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Art Cullen’s recent editorial criticizing Iowa Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst for pushing back on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) rule proposed by the Biden EPA was off-base, off-tone, and quite frankly, off-its-rocker.
It is embarrassingly inaccurate for Cullen to state that Grassley and Ernst “were pretty quiet” when the Trump Administration undercut the RFS. As anyone knows who paid attention, and as anyone who wants to opine on the topic should know, Grassley and Ernst spent the four years of the Trump Administration in nearly constant battle with him and his EPA to protect the RFS and Iowa farmers. They defeated numerous schemes by Sen. Ted Cruz and the Trump EPA to destroy the RFS.
And when Trump finally caved to Big Oil and granted the exemptions to the RFS that Cullen refers to, our senators were anything but silent. They pounded and pounded, sometimes literally on Trump’s desk, until he agreed to account for those exemptions going forward. Life under the Trump EPA was not good for biofuels, but it would have been infinitely worse if not for the constant work by Grassley and Ernst to push back on big oil schemes.
Now, true to form, Grassley and Ernst are doing the same thing when the Biden EPA has proposed a bad RFS rule. Cullen smears their actions as partisan.
Really? The entire Iowa delegation expressed disappointment in certain parts of the recently proposed RFS rule. Rep. Cindy Axne, a Democrat, stated: “the proposed decision to retroactively lower the 2020 [RFS] target does not reflect a sufficient commitment to renewable fuels and family farmers.” While some Republican elected officials might have used stronger language, the point was the same.
It's not surprising the Iowa federal delegation stood united in pushing for improvements to the proposed rule. After all, they are just representing their constituents. The Iowa Farm Bureau, Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Soybean Association, Iowa Biodiesel Board, and Iowa Renewable Fuels Association all expressed concerns with portions of the proposed rule – just as they had when the Trump EPA undercut the RFS.
The Biden EPA’s proposal included some good, some bad, and some ugly. It is misleading to use quotes from groups regarding the good portions of the proposed rule to try to undercut Grassley and Ernst’s comments on the bad and ugly portions of the proposed rule.
Here are the facts. Over four years, the Trump EPA destroyed demand for about 4.5 billion gallons of biofuels through the use of unjustified refinery exemptions. The Biden EPA’s proposed rule would destroy demand for about 3.3 billion gallons. Ironically, in view of Cullen’s charges, part of the proposed demand destruction would be achieved by illegally (we believe) reopening and lowering the final 2020 RFS levels put in place by the Trump EPA.
But as this is still just a proposed rule, there is a chance to see it improved. That is why we are thankful that the entire Iowa delegation is stepping up and speaking out. They should be applauded, not mocked.
There is no nice way to say this. Cullen’s editorial was factually incorrect, used cherry-picked half-truths to push a false narrative, and should be retracted. Quite frankly Mr. Cullen, you owe Iowa’s senators an apology.
Monte Shaw | Executive Director, Iowa Renewable Fuels Association
The Iowa Alliance for Retired Americans is alarmed with Gov. Kim Reynolds’ vision for Iowa. Iowa seniors value a strong economy where our families can live and thrive. From tax cuts to undermining our schools and our future ability to fund public needs, her vision is out of focus.
A strong economy needs a strong infrastructure, but under six years of Republican leadership, Iowa has earned the dubious distinction as either No. 1 or 2 in the nation for deficient bridges depending on if you are talking about number or percentage.
Our schools were once the envy of the nation but instead of continuing the commitment to strengthen our public school system, our governor is abandoning the public school system by redirecting public money to private schools.
Our governor readily took credit for the current budget surplus without acknowledgement the action of the Biden Administration’s efforts distributing direct aid to citizens, states and local governments, most states had a budget surplus last year. One notable exception is our neighbor to the east, Illinois. Illinois has a flat income tax rate of 4.95% which does not raise enough revenue to support the services Illinois citizen’s demand. Our governor is proposing to follow Illinois’ lead with a tax of 4%, while neglecting to indicate the coming increases in sales and property taxes.
The Alliance for Retired Americans believes taxes should be progressive, should be based on the ability to pay and the income source should not matter. Income is income. Currently Iowa’s lowest tax rate is .33% for taxable annual income above $1,676. The tax rate on income above $75,420 is 8.53%.
Is it fair to increase the tax rate of those least able to pay to give a tax cut to those more well off? Is it fair to exempt various kinds of income from any taxes at all? While cuts to taxes on pensions, 401(k) distribution and cash rent for retired farmers would help seniors, just because a person is retired does not equate to being needy. Seniors’ who are not fortunate enough to have pension income and works to supplement their meager Social Security check will face a big jump in taxes. Is that fair?
Iowa had a reputation for “Iowa Nice.” These proposals make a mockery of that moniker.
Mike McCarthy, President
Kay Pence, Vice President
Ken Sagar, Treasurer
Jan Corderman, Secretary
Lance Coles, Communications Director
Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO
Regarding “Reporting the circus from the cheap seats” (Times, Jan 12), I watched Charlie Chaplin’s “The Great Dictator” (music by Mason City’s Meredith Wilson) last night. It seems that many of the available Turner Classic films are about totalitarianism. Good. It seems that we are being overwhelmed by losses of freedom (while Iowa politicians talk about insuring our freedom) in ways such as: allowing pipelines across farm ground, limiting access to information, intimidating teachers, limiting women’s reproductive health, as well as removal of reporters from the floor of the Iowa Senate chamber.
A friend suggested to me regarding conservation of Iowa’s soil and water, “They act as if they don’t care what the public thinks.” Exactly! That is why voter suppression, gerrymandering and media control are so high on their priority list. I came to Iowa during the Robert Ray era. What a change in political culture since then. Thanks to The Storm Lake Times for speaking up. I hope the rewards for good journalism keep coming your way.
Mike Delaney | Windsor Heights
Last night I heard Gov. Kim Reynolds present a new program of Health Careers Registered Apprenticeship Program as part of her Condition of the State.
As a retired nurse and an advocate for a long-term care facility resident, this action concerns me.
In this program, high school students will be pressed into the labor market under the guise of helping with their career goals. Granted, long-term care facilities are desperately in need of Certified Nurse’s Aides, but facilities continue to reimburse staff with minimum entry-level wages.
Current nurse aide staff persons leave long-term care facilities by choosing early retirement because of constant Covid transmission dangers. The downward spiral of staff continues because of 12-hour shifts, inadequate staffing, and very laborious physical duties. The pay is not reflective of the skill and decision-making these positions require.
High school students should be learning educational components that will aid them in becoming thinking and knowledgeable citizens for Iowa’s future. Learning history, science, and math basics, and how to write intelligently, not to be trained to care for our elderly senior citizens. This action continues to minimize the standards for education in the State of Iowa.
When trying to learn additional criteria and information about this program referenced in the news release, I am unable to access the website as it is not available.
Iowa, we are better than this. As we think of the future, we must do better for our children’s educational future. We know the key to keeping persons in Iowa to join the workforce is to make the workplace safe, have competitive wages, and have a welcoming state where others want to work, live, and raise a family.
Mary Weaver | Rippey
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