Ethanol is a key ingredient to building political support for the measure by winning backing from farm-state lawmakers.

These are, of course, much the same arguments made by urban Democrats defending food stamps and school lunches - arguments that receive short shrift from many farm-state lawmakers.

Bowing to pressure from farm-state lawmakers, the Internal Revenue Service announced today that it would allow small wholesalers and some retailers to sell diesel fuel without paying tax.

But trade officials have been reluctant to retreat on agriculture for fear of alienating farm-state lawmakers whose votes would be needed if a complete agreement is ever presented to Congress.

There are also details to be worked out covering the corn-based gasoline additive ethanol, which is critical to wining political support for the bill from farm-state lawmakers.

The measure did contain requirements for greater usage of corn-based ethanol as a fuel additive, a plan supported by farm-state lawmakers of both parties.

Some farm-state lawmakers and most of the national farm lobby deride the idea.

Her attempt to redirect how the government gives out $20 billion each year in farm subsidies was met with enraged resistance from farm-state lawmakers.

Cutting agricultural subsidies has proven to be a very tough sell to Congress, where farm-state lawmakers from both parties hold considerable sway.

For farm-state lawmakers, he proposed that ethanol, the fuel made from grain, be exempt from energy taxes.