DENVER – Last week, Gov. Bill Owens (R) vetoed legislation that would require 75 percent of all gasoline sold in Colorado to contain at least 10 percent ethanol (E-10) from November 2006 to April 2007.

“While the bill would help a relatively few corn producers--whose lobby has been most energetic in working for this new mandate--few spoke up in favor of the consumers who would be forced to pay higher prices for their fuel. I intend to do so through this veto,” said Gov. Owens.

In his veto address, the governor added that free market principles, “the same principles that have established ethanol as an economic alternative to fossil fuels,” were “overlooked” in the bill. “Markets work best when full information is provided to the public, not mandated to them,” he said.