Can McDonald's and Denny’s kill the ethanol mandate?

There’s plenty I don’t like about the lobbying agenda of the National Council of Chain Restaurants. NCCR — which represents the likes of Dunkin’ Donuts, Wendy’s, McDonald’s, Cracker Barrel and Denny’s — was among the food giants supporting the Food Safety Modernization Act, and it lobbied to restrict commodity speculation and for stricter price controls on what banks could charge retailers for processing debit card payments.

But these days, the chains are lobbying for free markets. NCCR is supporting legislation to roll back the federal mandate requiring refineries to buy ethanol. This is important. Here’s why.