No decision yet on ethanol subsidy rate: Senator Conrad

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Sen. Kent Conrad said on Wednesday lawmakers have not yet reached a decision on the ethanol subsidy rate that expires at the end of December.

Conrad, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, said ethanol was "in a separate section of things to be resolved." Conrad said he discussed ethanol supports with other Democratic senators, who met in private to discuss estate and income tax rates.

The 45-cent a gallon excise tax credit for ethanol is scheduled to expire on Dec 31. So would a 54-cent a gallon tariff on imported ethanol and a 10-cent a gallon credit for small producers of ethanol.

(Reporting by Charles Abbott)