Toomey is very familiar with this subject. In Pennsylvania, several smaller refineries have already felt the pain from the Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) market and seen the damage it does to their bottom line. They employ quite a few people in Pennsylvania, too.
As a matter of political calculations, is it really worth it for Trump to toss even more gifts to Iowa while delivering a financial blow to places like Pennsylvania, West Virginia and virtually the entire Gulf Coast?
Toomey also spoke rather generously (in my opinion, anyway) about there being a "natural market" for ethanol blended gasoline and allowing the market to determine what volumes are required. The market portion of the comment is true, but do you honestly think that anyone outside of the left coast and predominantly leftist cities would be crying out for gas mixed with ethanol if it went away? Why would anyone prefer a fuel like E15 that delivers three to four percent fewer miles per gallon? (E85 "flex fuel" actually gives you 15% to 27% fewer miles per gallon than regular gasoline.) E15 gas is also subject to phase separation when the vehicle is operated in even moderately humid climates, introducing water into fuel lines and other engine components.
And in exchange for all of that, we wind up undercutting the oil and gas industry (which provides far more jobs around the country) and making a few people wealthy selling RIN credits to refineries which can't blend ethanol. Pennsylvania is probably one of the last states that Donald Trump wants to tick of over the next two years before his reelection bid. Toomey makes a good point which the White House should be considering.