Ethanol subsidy survives Senate vote

WASHINGTON, June 14 (UPI) -- The U.S. Senate Tuesday voted not to kill $6 billion in ethanol subsidies as part of the tax reform debate.

The Senate voted 40-59, rejecting by one vote a procedural measure to end debate.

Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., has been pushing to kill the subsidies because he says they benefit major oil companies that blend gasoline with ethanol, The Hill reported. Other Republicans, however, including John Thune of South Dakota, Mike Johanns of Nebraska and Chuck Grassely of Iowa, argued against Coburn's position, saying ending the subsidies could raise fuel prices.