The column below reflects the views of the author, and these opinions are neither endorsed nor supported by WisOpinion.com.

The Trump economy isn’t working for most Wisconsinites. Trump’s trade wars and economic policies have reduced manufacturing jobs and hurt farmers. There’s record inflation fueled by the Iran War. Diesel and gas prices way up, fertilizer costs rising, grocery prices up as are mortgage rates. Wisconsin auto loan costs, delinquencies and repossessions are increasing. Wisconsinites are worried about the future.

However, Trump admitted: “I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation.” As the NYT reported: “a stunningly frank admission that came after weeks spent either downplaying the (Iran War’s) economic toll or simply asking Americans to be patient.” Trump’s fixated about a White House ballroom, settling scores and the Iran War. Accordingly his White working-class supporters are shifting. “The swing is stark: 54 percent of White voters without a college degree disapproved of Trump’s performance in a CBS News poll …” (Washington Post).

Wisconsinites are being crushed by Trump’s economy. There’s real pain. So Wisconsin Democratic Governor Tony Evers and GOP legislative leaders came up with a compromise for using the state surplus to increase spending for public schools, cut property taxes and give regular folks tax rebates. “The spending plan was released at a time when household costs are skyrocketing for average Wisconsinites. Ballooning property tax bills have hit residents especially hard …” (MJS). Although the GOP-led state Assembly passed the compromise with the support of 10 Democratic representatives, all Democratic state senators and 3 GOP state senators killed the compromise with the blessing of GOP gubernatorial candidate Tom Tiffany.

It wasn’t a perfect bill, compromises generally aren’t. And, Democratic state senators raised some good objections: would lead to a deficit if there’s lackluster economic growth. And, more was needed to fund public schools. But I think Evers had the better argument: Wisconsinites are hurting and our public schools are in immediate trouble financially. The public overwhelmingly supports Evers’ compromise: 80 percent favored, including 82 percent of Democrats, 77 percent of Republicans and 81 percent of independents (Marquette Poll). 

Moreover, the superintendents of the state’s 5 largest school districts – Green Bay, Kenosha, Madison, Milwaukee and Racine – have urged reconsideration. They said: “We urge the Governor and the Legislature to return to the table to address the continued underfunding of special education. Failure to approve a bipartisan plan will result in real harm, not just for students with disabilities, but for all public school students statewide. … At a time when Wisconsin residents are already navigating rising costs of living, reducing the tax burden would provide much needed relief – especially for seniors on fixed incomes.”

Democratic Lieutenant Governor and gubernatorial candidate Sara Rodriguez was blunt: “The real problem is that the Trump-Tiffany economy has placed such an enormous burden on Wisconsin families, and they need more support.” She strongly supports more funding for public schools and tax relief.

I don’t know if there will be a reconsideration. I hope so. What I do know is that Tony Evers is one of Wisconsin’s greatest governors. Never forget that Evers decisively ended the Scott Walker era.

Kaplan wrote a guest column from Washington, D.C., for the Wisconsin State Journal from 1995 – 2009.