Ethanol Group Paid Gingrich $300K

Newt Gingrich earned more than $300,000 acting as a consultant to a coalition of ethanol lobbying groups in 2009, according to IRS records. The possible GOP 2012 candidate—who declared "I am not a lobbyist for ethanol" during a spat with Wall Street Journal editors over his support for ethanol subsidies—was described as someone who "will speak positively on ethanol related topics to media" in a Growth Energy publication, i Watch notes.

Gingrich has long been a booster of alternative fuels, but critics say his support of ethanol subsidies doesn't fit in with conservative free-market ideals. A Gingrich spokesman contacted by the National Review didn't deny Gingrich's employment with the lobbying group. The former House speaker "supports an 'all of the above' energy strategy in order to create as much energy at the lowest cost while creating the most jobs here at home," the spokesman said. (More Newt Gingrich stories.)