Conservatively Speaking

The Small Business Times has a new business blog and has invited me to be one of their bloggers. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the Small Business Times for their invitation.

My first entry details the sad state of Wisconsin's business climate. You can read my article here.

Here is what happened on the floor of the state Senate today.

1) The state Senate honored the University of Wisconsin Badger football team for their outstanding season last year and their bowl game victory over Arkansas on New Year's Day.

2) The state Senate also honored Wisconsin Badger All-American offensive lineman Joe Thomas, who is almost certain to be a number one selection in the upcoming National Football League draft.

3) Senators approved a Senate Joint Resolution declaring March 2007 American Red Cross Month.

4) Senators concurred in an Assembly Joint resolution honoring the life and service of President Gerald Ford.

5) Senators approved Senate Bill 13, legislation that I co-sponsored to allow access to pending paternity proceeding information for purposes of administering the child support establishment program.

Here is the analysis of the bill from the Legislative Reference Bureau:

Under current law, the record of a pending paternity action is confidential, except that the child's parents and the parties to the action and their attorneys may have access to the record, and additional specified persons may have access if the child is the subject of another type of proceeding, such as a juvenile guardianship or delinquency action. For purposes related to the child and spousal support and establishment of paternity and medical support liability program (program), which is administered by the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) in conjunction with county child support agencies, DWD and county child support agencies may obtain information from the clerk of circuit court on a case−by−case basis about any pending paternity action in which DWD or the county child support agency is a party.

DWD and county child support agencies, however, are not allowed general access to the Web site that is maintained through the Wisconsin Supreme Court's Consolidated Court Automation Programs case management system and that contains information about all pending paternity actions.

This bill authorizes DWD and county child support agencies to have statewide access to the records of all pending paternity actions for purposes related to administering the program, regardless of whether DWD or a county child support agency is a party to the action to which a record relates.


6) Senators approved Senate Bill 52 that relates to daylight saving time and closing hours for certain alcohol beverages retailers.

Here is the analysis of the bill from the Legislative Reference Bureau:

Federal law governing daylight saving time supersedes state law governing daylight saving time. Effective through 2006, federal law provides that daylight saving time begins at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday of April and ends at 2 a.m. on the last Sunday of October each year. Beginning in 2007, federal law provides that daylight saving time begins on the second Sunday of March and ends on the first Sunday of November each year.

The current state statute defining standard time provides that daylight saving time begins at 1 a.m. on the first Sunday of April and ends at 2 a.m. on the last Sunday of October each year.

This bill provides that daylight saving time begins at 2 a.m. on the second Sunday of March and ends at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday of November each year.

Under current law, with exceptions, no premises for which a Class "B" license (authorizing the retail sale of beer for consumption on or off the premises where sold) or a "Class B" license (authorizing the retail sale of intoxicating liquor for consumption on or, subject to certain conditions, off the premises where sold) has been issued may remain open between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. However, on Saturdays and Sundays, closing time is 2:30 a.m. rather than 2 a.m.

This bill provides that, on the Sunday that daylight saving time begins, closing time is 3:30 a.m. rather than 2:30 a.m.


Senate Minority Leader Scott Fitzgerald made a statement. Senator Fitzgerald noted in the previous legislative session, Democrats frequently gave floor speeches denouncing Republicans on the issue of health care. Today, Senator Fitzgerald said Senate Democrats who now control the state Senate have scheduled several floor sessions, but have failed to schedule any health care proposals for Senate consideration.

Senate Democrats say there will be a statewide tour of the Senate Health Committee. I am a member of the Senate Health Committee and will post details about upcoming public hearings and health care proposals as soon as they are available.

Scott Bauer of the Wisconsin Associated Press is reporting property taxes will go up over five percent under Governor Doyle's budget.

You can read Bauer's entire article here.

The state Senate Calendar has been set for Tuesday's Senate floor session, February 27, 2007. Here is the complete calendar:


First Order. Call of Roll.

Second Order. Chief clerk's entries.

Third Order. Introduction, first reading and reference of proposals; reference of appointments.

Fourth Order. Report of committees.

Fifth Order. Petitions and communications.

Sixth Order. Advice and consent of the Senate.

QUESTION: Shall the appointment be confirmed?

Lynch, Terry, of Racine, as a member of the Board on Aging and Long Term Care, to serve for the term ending May 1, 2011. (Report confirmation recommended by committee on Public Health, Senior Issues, Long Term Care and Privacy, Ayes 5, Noes 0)

Sheehan, Heather, of Hayward, as a member of the Nursing Home Administrator Examining Board, to serve for the term ending July 1, 2010. (Report confirmation recommended by committee on Public Health, Senior Issues, Long Term Care and Privacy, Ayes 5, Noes 0)

Seventh Order. Referrals and receipt of committee reports concerning proposed administrative rules.

Eighth Order. Messages from the Assembly.

Ninth Order. Special Orders.

Tenth Order. Consideration of motions, resolutions, and joint resolutions not requiring a third reading.

QUESTION: Shall the joint resolution be adopted?

Senate Joint Resolution 8. Relating to: commending the University of Wisconsin-Madison Badger football team. By Senators Risser, Lazich, Erpenbach, Olsen, Hansen, Miller, Lehman, Decker, Lassa, Darling, Kedzie, Coggs, Roessler, Wirch, Plale, Schultz, and Sullivan; cosponsored by Representatives Black, Pope-Roberts, Berceau, Boyle, Kerkman, Newcomer, Mason, Ballweg, Lothian, A. Ott, Hahn, Nass, Bies, Jeskewitz, Gundrum, Molepske, Wieckert, Hebl, Travis, Seidel, Pocan, Turner, Townsend, LeMahieu, Hintz, Petrowski, Staskunas, Mursau, Smith, J. Ott, and Ziegelbauer.

Senate Joint Resolution 12. Relating to: commending Joe Thomas for his athletic achievements. By Senators Kanavas, Kapanke, Lazich, Sullivan, Miller, A. Lasee, Lehman, Roessler, Hansen, Coggs, Kedzie, Plale, Lassa, Grothman, and Darling; cosponsored by Representatives Zipperer, LeMahieu, Tauchen, Kerkman, Travis, Nass, Albers, Pocan, Berceau, Lothian, Hines, Nerison, Hahn, Hintz, Petrowski, M. Williams, and J. Ott.

Senate Joint Resolution 17. Relating to: declaring March 2007 American Red Cross Month. By Senators Wirch, Carpenter, Cowles, Erpenbach, Grothman, Hansen, Lazich, Lehman, Leibham, Miller, Olsen, Plale, Risser, and Roessler; cosponsored by Representatives Ballweg, Albers, Benedict, Berceau, Bies, Boyle, Gunderson, Hahn, Hintz, Hraychuck, Kerkman, Lothian, A. Ott, Owens, Pope-Roberts, Seidel, Sheridan, Sinicki, Soletski, Townsend, Van Roy, and Wasserman.

QUESTION: Shall the joint resolution be concurred in?

Assembly Joint Resolution 6. Relating to: the life and public service of Doris J. Hanson. By Representative Parisi; cosponsored by Senator Miller.

Assembly Joint Resolution 8. Relating to: the life and public service of Robert L. Quackenbush. By Representatives Musser, Nerison, Huebsch, and Albers; cosponsored by Senators Schultz, Kapanke, and Vinehout.

Assembly Joint Resolution 9. Relating to: celebrating March 1, 2007, as St. David's Day. By Representatives Owens, Gunderson, Hahn, Mursau, Nerison, Townsend, and Petrowski; cosponsored by Senators Coggs, Hansen, Kanavas, Lassa, Olsen, Roessler, and Wirch.

Assembly Joint Resolution 11. Relating to: the life and public service of President Gerald R. Ford. By Representatives Roth, Bies, Hahn, Huebsch, Jeskewitz, F. Lasee, Lothian, Meyer, Nass, Nerison, Nygren, Owens, Schneider, Stone, Townsend, Vos, and M. Williams; cosponsored by Senators Cowles, Darling, A. Lasee, Lazich, Leibham, Plale, Roessler, Schultz, and Wirch.

Eleventh Order. Second reading and amendments of senate joint resolutions and senate bills.

QUESTION: Shall the bill be ordered to a third reading?

Senate Bill 9. Relating to: the administration by a dentist of oral medication to induce conscious sedation. (FE) By Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules. (Report without recommendation pursuant to s. 227.19 (6)(b), Wisconsin Statutes by committee on Health and Human Services)

Senate Bill 11. Relating to: time-share licenses. By Senators Lassa, Olsen, Decker, Risser, and Schultz; cosponsored by Representatives Hines, Nass, Hahn, Mursau, and A. Ott. (Report passage recommended by committee on Economic Development, Job Creation, Family Prosperity and Housing, Ayes 7, Noes 0)

Senate Bill 13. Relating to: allowing access to pending paternity proceeding information for purposes of administering the child support establishment program. (FE) By Senators Taylor, Olsen, Lazich, Lassa, Grothman, and Kedzie; cosponsored by Representatives Seidel, Gundrum, Turner, Sheridan, Jeskewitz, Albers, Kessle

Reminder: This Monday, February 26, 2007, I will hold another in a series of town hall meetings scheduled this winter throughout the entire state Senate District 28. I look forward to seeing you and hearing your questions, comments, and concerns.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26

HALES CORNERS 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Hales Corners Public Library • 5885 South 116th St.

My February 8 blog, Wal-Mart to the Rescue includes information about Aurora Health Care QuickCare clinics opening in Wal-Mart stores in Pewaukee, Mukwonago, Oshkosh, and Sheboygan. Following Wal-Mart's lead, other retailers like Target and CVS have opened over 150 similar clinics around the country.

Wal-Mart's influence has spurred a healthy competition, and their influence is having an impact once again.

The Business Journal reports that the Walgreen Company will open up to 15 retail medical clinics in its Milwaukee-area drugstores. The move by Walgreens is the direct result of the action taken by Wal-Mart, and is clearly a maneuver to compete head-on with Aurora that has 18 QuickCare clinics in Milwaukee. Health-care consumers stand to be big winners.

Walgreens clinics will reportedly offer fast diagnosis and treatment of common illnesses. The clinics will model those in Wal-Mart stores, focusing on care for ailments like strep throat, ear, sinus, and bladder infections, pink eye, and poison ivy. A nurse practitioner can prescribe medications and will staff the clinics that will be open conveniently on nights and weekends. Walgreens plans to have 250 clinics operating in drugstores all across the country by September.

Quick and easy health-care clinics offered in retail stores are revolutionizing health care. The Business Journal reports the number of U.S. retail clinics grew from 62 in January 2006, with a fifth of them Aurora's, to 255 during January 2007.

While the public clamors for quality and affordable health care, the public sector struggles to find answers. The solutions appear to lie with the private sector that is far-better equipped to provide consumers the care and services they desire.

The news media, editorial writers, pundits, elected officials, and special interest groups have weighed in on the Governor's proposed state budget. Now it's your turn.

The Legislature's budget-writing committee, the Joint Finance Committee will conduct a series of hearings around Wisconsin allowing taxpayers an opportunity to testify on the state budget.

Here is the schedule of the Joint Finance Committee public hearings.

It has been a week since Governor Doyle unveiled his budget proposal and newspaper editorial writers around the state are expressing skepticism.

The Sheboygan Press questions if the state can truly afford the Governor's budget.

The Beloit Daily News says Wisconsin could be headed down the road of fiscal disaster.

The Oshkosh Northwestern cautions that the state needs to be careful in its approach to the Governor's proposed tax on oil companies, a plan the newspaper calls "risky."

An often-used phrase about budgets is that the devil is in the details. More details are emerging about Governor Doyle's tax and spend budget. The more we discover, the more troubling the budget becomes.

Governor Jim Doyle explained his proposed biennial budget as an opportunity budget during his budget speech to the legislature.

Governor Doyle seizes the opportunity to increase spending during the first year of his budget by 6.4 percent and increase spending by 3.9 percent during the second year of his budget.

According to new figures I obtained today from the non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau, Governor Doyle increases state spending 6.4 percent in 2007-2008 over 2006-2007 and by 3.9 percent in 2008-2009 over 2007-2008. The Legislative Fiscal Bureau projects inflation at two percent during each year of the next biennium.

The Governor's spending increases are triple and double the rate of inflation.

The United States Census Bureau estimates Wisconsin's 2005 population at 5,536,201. Governor Doyle's budget includes an estimated tax and fee increase of $1.75 billion.

That means every man, woman and child in Wisconsin would pay $316.10 to pay for Governor Doyle's opportunity budget. The cost for a family of four is $1,264.40.

In a blog entry February 2, 2007, I made the connection between the rush to use more corn to make more ethanol and the subsequent impact on the food supply and the Mexican economy. I wrote in my blog:

"Excitement over ethanol, a renewable fuel made with corn, has reached such a high level that there has been a virtual rush on corn. The effects have been devastating, especially in Mexico with a society, culture, and way of life dominated by the tortilla. Tortillas make up 40 percent of the diet for poor Mexicans, and with corn prices quadrupling in Mexico since last summer, Mexico is suffering through its worst tortilla crisis.

Exorbitant tortilla costs created by the buzz about ethanol have left few alternatives in Mexico. Mexicans who can afford food are bypassing tortillas for options that are less healthy, so they are gaining weight. The poor are eating less, eating less healthy, or going hungry.

There are many concerns about ethanol, its effect on world hunger being the latest. Because corn is used to produce ethanol, it requires so much water, energy and land to produce, making its benefits highly questionable. Evidence suggests that ethanol costs more, harms the environment, and reduces gas mileage. Ethanol has been known to wreak havoc on small engines, and now it is likely to wreak havoc on the food supply."

Apparently I am not alone in this analysis.

One week after my blog, Caspar Weinberger, the son of the late U.S. Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger, and writer and lecturer on world events, has written a column making the same essential point:

"The issue is corn and the skyrocketing prices for tortillas, a flat bread made of white cornmeal. Since this food is the basic staple of the poor of Mexico, any dramatic rise in its price is bound to cause misery and outrage among the working and impoverished classes of America's southern neighbor. Over the last year, Mexican tortilla prices have more than doubled and now cost about 45 cents a pound. What is really behind the spike in this commodity appears to be the relatively new push in North America for alternative fuels to help rid the Western Hemisphere and particularly the U.S. of its dependence on foreign oil. As a result, ethanol is now the latest domestic fuel alternative under massive development."

You can read Weinberger's entire column here.

Some of the same concerns I have raised about ethanol were the subject of the cover story in the February 12, 2007 print edition of U.S. News & World Report.

The Wall Street Journal has editorialized about big corn and the consequences of ethanol.

The Earth Policy Institute believes the more ethanol we produce, the fewer people we will feed.

Edwin Black is the author of Internal Combustion: How Corporations and Governments Addicted the World to Oil and Derailed the Alternatives. Black says corn ethanol is a bad idea, America's next big fuel mistake.

Consumer Reports has conducted tests showing vehicles get poorer fuel economy from gas containing ethanol.

University of Minnesota researchers have concluded that even if we used every cob of corn, we would not solve America's energy's problems.

Will ethanol wreak havoc on the food supply? With too many doubts remaining and plenty of documentation to warrant concern, the jury is still out on ethanol.

Governor Doyle seemed to ridicule Governor Tommy Thompson during his budget speech last night, proclaiming the state got itself into a tremendous hole in the 1990s. He specifically mentioned expensive new programs, excessive use of one time money, exploding corrections costs, and runaway deficits. That is ironic since Governor Doyle's budget is loaded with new programs. He used one-time money in his last budget by raiding the Transportation Fund of $427-million, and the state is currently, today, in deficit and is in a structural deficit.

Governor Doyle brags that Wisconsin showed a small surplus in 2005 and a surplus in 2007. The highly reliable Legislative Fiscal Bureau says Wisconsin today has a shortage of $100-million. How can a shortage be a surplus?

The Governor said," Over the last four years, we've dramatically reduced the use of one-time spending." The taxpayers have not forgotten Governor Doyle's veto raiding $427-million from the Transportation Fund.

The Governor promised that, "At least 98 percent of our citizens will have access to health care coverage - more than any other state in the nation."

The Governor promises to make every dollar you pay for health insurance completely tax free. I'm skeptical of the governor's use of the word free. Someone is going to have to pay for this and every other program the Governor is seeking.

The Governor promises to save the taxpayers of Wisconsin $1.7 billion over the next four years. The state budget is a biennial document that only covers the next two years.

The Governor says "the budget is not merely a set of numbers and actuarial tables. It is a statement of priorities and values ... our commitment to nourish the abilities, energy and creativity of every Wisconsin child." He continues, "We should make a major new investment in school breakfast, four-year-old kindergarten, and smaller class sizes from kindergarten through third grade. We must reform the school financing formula. We can start by helping rural districts with transportation costs, providing relief to schools with declining enrollment, and continuing to address the disparity faced by our lowest spending districts." There must be a hefty price tag associated with all those glittering generalities.

He issued a "guarantee that every young person who is willing to work hard and make the grade will have a spot in college and a financial package to help pay for it."

One of the Governor's most taxing remarks in his budget address is, "We must repeal the outdated, inflexible QEO." Watch your income dwindle.

The Governor then informs during his speech that, "Wisconsin's citizens are going to have to pay some new fees in this budget."

Stay tuned for more State Budget Watch.

The Governor just completed his budget address, proclaiming his budget is an opportunity budget. It appears to be a real opportunity for the governor to gouge the taxpayers of Wisconsin.

Right now, today, there is a $100-million shortage, yet the governor proclaims he can see the affordability of an estimated $1.75 billion increase in taxes and fees for Wisconsinites.

The governor appears to fund some of his new programs by claiming the state will get millions of dollars from Washington for his new programs. He's done this in the past, and it turned out to be funny money.

One line of his budget speech says he will fully fund the SeniorCare program. After audience applause, the next line of his speech is that we'll have to work together to get the money from Washington in order to save the program.

Stay tuned and watch as information about Governor Doyle's budget unfolds. Watch more of your income go to pay for the governor's initiatives.

Telling reporters he thanks God he has a strong veto, Governor Doyle is urging Senate Democrat leaders to delay action in the state Senate on a constitutional amendment to do away with the Frankenstein veto power of the governor. The amendment would prohibit governors, regardless of political party, from using their partial veto power to create new sentences, and thus, new appropriations.

Senate leaders are listening to the governor. Senate Majority Leader Judy Robson (D-Beloit) and Senate President Fred Risser (D-Madison) say the amendment will not come to the floor of the state Senate anytime soon.

The state Senate is the last stop for the amendment that must pass two consecutive sessions of the Legislature before it can go to voters in a statewide referendum. The state Assembly passed the amendment February 1, 70-25. Unless the Senate acts on the amendment by February 20, the amendment cannot be placed on the April 2007 ballot for voter consideration.

What does this mean? The refusal of Senate Democrats to schedule the amendment in a timely fashion means Governor Doyle desperately wants to retain the ability to abuse the most expansive veto authority of any governor in the country. Senate Democrats are willing to oblige the governor instead of allowing statewide voters an opportunity to consider bipartisan public policy.

The most serious ramification of inaction by Senate Democrats is that Governor Doyle will be able to utilize the Frankenstein veto in the upcoming state budget. Two years ago, he was able to veto into the state budget an extra $427-million in spending the Legislature never authorized.

Governor Jim Doyle is quite busy lately, proposing cigarette tax increases, hospital increases, car registration fee increases, and the Governor is quite busy proposing hundreds of millions of dollars in new programs. Instead of creating new ways to tax us and inventing ways to spend more of our money, the Governor must pause for a moment and fix an existing budget shortage, and must do it quickly.

During the fall campaign, Governor Doyle kept telling us he balanced the budget. We are finding out that isn't the case. Here is what the Wheeler Report is reporting about the situation.

FINANCE'S FIRST TEST: FIX CURRENT BUDGET.
The equally-divided Joint Finance Committee gets its first budgeting test (this) week when Gov. Doyle sends it a bill to adjust spending for the current fiscal year. The latest figures from the Legislative Fiscal Bureau project a gross ending balance of $110,680,400. After deducting the $65 million required statutory balance, the net balance on June 30 would be $45,680,400.
However, the Fiscal Bureau report also listed $99.3 million shortfall facing four programs. They are:

o Office of the Public Defender. $9.2 million to pay for private bar.
o BadgerCare. $5.6 million to fully support the program for the year.
o Dept of Corrections. $38 million to cover increased expenses including salary and fringe benefits and overtime for the Division of Adult Institutions; contract bed funding; and, inmate health services costs.
o Wisconsin Works (W-2), Child Care and Related Programs. $46 million to fund the various operations, including $31 million resulting from higher than anticipated enrollment and cost per child.

DOA Secretary Morgan has already told state agencies they'll face an additional 2% in reductions in administrative spending. That move is expected to lower spending requirements for the fiscal year by $15.1 million. It is expected Doyle's proposal will involve a combination of reductions in state spending and lowering or eliminating the required statutory balance for this year. Eliminating the required statutory balance would result in about $125 million being available for appropriation and about $26 million available for a year-end balance.

The issues that most concern people today are taxes and spending. Ranking near the top concerns right after fiscal-related issues is health care. Government has been unable and may very well be ill-equipped to develop and implant a system that delivers high quality health care at affordable costs. Our best hopes lie with the private sector.

Last November, Wal-Mart opened an Aurora Health Care QuickCare clinic in Sheboygan. Clinics opened in December at Wal-Mart stores in Oshkosh, Pewaukee and Mukwonago.

Certified nurse practitioners staff the clinics and treat common family illnesses such as sore throat, ear infection, seasonal allergies and bronchitis. Cholesterol screenings, TB testing and flu vaccinations are also available. Clinic service is quick and convenient, with a typical visit taking just 15 minutes. There is a flat fee of $39 and an appointment is not necessary. The Wal-Mart influence has made an impact. Other retailers like Target and CVS have opened over 150 similar clinics around the country.

About half of the patients going to the Wal-Mart clinics in Wisconsin are not Aurora patients, and Aurora says about 40 percent do not have a primary doctor.

Wal-Mart is also revolutionizing access to prescription drugs. During September 2006, Wal-Mart made over 300 generic prescriptions available to customers and their employees, referred to as associates, in 65 Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club pharmacies in the Tampa, Florida area. The cost per prescription was an incredible $4. The program is also open to the uninsured.

Needless to say, Wal-Mart’s $4 prescription drug program became so immensely popular in Tampa that Wal-Mart expanded it statewide in Florida during October 2006, four months ahead of schedule. Medications for everything from allergies to diabetes and Parkinson’s disease are available. Discount drugs are available at Wal-Mart’s in 15 states, including neighboring Illinois and Indiana.

Customers are thrilled. Kelius Guzman of Chicago said, “Four bucks for a prescription is just amazing.” Another Chicago resident, Clyde Branch who is now saving $120 per month said it’s a great program, “especially for seniors, because we have a rough time trying to keep up with the price of prescription drugs.”

Wal-Mart has taken steps to upgrade their own health care plan. The retailer has relaxed eligibility requirements for its part-time employees seeking insurance, and for the first time has expanded coverage to children of its associates.

Doing what Wisconsin government officials have only been able to talk about thus far, Wal-Mart offers Health Savings Accounts (HSA’s). Associates contribute pre-tax dollars to an HAS that can be used to pay for medical expenses. Each dollar contributed by an associate through payroll deductions is matched by Wal-Mart.

Wal-Mart has enjoyed tremendous success primarily because it has an uncanny ability to negotiate price. Better than anyone else, it created a niche of wide selection and low prices. Other keys to their success are satisfying workers so they maintain close contact with customers, defining a clear mission of providing the best price for a given quality or the highest quality for a given price, and encouraging and rewarding innovation. Does this sound even remotely like the qualities of any government service or program?

Competition breeds quality. Other retailers like Target are expected to offer similar discount drug prices. That means access to health care will increase and the cost decrease, as proven by Wal-Mart.

The best solution to provide top-notch health care at affordable prices is not going to come out of city halls, statehouses, or Washington D.C. Any talk of fixing health care in America should have Wal-Mart and other private sector executives at the discussion table.

The “E” word is back. I am referring to ethanol.

If we turn the clock back to March 9, 2006, it was on that day I made a motion on the floor of the state Senate to indefinitely postpone a bill to mandate the sale of gasoline in Wisconsin that contained 10% ethanol. The motion was approved and for the past 10 months, we could breathe a sigh of relief. Not anymore.

Governor Doyle said during his State of the State speech, “I'll propose the next major step forward in our effort to become America's leader in energy independence - a $40 million investment in renewable energy. We'll provide incentives to dramatically increase the availability of E-85.” E-85 is fuel that is comprised of 85 percent ethanol.

Excitement over ethanol, a renewable fuel made with corn, has reached such a high level that there has been a virtual rush on corn. The effects have been devastating, especially in Mexico with a society, culture, and way of life dominated by the tortilla. Tortillas make up 40 percent of the diet for poor Mexicans, and with corn prices quadrupling in Mexico since last summer, Mexico is suffering through its worst tortilla crisis.

Exorbitant tortilla costs created by the buzz about ethanol have left few alternatives in Mexico. Mexicans who can afford food are bypassing tortillas for options that are less healthy, so they are gaining weight. The poor are eating less, eating less healthy, or going hungry.

There are many concerns about ethanol, its effect on world hunger being the latest. Because corn is used to produce ethanol, it requires so much water, energy and land to produce, making its benefits highly questionable. Evidence suggests that ethanol costs more, harms the environment, and reduces gas mileage. Ethanol has been known to wreak havoc on small engines, and now it is likely to wreak havoc on the food supply.

When the Governor talks about investing, another word for spending, a substantial amount of state dollars on proliferating ethanol, it makes me very skeptical. Before our deficit-riddled state commits to earmarking large sums of taxpayer dollars to ethanol, we should be assured with hard, empirical findings that the benefits are worth the expenditure. Today, that information is lacking.