Ethanol drives rare wedge between Senate Republicans

• Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) wants to kill two birds with one bill: increase corn prices for vulnerable senators, and increase the fuel supply to help lower gas prices.
• But he needs to deconflict with Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), his second-in-command.
• "I oppose the year-round E15 mandate," Barrasso said on the Senate floor Thursday, referencing a gas blend of up to 15% ethanol. "I oppose it because it hurts small oil refineries and all of the people who work at them."

Between the lines: "We need to get E15 done," Thune said at an Agriculture Committee hearing on Tuesday.

• "That solves a couple of important problems, one of which is demand for corn in this country."
• A Senate leadership aide acknowledged there's a geographic split in the Senate but told Axios passing the bill is a priority.

Zoom in: After the House passed a standalone E15 bill last night, senators immediately began discussing potential revisions — and possible legislative vehicles.

• "Sen. [John] Boozman [R-Ark.] would like to include it in the Farm Bill. That'd be one option," Hoeven told Axios.

The big picture: For all of Barrasso's opposition, he made it clear that his main concern is small refiners.

• But corn-state lawmakers and candidates need a political win, GOP strategists tell Axios.
• That includes Sens. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) and Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), as well as Rep. Ashley Hinson, the likely GOP Senate nominee in Iowa.

The other side: Some Republicans oppose government support for ethanol on ideological grounds.

• "I'm not a real fan," Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) said. "I like corn as food."