ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) _ Republican Neb. Gov. Dave Heineman disagrees with his party's presidential candidate on whether the federal government should continue to prop up the ethanol industry.

McCain supports cutting the mandate that requires 9 billion gallons of biofuels like ethanol be blended into gasoline this year and about 11 billion gallons next year.

Republicans this week called for an end to mandates for the corn-based fuel in their national platform.

Heineman spoke yesterday from the Republican National Convention with Susan McGinnis of CleanSkies.tv, an online news network.

Heineman said ethanol is a key part of reducing the nation's dependence on foreign oil. Nebraska ranks second nationally in ethanol production.