King supports, Bustos opposes, EPA's ethanol blending requirements to aid Illinois farmers

EAST MOLINE -- Esther Joy King, Republican candidate for the Illinois 17th Congressional District, said U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos' criticism of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's plan to deny oil refineries' request to not follow ethanol blending requirements will hurt Illinois farmers.

"Cheri's swipe at the EPA and the Trump Administration for standing with ethanol producers is a slap in the face to farmers and rural America.," King said. "She’s making this political, and it’s not about politics. This is supporting hard-working communities in the 17th Congressional District."

King said Bustos' stance is harmful to the industry and farmers in western Illinois who have been struggling with the impacts of trade barriers and the pandemic.

The Renewable Fuels Association says the EPA’s announcement to reject the waivers and to keep corn-based fuels available longer at the pump are a godsend.

King, who faces Bustos in the Illinois 17th Congressional District in the Nov. 3 General Election, said she supports the move to back ethanol.

ABOUT ESTHER JOY KING:

Born homeless, Esther Joy King grew up in a converted school bus on the US-Mexico border with her Christian missionary parents. From her youngest days, Esther’s life has been about service and her desire to serve is a core element of her life.

After graduating college, Esther’s call to service led her to Kabul, Afghanistan, where she served as an aid worker. Her passion for democracy and human rights grew and still burns brightly today.

Her entrepreneurial spirit led her to start a marketing firm where she learned firsthand about creating jobs and opportunity. Her experiences led her to study law at Northwestern School of Law, where she earned both a JD and LL Master in Taxation.

She began her legal career as an associate at Kirkland & Ellis in Chicago, and from there to joining the US Army Reserve as a member of the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps. This next chapter of service led to her relocation to East Moline, where she has done training and service at the Rock Island Arsenal. She was recently promoted to Captain.

Today, Esther owns and operates a small legal practice in East Moline focusing on economic development. Esther understands the real struggles of making ends meet in the face of a dysfunctional government, which is why she wants to serve you in Congress.