Manchin Statement on Vote to Reduce Food Costs, Curtail Ethanol Subsidies and Lower the Deficit
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) issued the following statement about his vote supporting an amendment to reduce food costs, curtail ethanol subsidies and redirect the subsidies to reduce the deficit.
“Families in West Virginia and across this nation are watching every penny, and we need to stop providing costly ethanol subsidies that do not even reduce gas prices and actually jack up food costs and grocery bills – it just doesn’t make commonsense in this tough economy. At this critical time, what does make sense is being fiscally responsible and redirecting these subsidies to reduce our deficit,” Senator Manchin said. “Instead of an energy policy that leads to higher food costs for hardworking families, it is time to craft a commonsense energy plan that uses all of our vast domestic resources – like natural gas, coal, wind, solar, hydro, geothermal and biofuels – without unaffordable subsidies.
“At a time of exploding deficits and skyrocketing debt, our country must have commonsense priorities. When it comes to energy, whether it’s ethanol or oil subsidies, we should consider providing government aid and creating a hard floor for subsidies only when the market price falls below production costs.”
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