U.S. Senate: Unusual Coalition of Interest Groups Combine to End Ethanol Subsidies

The subsidy repeal is opposed by corn growers and ethanol producers, pitting alternative energy interests and environmental policy groups against each other.

Courtesy: wwwaqsa-newscom.blogspot.com

(BERKELEY, Calif. MapLight) - On Tuesday, June 14, 2011, the Senate is expected to vote on an amendment introduced by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) to repeal the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit, which subsidizes the production of ethanol.

On March 9, 2011, a coalition of organizations representing issues traditionally at odds with one another drafted a letter voicing their support for ending ethanol subsidies.

Included in the coalition are organizations such as the Sierra Club, Oxfam America, the Union of Concerned Scientists, the National Restaurant Association, and assorted meat, poultry and dairy producers.

The subsidy repeal is opposed by corn growers and ethanol producers, pitting alternative energy interests and environmental policy groups against each other. The amendment is identical to S. 871 - Ethanol Subsidy and Tariff Repeal Act, also introduced by Coburn.

• Interest groups that support this bill gave 17 times as much ($21,903,228) as interest groups that oppose this bill ($1,261,285)
• Supporting interest groups: Republican/Conservative, Restaurants & drinking establishments, Environmental policy, Food and kindred products manufacturing, Milk & dairy producers, Meat processing & products, Poultry & eggs, etc.
• Opposing interest groups: Alternate energy production & services and Wheat, corn, soybeans and cash grain

Campaign contributions to Senators from interest groups in Support of the amendment can be found here.

Campaign contributions to Senators from interest groups in Opposition to the amendment can be found here.

Methodology: Includes reported contributions to congressional campaigns of Senators in office during the 112th U.S. Congress, from interest groups invested in the vote according to MapLight, January 1, 2005 - December 31, 2010. Contributions data source: Center for Responsive Politics, OpenSecrets.org.

A link to this data release can be found here.

MapLight reveals money's influence on politics.