Ted Cruz presidential campaign, 2016/Agricultural subsidies
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 Ted Cruz |
U.S. Senator (Assumed office: 2013) |
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- During the seventh Republican presidential primary debate on January 28, 2016, Ted Cruz reiterated his opposition to energy subsidies and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): “I think God has blessed this country with enormous natural resources, and we should pursue all of the above. We should be developing oil, and gas, and coal, and nuclear, and wind, and solar, and ethanol, and biofuels. But, I don't believe that Washington should be picking winners and losers. And, I think there should be no mandates, and no subsidies whatsoever. And, indeed, my tax plan that I've introduced, it's available on our website. It's a simple flat tax for everyone. It'll produce enormous economic growth, and it eliminates every mandate, every subsidy, so there's no subsidies for oil and gas, no subsidies for anyone. Now, it is true that there are a bunch of lobbyists, and a bunch of Democrats in this state spending millions of dollars trying to convince the people of Iowa that I somehow oppose ethanol. It's not true. I have introduced legislation that would phase out the ethanol mandate over five years, but that is in the context of having no mandates whatsoever for anyone. And, I would not that there's a much more important government regulation to ethanol, and that's the EPA's blend wall that makes it illegal to sell mid-level blends of ethanol in gasoline. I will...... Tear down the EPA's blend wall which will enable ethanol to expand its market share by up to 60%, all without mandates. All without any government mandates whatsoever through the marketplace. And, I'll note finally, Chris, there is a reason that Iowa's Congressman Steve King, perhaps the fiercest defender of farmers in this state, is sharing my campaign. Because he understands that I'm committed to a fair, and level playing field for every energy source without lobbyists, and without Washington picking winners and losers.[2]
- In response to criticism from Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (R), Cruz restated his opposition to the ethanol mandates that Branstad supports. "There should be no mandates, no subsidies whatsoever for any energy source, whether ethanol or oil and gas or anything else," Cruz told a crowd in New Hampshire.[3]
- On January 19, 2016, Branstad called for Cruz to be defeated in the state's Republican caucuses February 1, 2016, CNN reported. Brandstad's comments were made to a small group of reporters at the Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit, where several 2016 presidential candidates are spoke. Branstad labeled Cruz a "big oil" candidate whose victory would be "very damaging to our state." He added, "It would be a big mistake for Iowa to support him. And I know he's ahead in the polls but the only poll that counts is the one they take on caucus night and I think that could change between now and then."[4]Cruz has drawn criticism over his opposition to federal ethanol subsidies, which are important to Iowa's farm-based economy.[5]
- On December 1, 2015, Cruz’s campaign asked for an ad released by America's Renewable Future, “an advocacy group that champions the ethanol-friendly federal mandate,” to be removed from Iowa radio stations. The advertisement says, "Politicians like Ted Cruz support subsidies for Big Oil, but want to end support for ethanol. Cruz backs policies that threaten rural Iowa and thousands of jobs." According to The Des Moines Register, “Cruz campaign aides say it's incorrect because Cruz is opposed to all energy subsidies, including for oil companies.”[6]
- Cruz voted in favor of a bill which proposed limiting "the amount of premium subsidy provided by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation on behalf of any person or legal entity with an average adjusted gross income in excess of $750,000." It was approved by the U.S. Senate on May 23, 2013.[7]
Recent news
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See also
Footnotes
- ↑ Politico, "Ted Cruz drops out of presidential race," May 3, 2016
- ↑ The Washington Post, "7th Republican debate transcript, annotated: Who said what and what it meant," January 28, 2016
- ↑ Politico, "Ted Cruz refuses to budge in opposition to ethanol mandate," January 20, 2016
- ↑ CNN Politics, "Iowa governor wants Ted Cruz defeated," January 19, 2016
- ↑ National Review, "Refusing to Kiss King Corn’s Ring in Iowa," January 17, 2016
- ↑ The Des Moines Register, "Cruz asks Iowa radio stations to yank 'false' attack ad," December 1, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "S.Amdt.953 to S.954," accessed January 17, 2016
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