Republicans are supposed to detest EPA’s interference in the free market, but Okla. Congressman John Sullivan wants to keep EPA restrictions on gasoline. Sullivan wants to keep ethanol blends out of the market and he  opposes EPA’s plan to “increase the amount of allowable ethanol content in gasoline to 15% (E15).”

This is disturbing. A cornerstone of Republican ideology is the free market. Yet Mr. Sullivan rejects freedom in order to keep us dependent upon fossil fuels.  A key fundamental Republican concept is being undermined. Why is it happening? Is it because the fossil fuel industry is afraid of competition and it will do anything to keep us hooked on fossil fuels. Mr. Sullivan’s position suggests that even the Republican’s commitment to the free market can be sacrificed for big oil.   

via PRNewswire, Feb 16, 2011

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NPRA, the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association, was one of 15 organizations signing a letter to the leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives today supporting a measure by Rep. John Sullivan (R-Okla.) that would bar the Environmental Protection Agency from using federal funds to cover EPA costs involved with increasing the amount of ethanol in gasoline from the current 10 percent to 15 percent.

SOURCE National Petrochemical & Refiners Association  http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/15-groups-seek-to-bar-epa-funding-for-e15-116350214.html