GOV. RICK PERRY ON EPA DENIAL OF TEXAS' RFS WAIVER REQUEST

Cattleman, The, Sep 2008

Gov. Rick Perry Aug. 7 issued the following statement regarding the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) decision to deny Texas' request for a 50 percent waiver from the grain-based Renewable Fuels Standard:

"I am greatly disappointed with the EPA's inability to look past the good intentions of this policy to see the significant harm it is doing to farmers, ranchers and American households.

"For the EPA to assert that this federal mandate is not affecting food prices not only goes against common sense, but every American's grocery bill.

"Denying Texas' request is a mistake that will only increase the already-heavy financial burden on families while doing even more harm to the livestock industry. Good intentions and laudable goals are small compensation to the families, farmers and ranchers who are being hurt by the federal government's efforts to trade food for fuel.

"Any government mandate that artificially props-up a single industry to the detriment of millions of Americans is bad public policy.

"Congress specifically created an emergency waiver provision for situations like these and the EPA refuses to implement it."