Iowa governor calls for anti-Cruz vote on ethanol issue

Speaking to reporters at the Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit, Branstad said Iowans would make a mistake in supporting Cruz, the current Iowa front-runner and staunch opponent of the Renewable Fuel Standard.

Cruz supports phasing out a federal policy that sets a minimum for the amount of ethanol blended in the nation’s gas. But Wednesday, for the first time, Branstad said he wants Texas Senator Ted Cruz defeated.

Tom Brooks, the president of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, said 12 of the 14 candidates in both parties who are competing in the Caucuses support the RFS.

In December, at a party in his honor filled with hundreds of Republicans from all across the state of Iowa, Branstad was asked on stage his opinions of the 2016 candidates and the caucuses and the governor instead offered advice to candidates.

The governor continued: “He actually introduced a bill in 2013 to immediately eliminate the Renewable Fuel Standard”.

Given that, Branstad is amazed that Cruz is leading in Iowa, saying, “He’s heavily financed by Big Oil”.

Cruz has stressed that he would like to phase out the subsidies over a number of years.

Organizers, led by Eric Branstad – the governor’s oldest son, say they have gotten 50,000 Iowans who are involved in the industry to commit to Caucus.

Sen. Ted Cruz is facing pressure ahead of the key Iowa caucus on two fronts, as the Hawkeye State’s governor called on voters not to vote for the Texan amid speculation that former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will endorse his chief rival. Cruz also said he doesn’t think government should be “picking winners and losers” in the energy sector.