Legislators Hear Need for Reform From Student Loan Borrowers
Will they act to help or will they allow student loan debt to stand in the way of the fair shot at the middle class borrowers have earned with their hard work and personal responsibility?
Higher Education
‘Higher Ed, Lower Debt’ student loan refinancing bill set for hearing
This hearing is the opportunity for legislators to hear their stories and understand the critical need for common sense reform. [Capital Times]
State Senate to Hear Testimony on Student Loan Debt Refinancing Bill
The Higher Ed, Lower Debt Act is common sense reform to help put Wisconsinites on the path to the middle class instead of sentencing them to decades of debt.
Sen. Ron Johnson Shows He Can In Fact Be More Wrong on Student Loan Debt
U.S. Senator Ron Johnson added to his stunningly ill-informed record on the $1.3 trillion student loan debt crisis with his latest comments.
Elizabeth Warren, Russ Feingold talk student debt at UW-Madison
One Wisconsin Institute has shown that those with student loan debt are more likely to rent than buy a home and more likely to buy a used car than a new one. [Capital Times]
Russ Calls Opposition to Student Loan Refinancing ‘Denial of the American Dream’
Unfortunately, Sen. Ron Johnson has been the leading voice against helping at least 515,000 hardworking Wisconsinites with student loan debt.
Debate on Solutions to Student Loan Debt Crisis Heats Up
Student loan debt and the need for reform of a broken system will be front and center in Wisconsin as Hillary Clinton visits the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.
Report: Property taxes, rates drop in southeastern Wisconsin
Republicans have repeatedly cut general fund support to K-12 schools and the UW System to pay for tax breaks disproportionately benefiting the wealthy and corporations. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
Scot Ross: Back to school shouldn’t mean decades of debt
For too many Wisconsinites, the $1.3 trillion student loan debt crisis continues unabated, burdening their family finances and holding back our economy. [Capital Times]
Back to School Shouldn’t Mean Decades of Debt
The student loan debt crisis is real, the need for reform is urgent and the opportunity is before us.
Baldwin hosts roundtable on student loans
Currently student loan debt is reaching $1.3 trillion, surpassing the combined total of auto and credit card debt, falling short only of mortgage loans, said Scot Ross. [Eau Claire Leader-Telegram]
One Wisconsin Now Presents Research, Offers Solutions to Student Debt Crisis at U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin’s College Affordability Roundtable
College Affordability and the $1.3 trillion student loan debt crisis were the topics of a roundtable discussion today in Eau Claire hosted by U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin.
Student loan debt featured topic on Capitol City Sunday
"They're not looking for a bailout, they're just asking to be treated fairly and being able to access fair market interest rates would be a step in the right direction." [WKOW-TV]
Hillary Clinton Unveils Comprehensive Plan to Address Student Loan Debt Crisis
Hillary Clinton today unveiled a new, comprehensive plan to address the existing $1.3 trillion plus student loan debt crisis and make college more affordable.
The Reality of Scott Walker’s Record on Higher Education
Gov. Scott Walker likes to tout his tuition freeze, but what he isn’t telling you is that the freeze came after he had already significantly cut state support for higher education in the State of Wisconsin.
Gov. Walker’s Refusal to Embrace Proposal to Allow Refinancing of Student Loans Goes From Mystifying to Appalling
Recent financial disclosures from Walker reveal that, like 43 million other Americans, his children have taken on student loan debt to pay for their higher education.
Student Activists Look to State Gov’ts When Uncle Sam Looks Other Way
We have state-based legislation we are pushing in Wisconsin. We think that states should be able to provide refinancing for folks who have student loans. [The Street]
Dear Ron Johnson: Wisconsin’s 800,000-plus Student Loan Borrowers Are Not Lazy
U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson should immediately apologize to the state’s more than 800,000 hardworking student loan borrowers for “ignorant comments, bordering on insulting” made to media yesterday.
Scott Walker’s Bankrupt Student Loan Debt Claim
Scott Walker will say and do anything to get elected. But on student loan debt, he’s flat out lying to the 43 million Americans, and their families, who have $1.3 trillion in debt.
Assembly Budget Packed With Giveaways for Special Interests, Nothing for One Million Wisconsin Student Loan Borrowers
Instead of helping borrowers, Gov. Walker wrote a budget to advance his presidential ambitions and Assembly Republicans piled on approving a budget full of special interest giveaways.
Scott Walker Is Drowning Students In Debt
One Wisconsin Now has helped launch “HOLD YOUR BREATH,” a graphic ad depicting an individual drowning to symbolize the plight of Americans burdened by student debt.
Ad targeting Scott Walker says college graduates are ‘drowning’ in student debt
Gov. Scott Walker is the target of a graphic new ad launched by three liberal groups who say he's been the "worst governor in America" for the country's student debt problem. [Capital Times]
Guest view: Scott Walker’s Wisconsin is no model to follow
People who read Gov. Scott Walker’s recent column deserve to know the truth about his record on the economy. Tax cuts for corporation do not create jobs. Education creates jobs, which creates customers for small businesses. [Holmen Courier-Life]
Higher Education
Gov. Scott Walker likes to tout his tuition freeze, but what he isn’t telling you is that the freeze came after he had already increased tuition substantially.
Wisconsin Democrats reintroduce student loan refinancing bill
To deny them the opportunity of the American dream when they're doing the yeoman's work, the hard work of helping people ... is a crime. [Capital Times]
Higher Ed, Lower Debt Act Introduced, Would Allow Wisconsin Borrowers to Refinance Student Loans Just Like You Can a Mortgage
Now it’s time for their elected leaders to step up for them and put common sense before politics by allowing borrowers to refinance their student loans, just like you can with a mortgage.
Higher Ed Cost Shift Sabotaging State’s Growth
If we’re going to move our state forward, we need to choose a different path by recommitting to public education as a public good and reducing student debt.
Federal agency visits Milwaukee to hear student debt concerns
The message is clear: many student debt services deserve an "F" grade, and the federal government wants to improve the mark. [WTMJ-TV]
One Wisconsin Now Joins Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in Forum on Student Loan Debt Crisis
The federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau convened a field hearing in Milwaukee today to hear from the public about their experiences with student loan debt and the servicing of their loans.
State Budget Committee Republicans Reject Common Sense Student Loan Debt Refinancing Plan
Republicans on the state legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance today rejected a common sense state-based plan to allow borrowers to refinance their loans, just like you can a mortgage.
Report Shows How Higher Education Great Cost Shift Hurts Wisconsin Families and State Economy
Declining financial support for higher education by the state of Wisconsin has shifted costs onto consumers, increased student loan debt and decreased the affordability of higher education.
Wisconsin’s Great Cost Shift
Declining financial support for higher education has shifted costs onto consumers, increased student loan debt and decreased the affordability of higher ed.
Testimony Against Elimination of the Educational Approval Board
One Wisconsin Now Program Director Analiese Eicher offered the following testimony on provisions of Assembly Bill 163 related to the elimination of the Educational Approval Board.
1T Day: Worst. Anniversary. Ever.
Saturday marks three years since the student loan debt Americans are taking on to pay for their education and job training crossed the one trillion dollar mark.
Budget committee to consider cutting board that oversees for-profit colleges
That Gov. Walker would propose gutting state oversight of the predatory practices all too common in this industry suggests he either doesn’t understand the problem or just doesn’t care. [Capital Times]
Gov. Walker’s Budget Plan for Fewer Protections for Students From Predatory For-Profit College Industry Up for Joint Finance Consideration
That Gov. Walker would propose gutting state oversight of the predatory practices all too common in this industry suggests he either doesn’t understand the problem or just doesn’t care.
No Joke: Gov. Walker’s 2015 Budget Plan for Higher Education So Bad University of Wisconsin Forced to Raise Tuition Before it Passes
Today’s vote by the Board of Regents is a grim preview of what’s to come under Gov. Walker’s 2015 budget.
Gov. Walker’s 2015 Budget Scheme Already Resulting in Tuition Hikes, Could Limit Wisconsin Students Access to University of Wisconsin School of Their Choice
The UW System Board of Regents Finance Committee today approved large tuition increases for out-of-state students attending UW schools and for students seeking advanced degrees.
Gov. Scott Walker’s Phony Badger Boosterism
Being a true Badger fan means supporting the university system that the extraordinary student athletes of the UW men’s basketball team have so ably represented.
Tammy Baldwin, Ron Johnson differ on how to solve student debt crisis
One Wisconsin Now executive director Scot Ross said Johnson's comments added "insult to injury" for Wisconsin's student loan borrowers. [Capital Times]
U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson Literally Adds Insult to Injury for One Million Wisconsin Student Loan Borrowers
Sen. Johnson not only blamed students for the $1.2 trillion student loan debt crisis, he followed it up with a vote on the Senate floor against common sense legislation.
Senator Elizabeth Warren Reintroducing Common Sense Student Loan Debt Refinancing Bill
Allowing for the refinancing of student loans is a common sense, pro-consumer solution to help 40 million Americans with over $1.2 trillion in debt.
President Obama Proposes Student Aid Bill of Rights
President Barack Obama today unveiled a “Student Aid Bill of Rights” to help the forty million student loan borrowers across the nation.
Arena plan prompts different reactions from area groups
Scot Ross, executive director of One Wisconsin Now, a liberal group, said his organization had "serious questions about the priorities of Gov. Walker." [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
Scott Walker budget would remove oversight of for-profit colleges
"The for-profit college industry has engaged in the kinds of tactics and activities that should earn them more, not less, scrutiny," said Analiese Eicher, program director for the liberal group One Wisconsin Now. [Capital Times]
Scott Walker, the Wisconsin Idea and the race for 2016
"GOP primary voters don't reject the notion that public education is a public good that creates jobs and opportunity," said Scot Ross, executive director of the liberal group One Wisconsin Now. [Capital Times]
The War on the Wisconsin Idea
Rather than reinforcing the university's commitment to public service, Walker made clear he does not consider public education a virtue worth preserving.
Gov. Walker Explanations of ‘Drafting Error’ Laughable, Impact of Proposed Budget Cuts to University System and Unlimited Tuition Increases No Joke
While Gov. Walker attempts to explain away either an intentional attack on the Wisconsin Idea, he is standing by egregious cuts that will hurt current and prospective UW students and explode student loan debt.
Scott Walker: Scrapping ‘Wisconsin Idea’ was a ‘drafting error’
Quick to capitalize on the "drafting error" buzz, the liberal advocacy group One Wisconsin Now tweeted a series of #draftingerror digs on the governor, a likely 2016 candidate for president. [Capital Times]
Walker says state budget won’t eliminate Wisconsin Idea
Ross said if Walker hadn’t intended to seek that change, he would have said right away that it was a drafting error, rather than saying that hours later. [Badger Herald]