As Hoosier Ag Today reported on Wednesday, the issue of ethanol and renewable fuels has become a hot topic in the Indiana Senate Race. The same day Evan Bayh attacked Congressman Todd Young on renewable fuel standards, Marathon Oil announced it has compensated Bayh more than $1.3 million for sitting on their corporate board, a fact that was pointed out by the Young campaign. According to a Young press release, Bayh joined the board of Marathon Petroleum in 2011 after leaving the U.S. Senate. The oil company’s official position is the repeal of Renewable Fuel Standards. The release further stated that Bayh did not leave his position on the board when he entered the race for Senate. Marathon Petroleum filed an SEC report on Wednesday stating Bayh received 824 shares of Marathon Petroleum stock on October 3. Those shares are valued around $35,000.
“Evan Bayh’s hypocrisy on renewable fuels is astounding. While farmers fight to survive under the strict regulatory environment Democrats have created, he made millions from a big oil company,” campaign spokesman Jay Kenworthy said. Todd Young has been a consistent supporter of Hoosier farmers, earning the endorsement from Indiana Farm Bureau in each of his three Congressional campaigns, added Kenworthy.