| National
Grange Criticizes Senator Daschle's Leadership on
Energy Legislation Washington,
April 19, 2004 - The National Grange has released radio commercials in South
Dakota openly criticizing Senator Tom Daschle's leadership on gaining support
to pass critical energy legislation. Rural America would benefit tremendously
from the energy bill currently being considered by the U.S. Senate. The
Energy Policy Act of 2003 mandates greater use of ethanol and biodiesel, which
would nearly double the amount of corn used in ethanol production, rising to almost
2 billion bushels by 2012. This will create new jobs in ethanol plant construction
and operation in rural areas. Incentives to expand the market for biodiesel would
increase the demand for soybean oil and soybean oil processing facilities. The
increases in ethanol production would increase the prices farmers receive for
corn and sorghum by an estimated 10 to 30 cents per bushel by 2012. These higher
prices would also boost prices for other field crops, such as wheat, barley, oats,
soybeans and upland cotton. In addition, expanding biodiesel use will help support
the price of soybean oil and soybeans. The
bill would also: create a renewable fuel standard, provide new economic opportunities
for agriculture and rural America, support renewable fuels through changes in
tax laws by expanding the small producer's ethanol tax credit and allowing cooperatives
to receive the benefit, expand the renewable resources tax credit to encourage
the use of wind, solar, biomass and agricultural wastes to produce energy that
would generate new economic activity in rural areas, create a biodiesel tax credit
and extend the ethanol excise tax exemption.
"The National Grange has always been an advocate for rural America, and we will
continue to aggressively voice our concerns about this important piece of legislation,"
National Grange President William Steel said. "Our 200,000 plus members support a national
energy policy that will encourage the development of all forms of domestic energy
- traditional and alternative."
The
following advertisement will be heard on 40 radio stations throughout rural South
Dakota: The
night when Senator Tom Daschle should have been working to pass critical energy
legislation, he decided to spend his time away from Capitol Hill, signing copies
of his book. When
South Dakota needed Tom Daschle, Tom Daschle took the night off. Daschle
wrote this quote: "My leadership position in the Senate gives South Dakota an
unprecedented opportunity to put our priorities on the national agenda." But when
it came time to prove his leadership, Daschle could only deliver the votes of
12 of his 47 Democratic colleagues, leaving us two votes shy of moving this important
legislation forward. Comprehensive
energy legislation is critical to South Dakota, and we need Senator Daschle to
put our priorities, not his, first. Call
Senator Daschle at 605-334-9596. Tell him to prove his leadership means something
by delivering the two votes we need to send the energy bill to the President.
Tell him South Dakota families are counting on him.
Enriching
rural lives, supporting family farmers and preserving America's rural way of life
are major goals of the National Grange, the nation's oldest general agricultural
and rural advocacy organization. With a grassroots presence representing over 200,000 individual Grange members affiliated with 3,000 local chapters located
in 37 states, the National Grange is a proven, effective voice for family farmers
and rural Americans on a variety of economic, educational and public policy issues.
To
arrange interviews with National Grange executives, please contact Shaletta
Espie at 1-888-447-2643, ext. 116. | 
