The column below reflects the views of the author, and these opinions are neither endorsed nor supported by WisOpinion.com.
On Election Day Democratic candidates won big everywhere: gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia by double digits – flipping multiple counties won by Trump in 2024, doing better in rural, suburban and urban areas; picked up state Assembly seats in both states; won all 3 Pennsylvania state Supreme Court contests; elected 2 Georgia statewide utility regulators; won 2 Mississippi state Senate seats; elected a NYC mayor and struck a blow for democracy in winning the California redistricting referendum.
A national Democratic tsunami! The Democratic coalition came back together. What united most of the campaigns was anger at Trump’s declining economy. Democrats focused on affordability, inflation and unemployment, not identity politics. “A majority blame(d) Trump for rising prices, poll finds” (Washington Post). Trump sniffed: “Trump Wasn’t On The Ballot, And Shutdown, Were The Two Reasons That Republicans Lost … .” However, Trump suffered a rebuke to his disastrous economic policies, and along with Republicans, was held accountable for the longest shutdown in U.S. history.
Trump has not tried to end the shutdown, refusing to negotiate with Democratic congressional leaders. Instead, Trump traveled to Asia and Florida. However, he did find the time and funding to remodel a White House bathroom in opulent style. Far worse, Trump decided to end Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits to force congressional Democrats to acquiesce in not extending expiring enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits. Millions, including tens of thousands of Wisconsinites, will no longer be able to afford ACA private health insurance if tax credits are allowed to expire December 31. Moreover, 74 percent of all Americans, including 50 percent of Republicans, want the ACA tax credits extended (Kaiser Family Foundation).
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But Trump and most congressional Republicans don’t care, using denial of food on the table for 42 million, including 700,000 Wisconsinites, to get their way. However, America is better than that. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said: “U.S. bishops are deeply alarmed that essential programs that support the common good, such as SNAP, may be interrupted. This would be catastrophic for families and individuals who rely on SNAP to put food on the table and places the burdens of this shutdown most heavily on the poor and vulnerable of our nation… . This consequence is unjust and unacceptable.”
Wisconsin Democrats Senator Tammy Baldwin, Governor Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul agree with the bishops. And, in their finest hour supported a judicial order to end the cruelty. 2 federal courts ordered Trump to resume SNAP funding. But Trump delayed and threatened no resumption. Federal Judge John McConnell had enough of Trump’s political games: “The evidence shows that people will go hungry. … This is a problem that could have and should have been avoided. Therefore, the court … orders the administration to make the full SNAP payment to the states by tomorrow.” Governor Evers then was allowed to receive and distribute full SNAP funding.
However, Trump is still shamefully playing political games trying to sabotage SNAP funding. Endless cruelty.
– Kaplan wrote a guest column from Washington, D.C., for the Wisconsin State Journal from 1995 – 2009.
