Ethanol-State Senators Wait for Proposal from Cruz, Who Maintains Hold on USDA Nominee

Source: By Chris Clayton, DTN/Progressive Farmer • Posted: Friday, December 15, 2017

WASHINGTON (DTN) — Sen. Ted Cruz has now gotten multiple meetings at the White House over the Renewable Fuels Standard but the Texas Republican still maintains his hold on Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey’s undersecretary nomination at USDA.

And, following a meeting Wednesday with staff from several senators at the White House’s Eisenhower Executive Office Building, it seems Cruz doesn’t know what exactly he wants changed with the Renewable Fuel Standard.

“He just keeps moving the goalpost and moving the goalpost,” said a frustrated Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, on Thursday.

Staff from the offices of Sens. Ernst, Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and Deb Fischer, R-Neb., joined White House staff Wednesday afternoon to discuss options, but staff from Cruz’s office and Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., did not have any proposals to offer and were not ready to negotiate.

Sen. Grassley’s staff issued a statement afterward. “The next step is for Sen. Cruz to circulate specific proposals for consideration. The integrity of the RFS is Sen. Grassley’s priority and there was an understanding expressed broadly in the meeting that any outcome can’t undermine the integrity of the RFS,” said Michael Zona, a spokesman for Grassley.

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