WASHINGTON – When the U.S. House approved the farm bill last month, it left out a provision that would have allowed for the year-round sale of what’s known as E15, a fuel that contains 15% ethanol.
The reason? GOP leaders wanted to ensure the bill’s approval and bypass an internal conflict between farm-state Republicans – like those who represent Minnesota in Congress who support increased ethanol use – and GOP lawmakers representing the oil industry, especially smaller oil refineries that say it’s too expensive to blend E15.
So, a deal was reached to have a vote on a bill next week, likely on Wednesday, that would allow year-round sales of E15, which would be a huge economic boost to the nation’s corn farmers.
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“It is disappointing that E15 was not included at this stage, representing a missed opportunity to deliver certainty for farmers,” Rep. Brad Finstad, R-1st District, said in a statement after the House approved the farm bill. “Moving forward, we have a clear mission: secure year-round E15, advance farmer economic assistance, and complete the remaining priorities of the Farm Bill.”
Minnesota, and several other states, allow the year-round sale of E15. But other states do not, especially during the summer.
President Donald Trump instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to allow for temporary sales of E15 in May to try to counter the sharp rise in gasoline prices sparked by the Iran war. But proponents want year-round sales of the fuel to be the law of the land.
The effort to add year-round E15 sales to the farm bill came in an amendment offered by Rep. Michelle Fischbach, R-7th District.
Fischbach’s amendment would also make changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard’s Small Refinery Exemption Program, revising the definition of a small refiner to specify that its 75,000-barrels-a-day cap would apply to subsidiaries and affiliates of larger companies, winning the support of the American Petroleum Industry.
But the House Rules Committee rejected the amendment.
So, a second chance to make E15 available at the pump year-round will occur next week on the House floor. But success is not assured and it will test the abilities of House Whip Tom Emmer, R-6th District, to secure support for the legislation.
During a visit to Iowa this week, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the Trump administration strongly backs the E15 bill. “Thanks to our corn farmers and our ethanol producers we are making gas more affordable,” she said.
Dems want to know Israel’s nuclear weapons
A group of progressive lawmakers, including Rep. Ilhan Omar, R-5th District, have written Secretary of State Marco Rubio to break the United State’s long silence on Israel’s undeclared nuclear weapons program.
The letter, dated May 4, said the partnership between the United States and Israel in the fight against Iran made it imperative to make public Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
“The Administration had stated that decisions about when to end the conflict would be made jointly with Israel,” the letter said. “We are, in the fullest sense, fighting this war side by side with a country whose potential nuclear weapons program the United States government officially refuses to acknowledge.”
The letter cited testimony from a former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates that said Iran’s pursuit of nuclear capabilities was motivated by the nation’s proximity to countries that possessed nuclear arsenals, including Pakistan, Russia and Israel. And the letter said nobody knows what Israel’s “red line” is when it comes to the use of its nuclear arsenal.
“The United States openly acknowledges the nuclear weapons programs of the United Kingdom, France, India, Pakistan, Russia, China, and North Korea,” the letter said. “We ask that Israel be held to the same standard as any other foreign country, and that the United States government speaks candidly about its potential nuclear weapons capabilities, whatever they may be.”
Related: Yes, gas prices have spiked during the Iran war, though Minnesota has been spared from the worst
The Washington Post was the first media outlet to make the letter public.
The letter was signed by about two dozen Democrats besides Omar, and the effort was led by Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas.
It was written as there are deepening divisions among Democratic lawmakers on the continuation of U.S. military sales to Israel, and even concerns about those sales among some Republicans.
In other news:
▪️Brian Arola wrote about an expected shortfall in the money the state needs to provide for an ambitious plan to replace all of the lead water pipes in Minnesota.
▪️Trevor Mitchell reported that Mayor Jacob Frey’s annual State of the City address, a speech given by the mayor this week, was not as optimistic as usual.
▪️Operation Metro Surge ended more than two months ago, but it has had a lasting effect on Trump administration immigration policy, congressional politics and how Minnesotans and other Americans view immigrants.
▪️Cleo Krejci wrote about how partisan gridlock in the state Legislature has prevented the approval of legislation that would address the impact of Operation Metro Surge, including a proposed loan program to help businesses that lost substantial revenue during the federal immigration crackdown.
▪️Matt Blake fleshed out a program known as 340B that provides prescription drug discounts to some health care providers – and how a bill at the Legislature would help hospitals in their dealings with pharmaceutical companies.
Please keep your comments, and any questions, coming. I’ll try my best to respond. Please contact me at aradelat@minnpost.com.
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