Pence and feds talk corn inclusion

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Indiana Rep. Mike Pence has railed heavily against federal mandates he says are trampling on American freedoms and free enterprise. At the top of that list is the health care law that requires individuals to buy health insurance. One step below are environmental regulations he says would ruin coal-fired power plants.

But he backs federal mandates requiring oil refineries to add ethanol to their gasoline blends and supports giving consumers greater access to biofuels and ethanol.

Pence says the difference between a "good" and "bad" mandate boils down to whether the government is supporting Indiana businesses or not.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Gregg and Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels both support ethanol.

Republican Senate candidate Richard Mourdock has argued that ethanol mandates from Washington should be opposed on principle.