Dr. Ben Carson, who is leading the corn-rich state of Iowa in many polls, said during Wednesday’s Republican presidential primary debate he wants to eliminate all government subsidies, including ethanol subsidies.
It’s a reversal for Carson, who said earlier this year he was in favor of slashing subsidies for oil companies to pay for ethanol subsidies. During Wednesday’s debate, Carson said he was “wrong” when he took his original position.
“The best policy is to get rid of all government subsidies and get government out of our lives,” Carson said.
The answer could have an impact on polls in Iowa, where Carson has been surging in recent weeks.
According to the Iowa Corn Growers Association, 47 percent of all corn in Iowa ends up in ethanol fuel. Iowa creates about 30 percent of all the ethanol in the country. The renewable fuels industry supports about 47,000 jobs in Iowa and contributes about $5 billion of Iowa’s gross domestic product every year.
