Monday, July 21, 2008

50 Days, 50 Ways to Cut Federal Spending: Ethanol Subsidies

Bosse calls for abolishing the ethanol boondoggle

(Concord) Hillsboro Republican Grant Bosse today launched “50 Days, 50 Ways to Cut Federal Spending” by proposing to eliminate taxpayer subsidies for ethanol production. Federal farm policy not only mandates the use of ethanol in gasoline, but provides a 51-cent per gallon subsidy for its production, and a 54-cent per gallon tariff on imported ethanol. Bosse would eliminate the program as the first of 50 proposed cuts to the federal budget.

“Our current ethanol policy drives up gas prices, drives up food prices, hurts the environment, and taxpayers get to pay $6.3 billion a year for the privilege,” Bosse said. “It’s time to end the ethanol boondoggle once and for all.”

With 50 days remaining until the September 9th Republican Congressional Primary, Bosse plans to announce a specific spending cut each and every day until the Election. Bosse has concentrated his grassroots campaign on smaller government and lower federal spending, and he is the first candidate in the race to propose such specific spending cuts.

“Voters are used to politicians talk about belt-tightening and fiscal discipline, but most candidates aren’t willing to tell us exactly what they would cut if elected,” Bosse added. “Between the waste, the pork, and the programs that simply can’t justify their own existence, I’ll share 50 ways we can cut the federal budget over the next 50 days.”

2 comments:

Ron Steenblik said...

That's great! And a logical place to start! But you have a big job ahead. If you are looking for a comprehensive inventory of the various federal and state government programs supporting the production and use of biofuels, I strongly urge you to download (for free) the two reports for the Global Subsidies Initiative (GSI) of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD): Biofuels--At What Cost?: Government Support for Ethanol and Biodiesel in the United States, and the 2007 Update.

Good luck; you'll need it!

Steve Smith said...

Kudos for doing what no other candidate is doing. Pointing out concrete, step by step actions that can be taken. It's very easy to see what Congressman Grant Bosse would be doing in office. May I suggest for more examples of where cuts can be made... Government at the Brink. Fred Thompson sells the book, but you can download the Senate document free.