There was no shift.
Currently, ethanol producers cannot sell their product as a fuel. It is only through the EPA program that it can be blended or sold.
Walker knows that many jobs hinge on ethanol. Cutting off the subsidies cold-turkey would be a big disruption to the industry.
So, Walker proposed phasing out the subsidies as the laws get changed so ethanol can compete in the marketplace with gasoline, diesel, CNG, hydrogen, etc.
Walker's plan is thoughtful and will gain more support in congress than a simple "cut them off".
That is the hallmark of a leader who thinks multiple moves ahead while supporting free markets, capitalism and competition.
Thoughtful? Who wants thoughtful? I want what I want, and I want it right now!
/throws toy
Exactly. This is the sort of thing, however, that separates the long-term thinkers from the political hacks, even here on FR.
The long-term thinkers realise that you need to incrementally deal with policy changes so that you don't introduce massive dislocations that will often only make things worse, and will know that Walker understands this and therefore isn't a "flip-flopper," but is simply thinking strategically.
The political hacks, on the other hand, will just use this - either because they're ignorant or because they're cynical - as an excuse to accuse Walker of being a "flip-flopper" so that they can undercut him and try to score points for whoever their own preferred candidate is.
The author of the article is apparently the latter type.
Thank you !