EAU CLAIRE, Wis.—Craig Ervin, a skilled welder from my hometown of Eau Claire, is forced to rent.
“I always wanted my own place, but I don’t even bother looking anymore. Gets my hopes up, then I see the prices. It’s just depressing how expensive it’s gotten,” he said.
Like many Wisconsinites, Ervin is wondering how different policymakers would bring down the cost of living.
Ervin is the epitome of a hardworking American who did everything right, but still finds his paycheck stretched thin. He graduated from Chippewa Valley Technical College, where he learned to interpret complex blueprints and weld piping systems to precise specifications.
Ervin would love to buy a house, but buying one costs nearly $1,000 more per month than it would have four years ago.
In fact, Wisconsin homebuyers now face a quarter-million-dollar increase in interest payments…
