Hulshof Believes Missouri Can Help Alleviate Energy Crisis

HITS NIXON ON DRILLING

"He has been opposed to drilling for 20 years. Suddenly, he’s not. Will the real Jay Nixon please stand up?," asks Hulshof spokesperson Scott Baker.

UPDATE . . . NIXON CAMP RESPONDS:

"Times have changed and everyone knows it. Everyone except perhaps Congressman Hulshof, who just announced an ‘energy plan for Missouri’ that completely ignores the need to invest in alternative forms of energy," responds Nixon spokesperson Oren Shur.

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AGREEMENT ON DRILLING IN WESTERN MISSOURI; DISAGREEMENT ON ENERGY EMPHASIS . . . OIL vs. ALTERNATIVES

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A day after Kenny Hulshof's campaign for Governor called for the construction of an oil refinery in Missouri, the Congressman is now raising questions about Jay Nixon's position on drilling in the Arctic.

"Jay Nixon has been a staunch opponent of responsible exploration. Suddenly he is in favor of it," said Hulshof spokesperson Scott Baker in a release Friday.

But the Nixon campaign hit back, taking aim at Hulshof for outlining an energy plan that fails to address the needs for alternative sources. "Times have changed and everyone knows it," said Nixon spokesperson Oren Shur. "Everyone except perhaps Congressman Hulshof, who just announced an ‘energy plan for Missouri’ that completely ignores the need to invest in alternative forms of energy," added Shur.

On Thursday, Hulshof rolled out his energy plan designed to take advantage of resources right her in Missouri to help alleviate the current energy crunch. The plan focuses on exploration of Missouri oil and gas reserves as well as incentives for investment in those resources.

"For years I have been saying that we should look to the Midwest instead of the Middle East when it comes to addressing our nation’s energy needs,” said Hulshof. “That starts with tapping into resources we have available right here in Missouri. While special interests block efforts to take advantage of our nation’s domestic energy supply elsewhere, there are solutions to be found right here in Missouri. We should take every possible step to exploit those solutions," Hulshof added.

Hulshof's plan includes:

• Document Missouri's energy supply, including the estimated 1.4 to 1.9 billion barrels of heavy oil in Western Missouri.
• Fund Exploration Research through Missouri University of Science and Technology to discover cheaper, more reliable methods of extracting energy.
• Constructing an oil refinery and offering tax incentives to make it happen.

Friday, the Hulshof campaign pointed to a statement by spokesman Oren Shur on drilling in the Arctic. "Nixon spokesman Oren Shur said the Democrat agrees with Hulshof about the need for more drilling both offshore and in currently protected areas of Alaska," according to the Associated Press.

But in 1988, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that Nixon favored protecting areas in the Arctic wilderness from "dangerous development."

"This is just the latest example of Nixon purposely misleading Missourians about what he truly believes," said Baker. "He has been opposed to drilling for 20 years. Suddenly, he’s not. Will the real Jay Nixon please stand up?," Baker added.

Shur said that Nixon supports a comprehensive approach that includes drilling as well as investments in "solar, wind cellulosic bio-fuels" and other alternatives. "There are two types of people who think we can solve our energy crisis without any type of investment in renewable energy: big oil executives and the Washington politicians who are in their pockets. And even some of the oil executives are coming around. Even T. Boone Pickens has an energy plan that goes beyond oil," said Shur. “We can agree on additional drilling and oil exploration, both in western Missouri and off shore. But where we differ is that Congressman Hulshof keeps giving the oil companies billions at a time when they’re making record profits and Missourians are paying record prices at the pump," he added.

Blunt Continues Push For Offshore Drilling

AFTER MEETING WITH SCHOOLS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS, THE 7th DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN SAYS SOME OF THEIR FUEL COST PROBLEMS COULD BE ALLEVIATED WITH OFFSHORE DRILLING

In interview, Blunt says there's a growing bipartisan majority in the House to pass offshore drilling -- if Speaker Nancy Pelosi would allow a vote. "They're finding out that issues that 30% of the people used to be for, 70 percent of the people are now on the side, that used to be unpopular."

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ALSO: REACTING TO SPEAKER PELOSI'S NEW POSSIBLE OPENNESS TO A VOTE ON DRILLING . . .Blunt said he's encouraged, but added the proof will be in the "proverbial pudding."

A Triple Hit on Hulshof

DEMS TACKLE THREE TARGETS: MONEY FROM GOV. BLUNT, HEALTHCARE AND HULSHOF'S WASHINGTON RECORD

HULSHOF'S BAKER: NIXON TOOK MONEY FROM 2nd INJURY FUND LAWYERS . . . "THAT'S WORSE."

CRAIGHEAD: NIXON CANNOT BE TRUSTED ON HEALTHCARE

Why pick one poison, when you can mix three?

With 84 days until the general election, the three major arms of Jay Nixon's campaign for Governor are firing at Republican Kenny Hulshof.

BLUNT MONEY

The spokesperson for the Missouri Democratic Party barely finished breakfast Tuesday morning before challenging the 9th District Congressman to reject any campaign cash from Gov. Matt Blunt. Blunt has about $1.2 million in his campaign account, that could be transferred to the Republican Party to be put towards Hulshof's effort.

"It's bad enough that Congressman Kenny Hulshof wants to continue Gov. Blunt’s failed policies, but the last thing he should do is use Gov. Blunt’s campaign money to try and get elected,” said Jack Cardetti, Missouri Democratic Party spokesman. "Only a Washington politician like Kenny Hulshof would promote the current governor’s policies, take his money, and then try and distance himself from Gov. Blunt’s unpopularity. Having Congressman Hulshof or the political party that he now controls indebted to Gov. Blunt would be bad news for Missouri families."

The Hulshof campaign is calling this charge a "meaningless stunt."

"What would it change if we didn't accept the money? Nothing," said Hulshof spokesperson Scott Baker. "Jay Nixon has made it clear that he's running against Matt Blunt."

I also asked Baker what might be more politically damaging, the money Nixon receives from trial lawyers or money from Gov. Matt Blunt. "As to "what's worse?". Jay Nixon took money from Second Injury Fund lawyers, even though he promised not to accept those contributions. That kind of blatant dishonesty is worse," Baker replied.

To be clear, Hulshof has not received any money from Blunt yet. The Democrats are clearly looking for a pre-emptive strike on what's assumed will happen. "They refused to tell other reporters," Wright said. "They're not answering that question."

HEALTHCARE

The party's new spokesperson, hired solely to focus on the Governor's race, continues to take aim at Hulshof for not yet having introduced a comprehensive healthcare plan. Zac Wright is now pointing to a statement Hulshof made at a G.O.P. picnic in Cape Girardeau this weekend.

"Well and that’s just it, the politics of the past vs. the direction of the future… When you’ve offered nothing new or no solutions to the challenges of our state, I mean Jay Nixon is the poster boy for the politician, the dated politician of the past. We want to take our state forward," Hulshof is reported to have said at the picnic.

"27 weeks that have passed since Congressman Hulshof promised to address the health care crisis in Missouri," Wright said. "During that time, Jay Nixon unveiled a detailed health care agenda. How can Congressman Hulshof say this with a straight face?," he added. "Simply unbelievable." "He said in February it would be a couple of weeks. Why promise that? I think he owes an explanation," Wright added.

Hulshof spokesperson Scott Baker tells the Notebook that we can expect to see Hulshof roll out his healthcare plan within "the next few weeks."

In a conference call with reporters Tuesday, Jared Craighead, the executive director of the Missouri Republican Party took aim at Nixon's healthcare plan, calling the candidate "untrustworthy." "Jay Nixon, after having three years to run for Governor, has a $265 million dollar mathematical error," Craighead said, noting a calculation mistake in Nixon's camp made in its roll-out. He also said the $265 million dollars in question is not a one-time price tag. "That $265 million dollars, you've got to fund it every year," Craighead said. Nixon has pledged to restore all the Medicaid cuts made in 2005. He is now arguing that the Medicaid cuts are having a ripple effect that is causing higher premiums for Missourians. Nixon has also said that Missouri has lost $1.5 billion dollars in federal matching funds when Gov. Blunt slashed the rolls. "And now 750,000 Missourians don’t have health insurance and everyone who has coverage is paying way too much for it. Are Congressman Hulshof and his allies seriously arguing that Blunt’s massive health care cuts were good for the state?," asked Nixon spokesperson Oren Shur. "What he's not telling you is in order for Missouri to get those funds would require a tax increase and if Nixon says otherwise, he's lying. Jay Nixon cannot be trusted on healthcare policy," Craighead said. "None of it can be taken seriously, based on a massive miscalculation . . . when he rolled it out," he added.

NEW NIXON AD

Meanwhile, Jay Nixon's campaign has started running a new television ad today, focusing on Hulshof's record "siding with oil companies in Washington." The 30-second spot is running in Kansas City, Jefferson City/Columbia, Springfield, Quincy and Ottumwa.

"While Congressman Hulshof has been part of the problem in Washington these past 12 years, Attorney General Nixon has stood up to the oil companies here in Missouri” said Oren Shur, Nixon’s campaign spokesman. “In Washington, Congressman Hulshof gave billions to the big oil companies, and what did Missouri families get in return? Skyrocketing gas prices. Needless to say, that’s not the kind of change we need."

McCaskill Skewers "Big Oil"

"They call Big Oil, Big Oil Said No, They Say No."

WITH NEWS THAT EXXON-MOBILE REPORTS RECORD 2ND QUARTER PROFITS, MISSOURI'S JUNIOR SENATOR TAKES TO THE SENATE FLOOR

Exxon Mobile Rakes In $11.7 Billion, The Biggest Quarterly Profit Ever

McCaskill accused Congressional Republicans of being "handcuffed to the demands of big oil." Calls for extension of tax credits for wind and solar . . . WATCH CLIPS of her FLOOR SPEECH ABOVE

8th District Candidate Allen Drills . . . Blunt?

8th District Democratic candidate for Congress Joe Allen is blasting 7th District Congressman Roy Blunt's energy plan.

Allen is running to unseat Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, but in a press release, he takes his aim at Blunt.

Allen said he supports a Senate bill aimed at curtailing "speculation in oil markets that have placed a strangle hold on the American economy."

"This bill could be the most single important silver bullet in protecting American Labor and business. By placing limits on excessive speculation, we can tame inflation and unlock Missouri’s economic potential," said Allen.

But then Allen turned his attention to Blunt. He labeled Blunt's weekend tour as a "Drill Here, Drill Now" plan.

"This [drilling] will only expand the inventory of big oil and no immediate or long term relief will be seen by Americans," Allen said. "Big oil is making record profits on the backs of hard working Americans, and they will continue to do so as long as the Bush administration and our representatives continue to support them."

Added Allen: "We have not built a new refinery in thirty-two years, so how do we plan to process it? This is just another way for the Bush administration and his loyalists to hoodwink to the people for their own benefit."

By the way, Allen's web address for his campaign for Congress is . . . http://www.prestigevacationclub.com/allen/ Huh?

"Find More, Use Less"

Congressman Roy Blunt began his 2-day tour Friday touting a plan aimed at lowering gas prices based on finding more energy sources and using less of them.

Blunt's plan includes exploring for energy off America's coasts, promoting conservation and providing incentives for new technologies.

"This is the kind of balanced approach we need to bring down the price at the pump. I will keep working with my colleagues in Congress to take action on this package as soon as possible," Blunt said.

His plan includes:

• Opening Deep Water resources, which would provide 3 million additional barrels of oil a day, Opening the Arctic Coastal Plain (1 million barrels of oil per day) and allowing development of shale oil (2.5 million barrels of oil per day)
• Providing tax incentives for families and businesses that purchase more fuel efficient vehicles, a monetary prize for the first person to develop an economically feasible super-fuel efficient vehicle, and providing tax incentives for those improving energy efficiency
• Developing alternative fuels through government contracting, extending for 10-years the tax credit for alternative energy production and eliminating barriers to expand nuclear production
  
  
  
  

Pump It Up

Congressman Roy Blunt will begin a 2-day tour of Southwest Missouri Friday to tout his energy plan designed at bringing down gas prices.

It's called "Find More, Use Less."

It begins Friday in Mt. Vernon at 11:40 a.m. at the Travel Center of America Truck Stop. He'll follow up with stops in Webb City, Neosho, Anderson, Cassville and Monett.

On Saturday, Blunt will hit the Cody's in Bolivar at 9:15 followed by two stops in Springfield and stops in Branson, Hollister and Branson West.

Blunt Gives $500,000 to NRCC

. . . to minimize expected losses in November, reports The Politico.

"The money will go to the cash-strapped National Republican Congressional Committee for the fall campaigns as part of the GOP's biennial Battleground Program to raise money from incumbents," writes Patrick O'Connor.

In other news, House Republicans are trying to force a floor vote on legislation that would cut the number of localized "boutique" gas blends that refiners are required to produce under EPA mandates to reduce air pollution.

Minority Whip Roy Blunt is the bill’s sponsor. He said the bill might provide relief at the pump soon by cutting the number of different fuel blends that overworked refineries have to produce, according to CQ Politics.com.

“Americans may be willing to pay $4 for a grande double shot mocha Frappuccino, but not $4 for a gallon of gasoline,’’ Blunt told reporters.

Friday Night Surprise

STEELMAN GOES UP IN SOUTHWEST MISSOURI EVENING NEWSCASTS WITH ANTI-ETHANOL MANDATE AD

TAGLINE: "Congressman, Washington answers don't work in Missouri."

CITES KY3 Political Notebook column, featuring the positive adjectives describing Steelman, while (not) surprisingly omitting the favorable Hulshof descriptions . . .

Just to be clear, we don't do endorsements, we do balanced analysis

Ho-hum . . . Oh well, welcome to the fray

Invoking Hugo Chavez

HULSHOF CAMP SUGGESTS STEELMAN ETHANOL PLAN WOULD AID VENEZUELAN DICTATOR

Campaign Believes Ethanol Debate "Will Go On For Awhile"

Kenny Hulshof's campaign for Governor released a group of independent studies Monday which they claim "debunk" Sarah Steelman's recent assertions that the state ethanol mandate is leading to higher food prices and hurting Missouri farmers.

The Hulshof case boosting ethanol includes:

• Merrill Lynch analysis that concluded oil prices would be 15% higher without biofuels
• U.S. Ag Dept. analysis that found that without ethanol, gas would be 35 cents higher
• Iowa State Study that found ethanol has lowered gas by 30 to 40 cents per gallon
• A.G. Edwards analyst asserting that ethanol blending could ultimately reflect lower prices at the pump
• American Farm Bureau president Bob Stallman: “The production of 6.5 billion gallons of ethanol in 2007 displaced the need for 228 million barrels of oil. That is equivalent to nearly half of the oil imported from Venezuela in 2007.”

The Hulshof campaign also pointed to a statement by Venezuela dictator Hugo Chavez condemning the U.S. for its "crazy" initiatives to produce ethanol.

"The promotion of biofuels, including Missouri’s ethanol mandate, is clearly working," said Scott Baker, communications director for Hulshof. "If not for ethanol, Missourians would be facing significantly higher prices at the pump, and we would have to import millions of additional barrels of oil from dictators like Hugo Chavez. Steelman’s plan is dangerous for America and extremely harmful to Missouri."

Show-Me Institute: E-10 Mandate Drives Costs

The Show-Me Institute has a full study on the ethanol mandate that contradicts what the Missouri Corn Merchandising Council has found.

"The MCMC study ignores important effects of the E-10 mandate, however, most notably the documented decrease in fuel efficiency of E-10 blended fuel and the taxpayer cost of ethanol subsidies. We find that accounting for these costs significantly impacts the MCMC savings projections and would result in a net loss to Missouri consumers of almost $1 billion during the next decade. If one were to consider the additional impact of the E-10 mandate on higher food prices and CO2 gas emissions, these costs would be even higher," write Justin Hauke and David Stokes.

Read it all HERE.

Mo. Corngrowers: Ethanol Repeal "A Political Scheme"

A statewide group dedicated to increasing the profitability of corn is calling Sarah Steelman's plan to repeal the statewide ethanol mandate "a political scheme."

A day after Steelman's announcement to scrap the 10 percent ethanol mandate, the Missouri Corngrowers Association has blasted out a release claiming that a repeal would result in increased prices for consumers.

"By utilizing corn-based ethanol in gas pumps throughout the state, Missouri consumers have earned bragging rights for having the cheapest gas in the nation," said Corngrowers Association CEO Gary Marshall. "By design, the use of ethanol as required by the Missouri Renewable Fuel Standard works only to lower the cost to consumers. The law is written with a price trigger that if ethanol is ever priced higher than gasoline, marketers are not required to use the high performance fuel."

"Removing the ethanol requirement in Missouri would only increase prices at the pump for already hurting consumers," reads the release.

But Steelman said Tuesday that ethanol doesn't make traveling any cheaper for drivers. "You don't get as many miles per gallon burning the blend, the ethanol blend, as you do regular gas. So that if you're not getting as many miles per gallon, you have to fill up more often at $4 a gallon," the State Treasurer said.

Marshall pointed to a recent analysis by Merrill Lynch that shows that gasoline prices would be 10 to 15 percent higher without the ethanol supply in the marketplace. That translates into ethanol helping hold down gasoline costs to American drivers by 60 to 70 cents per gallon.

Marshall also said our dependence on foreign oil is driving up grocery bills. "While commodities are a small factor, fuel costs alone represent more than twice the value of corn contained in each box of corn flakes," Marshall said. "The price of groceries is heavily dependent upon energy for processing, packaging, and transportation - energy derived from expensive oil."

"With energy and food prices at record levels, the wealthy oil and food companies are looking for a scapegoat while they rake in record profits. Politicians joining the fray with short-sighted strategies intended for political gain simply add insult to injury. Ignoring ethanol's benefits and throwing Missouri farmers under the bus is no way to solve today's energy crisis," said Marshall.

The Nightcap Piece: Hulshof vs. Steelman on the Ethanol Mandate

Reversing course from her previous position, Republican candidate for Governor Sarah Steelman is calling for an end to Missouri's 10 percent ethanol mandate. Republican rival Kenny Hulshof believes doing that would push gas prices even higher.

Watch the debate, including what one local farmer has to say, in our piece on KY3 News @ 10 HERE.

Blunt Pushes ANWR Drilling

PAIN IN THE GAS

Blunt Puts Blame on Dems for Opposing Drilling

WATCH KY3 NEWS @ 10 REPORT HERE
Could Drilling in ANWR Really Save .70 to $1.60 a gallon?

"No other country see their natural resources as an environmental hazard"

Also: Questioning Blunt, I Asked Why Gas Prices Have Doubled Under the Bush Administration and why some pledged the War in Iraq would help bring cheaper oil. ***WATCH ABOVE FOR HIS ANSWER***

Congressman Roy Blunt blamed Congressional Democrats for high gas prices Wednesday, saying in a satellite interview that their opposition to drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and other pristine areas hurts American exploration and energy independence.

Blunt also said that if Congress allowed drilling in ANWR, people would see an impact at the pump almost instantly. "It would take maybe 10 years to see oil from ANWR get from the pump, but it would immediately impact price," Blunt told KY3 News. A spokesperson for Blunt later added in an e-mail, "Dems said that ANWR production would take 10 years to get to the pump . . . 10 years ago."

It was just Tuesday that big oil companies dodged a bullet when Senate Republicans blocked an attempt to slap the businesses with a windfall profit tax. "What nerve does it take for us to give oil companies 17-billion dollars in taxpayer money? With those kinds of profits? This is like the twilight zone. This can't be real. We can't honestly be standing here and saying to the American people it's a great idea for us to keep giving them your money when they are making 83-grand a minute," Senator Claire McCaskill said in support of the bill on the floor.

On Wednesday, Blunt stayed on the gas attack offensive, lambasting a Democratic subcommittee for voting for a policy "that has kept billions of barrels of American oil . . . off-limits to American consumers for nearly 30 years."

"What these politicians fail to understand is that these abundant deep-sea energy resources don’t belong to Congress – they belong to the American people. Unfortunately, for the last 27 years, Congress has prevented the American public from accessing them – and today’s outrageous energy prices are in part the result of it," Blunt said.

"Finally those politics of less supply has caught up to us," Blunt added in our interview Wednesday.

Blunt's office sent the KY3 Political Notebook a chart estimating that bringing onshore sources of oil online (like ANWR) could save drivers .70 cents to $1.60 at the pump. Read more on that chart HERE.

McCaskill said drilling in Alaska is no silver bullet to our problems. McCaskill says it would be years before American consumers would get any benefit from ANWR oil.

Blunt: "Ethanol's Been An Easy Whipping Boy"

AT ECONOMIC ROUNDTABLE, BLUNT SAYS HE'S "NOT OPPOSED" TO LOOKING AT PROFITS CAP FOR OIL COMPANIES, BUT QUICKLY ADDS, 11% OIL RETURNS ARE LESS THAN MICROSOFT

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***VIDEO CLIPS ABOVE***
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Contends That OFFSHORE DRILLING Could Open Up 30 Billion Barrels
Argues That Taking Away Tax Breaks For Oil Companies Would Make Us Temporarily More Dependent on Foreign Oil
Sees Ethanol as "just part of the mix" . . . points to cellulosic, nuclear, wind and solar . . . but adds that ethanol's "been an easy whipping boy"

Blunt Talks Gas Prices

TOUTS LEGISLATION TO REPEAL GAS TAX

WOULD PAY FOR IT WITH HALT ON EARMARKS

"Ones I fought for were pretty good . . . but I think we could all forgo them . . ."

WATCH MY KY3 NEWS @ 10 REPORT HERE

Also . . . VIDEO Clips with Blunt on ethanol, oil companies and drilling offshore . . .

****DEVELOPING . . .

How To Explain $3.49 A Gallon

TANKED

Congressman Blunt to Conduct Roundtable Discussion on Gasoline Prices

Monday @ 3:30 p.m.

Southern Missouri Containers on 900 North Belcrest

Also today, Congressman Roy Blunt called on Congress Friday to extend tax credits for clean energy alternatives.

“If this country has any hope of achieving true ‘energy independence’ over the next generation, it’s going to take more oil, more natural gas, more coal, and more nuclear – but also a strong commitment to renewable and alternative energy sources that can be found right here in Missouri,” said Blunt. “It’s vital for Congress to stand behind these tax credits as a catalyst for clean, reliable and domestic forms of energy.”

The bill is called the Clean Energy Tax Stimulus Act of 2008, and it appears to have bi-partisan support. Specifically, the bill would extend tax incentives such as the production credit for electricity produced from wind, biomass, hydropower, and geothermal. The legislation additionally includes a 30 percent investment credit for businesses that install solar or fuel cell equipment, according to Blunt's office.

The bill also extends energy efficiency programs that give homeowners tax credits for installing energy efficient furnaces, windows and insulation to make their homes more efficient. For home builders, the legislation rewards contractors for going the extra mile to build more energy efficient homes. And for businesses, the bill helps small and medium-sized firms make energy efficient improvements to commercial buildings.

Blunt Cool On Gas Tax Repeal

ON GAS TAX, BLUNT'S WITH OBAMA

(Dr. Ridder . . . nodding in the background, seems to agree)

A bill proposed by a Missouri lawmaker would lift the state’s gasoline tax for the summer – in a way. The state’s gas tax is 17 cents on every gallon. If the bill becomes law, however, it wouldn’t mean 17 cents would drop off the prices at the pumps. You can watch the KY3 News @5 report HERE. Gov. Matt Blunt seemed to be reluctant to sign on to such a measure, citing the need for those dollars to go towards Missouri's roads and bridges. (WATCH ABOVE, and check out Springfield Public School Superintendent Norm Ridder's facial cues)

At the federal level, Sen. John McCain has called for a repeal of the gas tax during this summer driving season. Sen. Hillary Clinton has signed on, but Sen. Barack Obama has not, saying it's a short term political gimmick --- and not the right long-term solution.

The 5% Solution?

DEBATE OVER MANDATING BIODIESEL
AG, OIL INTERESTS FACE OFF

House Transportation Cmt. Proceeds With Caution
Petroleum Pipeline Company: "Don't force us to make a bad investment."
Soybean Association: "We add to fuel supply, while reducing the cost of feed for famers, as well as food for consumers."
Rep. Charlie Denison: "I'm not sure this bill will get us a lower price in diesel fuel."
MINNESOTA THE ONLY OTHER STATE WITH SIMILAR MANDATE . . .
. . . and Diesel Has Proven to be Cheaper Than Biodiesel Every Day, according to Magellan Midstream Partners
WATCH MY KY3 NEWS @ 6 REPORT HERE

The arguments FOR the 5% biodiesel mandate: Reducing the carbon footprint, biofuels lower the price of gas by 15% according to Merill Lynch, crushing soybeans will help make farmer feed more economical, mandate only kicks in if price of biodiesel blend is lower than diesel, mandate would bring uniform standards to biofuel and improve quality, boon to soybean industry struggling with new trans-fat standard in foods, would open the market to challege oil companies hold on market.

The arguments AGAINST the 5% mandate: Mandates distort the free-marketplace, costs too high to put infastructure in place to handle biodiesel blend, biodiesel proven to be very expensive, and therefore never may be used, private companies may decide to forgo costs and stop shipping or selling diesel altogether, if a terminal runs out of biodiesel - what do you do?, too much is still unknown about the price of biodiesel and its stability, companies forced to comply with mandate may pass cost on to the consumer.

It's Beautiful This Time of Year

ON THE ROAD . . .

To Jefferson City Tuesday

HOUSE TRANSPORTATION CMT. HEARING ON BIODIESEL

Should Missouri Mandate 5 percent Biodiesel Blend?

Soybean, Agriculture, Dairy & Environmental Interests expected to testify at Early Bird Hearing Tuesday

***DEVELOPING . . .

CHECK BACK LATER TUESDAY FOR UPDATES