensure demand stay ahead of the supply. According to Moseley, McCain would support the same type of incentive for any industry, including oil, and would remove oil subsidies along with the ethanol subsidies.
The continued implementation of the renewable fuels standard is a mandate that McCain would like to do away with, Moseley said, however it's a congressional matter so a president cannot eliminate the mandate on his own. "Sen. McCain - based upon his philosophy of mandates, tariffs, subsidies - would say we need to let it expire," Moseley said. "The fact is…we don't need that mandate. We're going to produce the level that's required in the mandate anyway." Moseley said the oil industry will continue to blend ethanol even without a mandate if consumers demand it. McCain supports incentives to aid infrastructure developments, including blender pumps and flex-fuel vehicles, which will allow the consumers to decide the best system, he said.
As for releasing the import tariff on ethanol, Moseley said it's believed that there is enough demand for ethanol that the product will continue to be used close to the point of manufacturing.
Adams' interview with Moseley can be heard in its entirety on the AgriTalk Web site.
Democratic candidate Sen. Barack Obama was the first to respond and was represented by his energy, agriculture and environmental policy director during the Oct. 7 broadcast. (Read Obama energy director emphasizes support for biofuels for more information.
AgriTalk, a nationally-syndicated AM agriculture radio program, recently partnered with the Renewable Fuels Association to invite representatives from both the Democratic and Republican presidential nominees to be guests of the show and discuss their respective energy policies.
Republican nominee Sen. John McCain's policy was discussed during the Oct. 16 broadcast. Speaking on behalf of McCain was Jim Moseley, former USDA deputy secretary and current member of McCain's Farm and Ranch team.
Host Mike Adams immediately questioned a statement made by McCain during the final presidential debate in which he said he planned to eliminate ethanol subsidies as well as the ethanol import tariff in order to reduce the federal deficit. Moseley said McCain's statements were in line with the senator's long-standing stance against subsidies of any sort. "As a farmer and a person involved in agriculture all of my life and as a former deputy secretary of the USDA - politically I would have to advise Sen. McCain to avoid this issue, but I think that tells us a little bit about who he is as a person and how deeply he feels about some of these issues," he added.
Moseley said that rather than incentivize ethanol on the price side, he would prefer to offer incentives that are income-based as a way to ensure demand stay ahead of the supply. According to Moseley, McCain would support the same type of incentive for any industry, including oil, and would remove oil subsidies along with the ethanol subsidies.
The continued implementation of the renewable fuels standard is a mandate that McCain would like to do away with, Moseley said, however it's a congressional matter so a president cannot eliminate the mandate on his own. "Sen. McCain - based upon his philosophy of mandates, tariffs, subsidies - would say we need to let it expire," Moseley said. "The fact is…we don't need that mandate. We're going to produce the level that's required in the mandate anyway." Moseley said the oil industry will continue to blend ethanol even without a mandate if consumers demand it. McCain supports incentives to aid infrastructure developments, including blender pumps and flex-fuel vehicles, which will allow the consumers to decide the best system, he said.
As for releasing the import tariff on ethanol, Moseley said it's believed that there is enough demand for ethanol that the product will continue to be used close to the point of manufacturing.
Adams' interview with Moseley can be heard in its entirety on the AgriTalk Web site.
Democratic candidate Sen. Barack Obama was the first to respond and was represented by his energy, agriculture and environmental policy director during the Oct. 7 broadcast. (Read Obama energy director emphasizes support for biofuels for more information.
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