Empathy Alert: Scott Walker Changes His Mind About Leaving Some Wisconsin Residents, Mostly Rural, in the Cold

Scott Walker pledges millions of dollars to ease propane shortage. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 1/27/2014)

Somebody must have pointed out to him that there is something to lose.   On at least two occasions last week, Walker said that there would be nothing to gain from using a newly announced $1 billion state surplus or other public funds to address the propane shortage.

Beyond natural gas and electricity; more than 10% of U.S. homes use heating oil or propane.  (U.S. Energy Information Administration, 11/28/2011)

Households not likely to be campaign contributors.  Across the country, propane use is most common in rural areas and mobile homes. About 83% of households with propane heating are located in rural areas that are typically beyond the reach of the natural gas distribution infrastructure. In the Midwest, the rural share is greater than 90%. Additionally, those living in mobile homes are twice as likely to heat with propane as those in other housing unit types.