Ben Wolfgang
Articles by Ben Wolfgang
Renewable fuel standard promoting ethanol shunned by environmental groups
The Renewable Fuel Standard that boosted ethanol use has fallen out of favor so badly that environmentalists now see themselves on the same side of the debate as Republicans such as Sen. Ted Cruz, arguing that the entire program is deeply flawed and must be completely overhauled. Published March 15, 2018
Auto fuel-economy standards won’t extend past 2025, EPA chief says
EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt suggested Tuesday that he won't renew Obama-era clean-car rules past 2025, setting up a battle with states such as California that have vowed to keep their own tight emissions limits in place. Published March 13, 2018
Mayor Serge Dedina uses taxpayer money to fight oil companies
As executive director of the environmental group WildCoast, Serge Dedina for years has worked to reduce carbon emissions and protect the world's oceans and ecosystems from the effects of climate change. Published March 12, 2018
Carbon tax a divisive topic after Washington state fails to enact
The budding bipartisan conversation on carbon taxes has stalled, with virtually no movement from Republicans in Congress and one of the most liberal states in the nation unable to push a carbon bill through its legislature. Published March 8, 2018
House halts Obama-era emissions restrictions on kiln, brick industries
The House on Wednesday continued to pick apart Obama-era environmental regulations, taking aim at a pair of rules limiting emissions from the brick industry and on indoor wood heaters. Published March 7, 2018
Joe Manchin walking tight rope in West Virginia for midterm elections
The Senate's most conservative Democrat is a top target for the GOP in this year's midterm elections, but some analysts say Joe Manchin's ability to walk a tight rope in his deep red state — combined with an increasingly bitter Republican primary that could damage the eventual winner, as the candidates bash each other on opioids and other issues — should make him the favorite to win another term. Published March 4, 2018
Scott Pruitt, EPA chief, vows ‘my very next flight’ will be coach
After taking heat for spending thousands of dollars in taxpayer money for first-class flights, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt has promised that his "very next flight" will be coach. Published March 1, 2018
!["This morning, we had a very positive and productive meeting on fixing the broken [ethanol] system. I commend President Trump for bringing the two sides together and for leaning in hard to find a win-win solution that benefits both Iowa farmers and blue-collar refinery workers," said Sen. Ted Cruz, Texas Republican. (Associated Press/File)](https://twt-thumbs-staging.washtimes.com/media-staging.washtimes.com/media/image/2018/02/20/AP_17319658237344_c0-275-4915-3139_s652x380.jpg?304ab01a1c7220774ff9286acb8a99963039d3c0)
Ted Cruz pulls Donald Trump away from ethanol
Key senators left a White House meeting Tuesday with no concrete resolution on the future of federal ethanol policy, but critics of the Renewable Fuel Standard suggested that they are slowly pulling President Trump to a deal that will benefit the oil industry. Published February 27, 2018
Ted Cruz hails ‘productive meeting’ with Trump about reforming federal Renewable Fuel Standard
Key senators left a White House meeting Tuesday with no concrete resolution on the future of federal ethanol policy, but critics of the Renewable Fuel Standard suggested they're slowly pulling President Trump to their side and expect to reach a deal that benefits their allies in the oil industry in the coming weeks. "We made real progress, and, with the president's leadership, I believe we are close to solving the problem," said Sen. Ted Cruz, Texas Republican. Published February 27, 2018
Scot Peterson vs. school gunman raises debate
On one hand, Scot Peterson has been branded a coward by President Trump, and leading Florida officials and even his own former boss say they are disgusted by his inaction. Published February 25, 2018
Gun control debate greets Congress after Florida shooting
Congress appears to be settling on the outlines of consensus for action on stricter gun controls, with moves to strengthen the background check system and to restrict sales of bump stocks the most likely areas of bipartisan action. Published February 25, 2018
John Kasich says U.S. two-party system dying, predicts ‘multi-party’ future
Ohio Gov. John Kasich, one of the loudest Republican critics of President Trump, said Sunday that both parties are failing American citizens and that a "multi-party system" could materialize sooner rather than later. Published February 25, 2018
Pat Toomey resurrects background checks bill
Sen. Pat Toomey on Sunday said he intends to give his expanded background checks legislation "another shot" in the wake of a massacre at a Florida high school earlier this month. Published February 25, 2018
Dana Loesch, NRA spokeswoman, blames FBI, sheriff’s office for failing to prevent Parkland shooting
The National Rifle Association on Sunday morning said the "headline" in the aftermath of the Parkland, Florida, school shooting is the failure of the FBI and local law enforcement to do something about alleged gunman Nikolas Cruz before he carried out his massacre. Published February 25, 2018
Scot Peterson blasted for not entering Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School during shooting
Scot Peterson, the former Broward County sheriff's deputy who failed to confront a gunman inside the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School during the Feb. 14 massacre, came under fire from all sides Sunday as a victim's father labeled him a "coward," the state's governor said the entire state is "disgusted" by his handling of the situation and even Mr. Peterson's former boss said the failure to act makes him "sick." Published February 25, 2018
Rick Scott on Trump plan to arm teachers: ‘I disagree with him’
As he pushes his own comprehensive package to address gun violence and school safety, Florida Gov. Rick Scott on Sunday pushed back hard against President Trump's suggestion that some teachers be allowed to have their own firearms in the classroom. Published February 25, 2018
Ethanol, oil industries find common enemy in electric cars
Even as they're locked in a bitter, high-stakes battle over the federal Renewable Fuel Standard, the ethanol and oil industries each say they need to put aside differences and work together to prepare for an existential threat to both of their futures: electric cars. Published February 22, 2018
Donald Trump’s European climate change critics fuel U.S. coal boom
As France, Germany and Italy chastised President Trump for rejecting the Paris climate accord in June and mocked the U.S. for turning its back on the environment, their nations were busy importing record amounts of American coal. Published February 21, 2018
Official in Obama’s Interior Dept funneled thousands of dollars in grant money to family: Watchdog
A top official in the Obama administration's Interior Department helped facilitate payments of thousands of dollars in federal money to a family member, the department's inspector general said in a report late Tuesday that found clear abuse of the office's grant policies. Published February 21, 2018
Ted Cruz attacks ‘government license’ in fight against ethanol
Sen. Ted Cruz on Wednesday will travel to Philadelphia for a battle in his war against the ethanol industry, meeting with workers at an oil refinery that says it faces financial ruin due to the federal biofuels mandate. Published February 20, 2018
