The Ethanol Gang of Ten

Why did Republican Senators Lindsey Graham, John Thune, Saxby Chambliss, Bob Corker and Johnny Isakson join five Senate Democrats to push this "bipartisan" boondoggle of a bill?

According to Stephen Spruiell:

There's one word that explains why these five Republicans are selling out: Biofuels. The gang's "compromise bill" contains billions in subsidies for research into biofuels, and for the manufacture of ethanol-burning cars.

Thune is from the corn-producing state of South Dakota and has always been a big advocate for corn ethanol. The flagship university in Corker's home state of Tennessee houses a major biofuels research center, specializing in cellulosic ethanol from switchgrass. Chambliss is the ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. He and Isakson both represent Georgia, where they are trying to figure out how to turn Georgia peanuts into fuel. And Graham — well, Graham just seems to have a mania for joining bipartisan gangs.

Damn! And I was hoping it was because they saw the need for compromise with Congressional Watermelons.