By Ryan Hanrahan
Politico’s Grace Yarrow reported that “President Donald Trump called on Congress Tuesday to resolve differences over year-round sales of E15 fuel and to finalize an agreement that would be a boon for struggling corn farmers.”
“‘The people of Iowa know that I am trusting Speaker Mike Johnson, who’s great, and Leader John Thune, who’s great, that’s House and Senate, to find a deal that works for farmers, consumers and refiners, including small and mid-sized refiners,’ Trump said during a speech in Clive, Iowa,” according to Yarrow’s reporting. “‘In other words, to get E15 approved, and they’re working on it. They’re very close to getting it done.'”
“The president’s comments put the White House squarely on the side of ethanol proponents in the battle among Republican lawmakers and agriculture and biofuels groups over legislation that would expand markets for corn farmers but would irritate some oil companies and refiners,” Yarrow reported. “Midwestern Republicans failed last week in an effort to push House GOP leaders to include year-round E15 in a government funding package due for passage by the end of January. Leaders demurred and instead established a rural energy working group that will aim to find a deal between ethanol and oil interests in the next month.”