Gov. Walker’s Student Loan Horror Show Premieres at ‘TheWalkerDead.com’

MADISON, Wis. — One Wisconsin Now is using Halloween to debut a new graphic depiction of the horrors of Gov. Scott Walker’s opposition to common sense student loan reforms for hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites. At TheWalkerDead.com, viewers can see numerous nightmare scenarios befalling the student loan borrowers struggling against Scott Walker’s indifference to their economic futures.

“‘The Governor’ has a starring role in ‘The Walker Dead,’” said Scot Ross, One Wisconsin Now Executive Director. “Gov. Scott Walker is creating an apocalyptic future for more than 800,000 student loan borrowers in Wisconsin.”

In October 2013, Rep. Cory Mason (D-Racine) and Sen. Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay) introduced common sense reforms including refinancing and a tax break for borrowers in their historic Higher Ed, Lower Debt Act. Despite having 54 co-sponsors, Walker’s Republican allies killed the bill. Burke included these proposals in her comprehensive jobs and economic development blueprint for the state.

In contrast, Gov. Walker’s record has been disastrous for student loan borrowers:

Hiking tuition and cutting state support for public education: In his first budget, Gov. Walker enacted an 11% tuition increase for University of Wisconsin schools. Students will pay more than $200 million in increased tuition over Gov. Walker’s four years in office because of his budget. Walker has also cut state funding for the University of Wisconsin and Wisconsin Technical College System by nearly $400 million in his two state budgets.

Flat-lining and cutting state financial aid: Under Gov. Walker, state financial aid programs for eligible students have received no new funds, even as double-digit tuition increases were signed into law. In addition, Gov. Walker phased out the Wisconsin Covenant program, signing into law a measure reducing state tuition assistance by $38 million over two years.

Refusing to help current borrowers: Gov. Walker let legislation die that would have helped current student loan borrowers refinance their loans and deduct student loan payments from their state taxes, just like you can with a mortgage. Despite entreaties from legislators, Walker has refused to call a special session to revive legislation to help student loan borrowers.

Ross concluded, “Students and borrowers have done the right thing – they have worked hard and took on the personal responsibility of paying for their education. ‘The Governor’ has taken $5 million from the banking and finance industry and he’s standing in the way of allowing borrowers to refinance their student loans like you can with a mortgage or a car loan.”

Recently, Ruth Conniff, editor of The Progressive Magazine, penned a piece “The student debt issue could decide the 2014 election.”