When presidential aspirants head to Iowa, they are generally careful to avoid criticizing the ethanol subsidies that aid farmers in the state. But former Minnesota GOP Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who began his presidential campaign Monday, showed no hesitation in attacking that government assistance,
The Wall Street Journal reports.
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| Tim Pawlenty in Iowa. (AP Photo) |
"The truth about federal energy subsidies, including federal subsidies for ethanol, is that they have to be phased out," he told an event in Des Moines.
"We simply can't afford them anymore."
When he was in office, Pawlenty initially opposed ethanol subsidies in Minnesota, but later supported them. Still, his willingness to buck conventional wisdom in Iowa is noteworthy.
“In refusing to stick to the script for candidates looking to harvest votes in February's Iowa caucuses, Mr. Pawlenty has passed an early test of fortitude,” the Journal states.