Ethanol

The biggest story for South Dakota in the SOTU was the President's demands on energy and alternative fuels.  Reuters:

President Bush urged Congress on Wednesday to pass legislation that he said would boost U.S. energy production and keep the country's economy growing and less reliant on foreign energy imports.

In his State of the Union address, Bush pointed out that he sent to Congress four years ago his national energy plan, which he said would increase domestic crude oil and natural gas supplies, modernize the electric grid, build more nuclear power plants, develop alternative energy sources and promote conservation.

However, lawmakers have been unable to agree on a final energy package.

"Four years of debate is enough. I urge Congress to pass legislation that makes America more secure and less dependent on foreign energy," Bush said.

Of course, the President is being generous calling it a "debate."  The Democrats kept filibustering the energy bill, which included the general ethanol provisions.  To understand why we don't already have an energy bill, see "The Ethanol Moment."