A state senator wants to pressure people to buy ethanol by putting a higher state tax on motor fuel that does not contain the corn-based fuel. Republican Senator Mark Zieman of Postville opposes a mandate that only ethanol could be sold at Iowa gas stations, so he is suggesting a new, 15 cent per gallon tax on regular unleaded. He says that way consumers would voluntarily buy ethanol, because it would be cheaper.Zieman says “price drives sales” and consumers will buy ethanol if it’s 15 cents per gallon cheaper than competing fuels.Zieman doesn’t want to call his 15 cent per gallon tax increase on regular unleaded a tax increase. Zieman calls it a “user fee” that’s only charged if the consumer uses non-ethanol-blended fuel. And Zieman says ethanol’s “better for you anyhow.” Zieman suggests ethanol might sell better if those ethanol stickers at the pump were ripped off and it was marketed as a high octane fuel. Zieman says “some people just don’t like the idea of their car eatin’ corn.”
