The National Defense Authorization Act

On Dec. 31st, 2011, President Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act. To hear our Progressive friends talk about it, one would think that all it contained was language regarding the rights and treatment of citizens and other persons suspected of terrorism. There is a lot to the bill that they don't mention.

The NDAA is a 565 page document consisting largely of appropriations for specific ongoing programs within the Defense Department. Spending in 2012 for programs such as the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the Ford-Class Aircraft Carrier, even the Department of Defense's suicide prevention program, and countless others are detailed within the Bill.

What Progressives are all in a tizzy over are a few provisions, Sections 1021 and 1022, dealing with counterterrorism. 

Further Reading: The full text of the NDAA, found at the US Govt Printing Office

Sections 1021 and 1022

The text of the President's Signing Statement can be found HERE.

On Dec. 24, 2011 Gingrich and Perry Fail to Make the March Virginia Primary Ballot! Joining Bachmann, Santorum and Huntsman on the Sidelines.

(Reuters) - Leading Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich has failed to meet the requirements to be in the primary election in his home state of Virginia, the state's Republican Party said...
Texas Governor Rick Perry also failed to make the ballot for the state's Republican vote. Only former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and Texas Congressman Ron Paul qualified for the Virginia vote.

The Republican field is looking more and more like "The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight." Task #1 when running for office is... Get on the Ballot!

Congress Lets Ethanol Subsidies Lapse

Washington — On Friday Dec 23rd, Congress adjourned for the year, allowing the 30-year old tax subsidy for corn-based ethanol to expire. The subsidy, promoted by representatives of mid-west corn producing states, was a $45 billion gift to the ethanol industry beginning in 1980.

The program's policies in recent years have lead not only to increased corn production, but also an estimated 20% increase in corn prices. Millions of tons of corn have been diverted from feedlots and food products to ethanol producers, their product blended with gasoline.

Over the past few years many have criticized the subsidies as damaging to the environment, and consumers. Increased corn production demands increased amounts of herbicides and nitrogen based fertilizers, leading to more contamination of water
supplies downstream. The diversion of corn from food products to ethanol plants have over that past few years had a role in increasing prices for meat and corn based food products.

By failing to renew the subsidy, Congress also let lapse the tariff on imports of ethanol from Brazil. That country's ethanol is produced from Sugar, in a process that is vastly more efficient and less costly than ethanol made from corn.

While all this news sounds positive there is a possibility that Congress could revive the subsidy when they return to work in the new year. In addition, the legislative mandate for gasoline/ethanol blends is still on the books, assuring a steady market for domestic corn-based ethanol.
 
This issue, like most is complicated... you can learn more at:

Remember when retired US Senator Bob Dole was affectionately known as the Senator from Archer Daniels Midland? ADM has been a major US producer of ethanol and a major beneficiary of subsidies over the years. ADM's stock price, as well as that of Sacramento based Pacific Ethanol appear to be unaffected by the recent news.

Need another reason not to vote for Republican Mitt Romney? Mitt supports more and bigger ethanol and agriculture subsidies, at least while he's campaigning in Iowa.