Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman sent ethanol stocks down today with comments that the Bush administration is considering lifting import tariffs on ethanol, but ethanol interests were busy out stating their reasons why the tariffs should remain in place. Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Sen. John Thune (R-SD) issued a joint statement saying that ending the duty is unnecessary and would have negative consequences. “Everyone’s looking for a way to lower gas prices, but lifting the ethanol tariff won’t mean lower prices for consumers. What’s more, it would undermine efforts to make our country more energy independent and reward the oil companies that are already raking in record profits.”