Ethanol Is Boon for Lobbyists

The Washington Post
POSTED: 11:54 AM ET, 11/19/2008 by The Editors

Big corporate interests are lining up to battle for and against the expansion of the U.S. ethanol industry, producing a bonanza for lobbyists and public relations firms in the next Congress.

A new coalition announced on Tuesday that it had signed up at least 50 groups--including the Grocery Manufacturers Association, National Pork Producers, American Meat Institute, National Council of Restaurant Chains--to fight for the removal of tax breaks and tariff protections for ethanol. To map strategy, the coalition has hired Glover Park Group, co-founded by Joe Lockhart, former chief spokesman for President Clinton.

The food industry, including groceries, livestock producers and cereal manufacturers, contends ethanol is a main culprit in rising food prices because beef, pork, turkey and poultry producers have to compete against ethanol refineries for corn, raising animal feed prices.

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