Three US Republican Senators ‘disappointed’ with party anti-ethanol stance; Nebraska famers back McCain 87-13 over Obama in straw poll

In Washington, three high-ranking US Republican Senators expressed disappointment with the party’s decision to repeal the Renewable Fuel Standard and eliminate all ethanol subsidies. Senate Agriculture ranking member Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., and Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, all expressed opposition to the platform. However, a straw poll of Nebraska farmers sponsored by the Nebraska Farm Bureau at Husker Harvest Days, showed John McCain taking 87 percent of the 246 votes. “I think there is more of a comfort level with John McCain among Nebraska farmers and ranchers than Barack Obama,” Rob Robertson, Farm Bureau vice president/governmental relations told theindepenedent.com. “While there is some concern in Nebraska about McCain’s positions on farm policy and ethanol, I think there is a general feeling that his broader policy positions in areas such as energy, taxes, environment and trade would be better for agriculture in the long run.”

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