Unanswered questions from anti-ethanol group

The Campaign for Balanced Food and Fuel held a press conference in Washington, D.C. today. Although it has a different name, it is the same folks that are behind the Feed Before Fuel campaign/coalition - including the Grocery Manufacturers Association. Their goal, of course, is to push for EPA to grant the Renewable Fuels Standard waiver submitted by the governor of Texas. Their statements were predictable - but left some questions unanswered. No surprise there.

The National Restaurant Association said the waiver should be granted because of the impact it is having on the nation's economy. John Gay, senior vice president of government affairs and public policy for the association said that "price distortions in the food supply" (caused by ethanol) have "harmed our customers and businesses."

The unanswered questions: Mr Gay - What about $4 gas? Don't your customers (all of us) have less money to spend eating out because we are spending so much to fill our gas tanks? Wouldn't that have a bigger impact than an extra dime or quarter for my dinner? Isn't ethanol saving consumers billions of dollars this year by increasing the fuel supply?

Grocery Manufacturers Association president and CEO Cal Dooley said, "At a time when tens of thousands of Americans are turning to food banks to feed their children, no Administration could reasonably conclude that ethanol refiners should be given priority over working families, food companies and livestock farmers."

The unanswered questions: Mr. Dooley - Don't some people now have to utilize food banks because they are spending a greater amount of their income on gas, leaving them less money to spend on food? People have to get to work and school, and $4 gas adds up fast. Doesn't ethanol actually save the average family $500 per year?

The American Bakers Association said it "remains extremely concerned about the nations current wheat supply and commodity prices." Robb MacKie, president and CEO of the American Bakers Association, said the corn-based ethanol program is one of many factors impacting the current situation.

The unanswered questions: Mr. MacKie - Isn't it true that U.S. wheat acres increased by more than 3 million this year? And that this follows a 3 million increase last year? And this despite higher corn prices? Don't the major wheat growing associations support the current RFS? Why does your opinion differ?