Health care and biofuels? The manager's amendment

November 7, 2:10 PMTacoma Independent ExaminerGeorge Prudden

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We've discussed in previous posts how the current House health care reform bill is a vast expansion of Congress' Constitutional mandate, a gift to the trial lawyers, and, in the end, a government takeover of the entire health care system.

Now comes the "Manager's Amendment" offered by Mr. Dingell of Michigan.

Since the weather in the Pacific Northwet has entered the gray season, there should be plenty of time to read both the bill and the amendment.

So as you're reading the Manager's Amendment, go to page 14, Sec. 555 and read about "Second Generation Biofuel Producer Credit"

 SEC. 555. SECOND GENERATION BIOFUEL PRODUCER CREDIT.
 (a) CREDIT AlvlOUNT DETERMINED BASED ON BTU
       CONTENT OF FUEL.-Subparagraph (B) of section 40(b)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code of 198(1 is amended to read as follows:

"(B) APPLICABLE AMOUNT.-For purposes of this paragraph-
"(i) IN GENERAL.-The term 'applicable amount' means, with respect to any type of second generation biofuel, the dollar amount which bears the same ratio to $1.01 as the BTU content of such type of fuel bears to the BTU content of ethanol.  For purposes of the preceding sentence, the types of second generation biofuel and the BTU content of such types shall be determined in accordance with the table prescribed under clause (ii)."

Can someone tell me what biofuels has to do with health care?  What I see is:

1. Something entirely unrelated to direct delivery of health care, and,
2. Something that will be giving biofuel producers a tax break, and, will increase the cost of the bill.

Today might be a good day to write your Congressional Representative and see if they can explain the relationship between health care and biofuels -- and indirect "benefits" of decreasing oil dependence have nothing to do with health care delivery.  You can get their contact information here.

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