Jackson: Tourism and bio fuel debate can get messy
I laugh every time I get e-mail from Minnesota's tourism department inviting me to fish with the governor and a few other outdoor writers.
My laughter is all about Minnesota and how much effort goes into promoting the state's tourism picture, which is a far different outlook than what happens here in Illinois.
Now get this from Gov. Mark Dayton. Minnesota's annual fishing opener attracts more than a half-million anglers from within and outside the state.
We could accomplish that same goal here but state lawmakers show up for budget talks looking like bug-eyed coyotes searching for their next meal.
Meanwhile, Minnesota tourism folks make no bones about the fact that all that cash derived from fishermen and tourists has become a necessary part of budgetary thinking. In fact, fishing has become a major part of tourism dollars and is one of Minnesota's largest economic sectors.
And then we come to the kind of liquid gold we as drivers in this state put in to the gas tanks of our vehicles. Not only has the price of a precious gallon of fuel cost us at the pump, lobbyists with corn state growers as clients have won a few battles despite significant opposition from taxpayers.
And now there's a report from the Iowa Department of Revenue that shows ethanol-free gas (E0) is a more popular fuel choice than E15 (15 percent ethanol) and all flex fuels (E20, E85) combined, with Iowans purchasing more than 200 million gallons of E0 fuel in 2016.
Why is that news so surprising?
Well Fred G. of Lombard told me his views in an e-mail.
"It really doesn't matter that bio fuels help keep corn growers in the pink. But what about us common folks who spend thousands of dollars repairing our car's engine after ethanol sludge clogs up the fuel lines?"
What's the matter with you Fred? You claim to be a long-time Illinois resident and taxpayer. Don't you understand this is how politics is played in this state and country?
Believe me when I report to you that Illinois may be going down the financial drain, but we'll still have plenty of ethanol available so we could drive to the grocery store for a can of beans and powdered milk.
• Contact Mike Jackson at angler88@comcast.net, catch his radio show 7-9 a.m. Sundays on WGCO 1590-AM (live-streamed at www.1590WCGO.com) and get more content at www.mikejacksonoutdoors.com.