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MFU president says Pruitt resignation was long overdue

Minnesota Farmers Union president Gary Wertish says the resignation of Scott Pruitt as EPA administrator was long overdue.

“The big thing was the Renewable Fuel Standard and how he was handing out hardship waivers to very large oil companies that were able to claim waivers.  One of those companies had $1.5 billion in profit last year.”

He tells Brownfield it’s hard for farmers struggling with low commodity prices to understand how a refinery making that kind of money could qualify for a hardship waiver.

“That was a back-handed way of getting rid of the Renewable Fuel Standard, which has been important to rural America.  (the RFS) is not only important to farmers but important to consumers too as it helps lower prices at the pump.”

Wertish says he has some reservations about Pruitt’s replacement at EPA, Andrew Wheeler, because of his ties to the coal industry.