Walker Ad Can’t Hide Failing Record on Higher Ed, Student Loan Debt
In a deceptive new ad, the flailing campaign of Gov. Scott Walker is trying to whitewash his disastrous record on student loan debt and higher education.
Student Loan Debt
MEMO: A $1.2 Trillion Crisis
Students, borrowers and their families are increasingly being squeezed by a system in which dramatic cuts to the university and technical colleges, skyrocketing tuition and profiteering by big banks and the federal government has resulted in nearly 40 million borrowers holding over $1.2 trillion nationally. Since 2000, student loan debt has grown exponentially, from $200 […]
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Report Exposes Issues in Private Student Loan System
A new report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau points to the need for significant reform to the student loan system, including allowing refinancing.
Mary Burke Repeats Call for Student Loan Reform to Aid Borrowers
During an editorial board visit with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, today, Democratic candidate for governor Mary Burke reiterated her call for student loan reform.
Over 800,000 Reasons to Address Student Loan Debt in Gubernatorial Debate
Students and borrowers have done the right thing. Mary Burke is listening to them and Gov. Walker is listening to the Wall Street bankers financing his campaign.
Mary Burke Calls Student Loan Reform to Aid Borrowers Her Top Priority As Governor
Democratic candidate for governor Mary Burke told the Associated Press her “first priority” as governor would be passing the Higher Ed, Lower Debt bill to lower student debt.
One Wisconsin Now Praises Susan Happ Call for Crackdown on For-Profit Colleges
One Wisconsin Now praised Jefferson County District Attorney Susan Happ’s plan to use the Attorney General’s office to crackdown on unscrupulous for-profit colleges.
Long-term student debt is a drag on economy
As if we didn’t already have enough evidence of the ill effects of the heavy burden of student loan debt, there was new evidence last week that the damage isn’t just confined to students themselves. [Racine Journal Times]
Gov. Walker Refuses to Help Student Loan Borrowers As His WEDC Lets Businesses That Owe Millions to State Off the Hook
Gov. Scott Walker has steadfastly refused to support a common sense state plan to allow students loan refinancing, just like you can a mortgage.
Pricetag of Student Loan Debt Continues to Rise: Recent Study Shows Housing Industry Loses $83 Billion in Sales Annually
A recent study from a home building industry consulting firm estimates student loan debt is costing the U.S. housing market $83 billion annually in lost home sales.
What College Republicans get wrong about Higher Ed, Lower Debt
The Higher Ed, Lower Debt bill was something substantive that dealt with student loan debt from a long-term perspective, and Republicans killed it without even a second glance. [Badger Herald]
What College Republicans Get Wrong About Higher Ed, Lower Debt
This bill was something substantive that dealt with student loan debt from a long-term perspective, and Republicans killed it without even a second glance.
Sen. Baldwin Introduces Bills to Stop Punishing Hard Working Students for Being Hard Working
The Working Student Act authored by Sen. Baldwin would increase the earning limit for students who work and also rely on need-based federal financial aid like Pell Grants to pay for their tuition.
Study shows minority students take on more debt
One Wisconsin Intern Miles Brown, an African American who is now a senior at UW-Madison says he grew up in poverty, in a family where no one had a 4-year-degree. [WKOW-TV]
Gov. Walker Earns Failing Grades in Student Loan Debt 101 on College Tour
A recent college campus tour undertaken by the increasingly desperate campaign of Gov. Scott Walker earns failing grades for failing to take on the $1.2 trillion student loan debt crisis.
Walker discusses UW affordability at UW-Eau Claire visit
One Wisconsin Now is blasting Walker because he hiked tuition, flat-lined financial aid, and let legislation that would have helped current student borrowers refinance their loans die. [WEAU-TV]
Will Ron Johnson Be Deciding Vote on Student Loan Refinancing?
Johnson could be the deciding vote on legislation authored by Sen. Warren, and sponsored by Sen. Baldwin, to allow student loans to be refinanced.
Student loan debt movie makes Milwaukee premiere
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett was also on hand for Monday's discussions along with student loan debt reform advocate Scot Ross, Executive Director of One Wisconsin. [WDJT-TV]
Ivory Tower film screening sparks debate on student loan debt crisis
Mayor Tom Barrett will discuss the impact of student loan debt on the City of Milwaukee and student loan debt reform advocate Scot Ross, Executive Director of One Wisconsin. [WDJT-TV]
Gov. Walker Needs to Go Back to School on Education Policy
As students across Wisconsin head back to school, it’s Gov. Scott Walker who needs to be educated about the impact of his wrong-headed education policies.
Wisconsin Group Wants to Turn Student Borrowers into Activists
Through the recession, college tuition skyrocketed at public universities to make up for flagging state funding. Some students who borrowed to keep up with rising costs face crushing debt repayments. [PBS]
One Wisconsin, Mark Pocan featured on PBS NewsHour
Could the country's more than 40 million student loan borrowers become a voting bloc with a voice? One Wisconsin Now, the liberal advocacy group headquartered in Madison, says yes. [Capital Times]
Workplace and Health Care Gender Inequality, Not Jobs, Making a ‘Wisconsin Comeback’ With the Regressive Policies of Gov. Scott Walker
Gov. Scott Walker, who plunged the state to last in the Midwest in jobs on his watch, is touting a “Wisconsin comeback” in his stump speeches and TV ads.
PBS NewsHour Features One Wisconsin Now’s Student Loan Debt Work for Tuesday Segment
The national ‘PBS NewsHour’ program will feature One Wisconsin Now and the Institute’s work on the student loan debt crisis in a segment airing Tuesday evening.
Jacob Schimmel: Walker breaks ‘covenant’ with students
Common sense would tell you that when crucial educational programs are cut, people are going to make a lot of noise. But under the noise, Gov. Scott Walker was able to swiftly yet quietly eliminate a program that this state’s students are in dire need of — the Wisconsin Covenant Scholars program. [La Crosse Tribune]
Legislators, Reform Advocates to U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson: State of the Nation Includes Too Much Student Debt
Despite the data and urgent need for action, Sen. Johnson voted against common sense reforms like allowing borrowers to refinance their loans.
U.S. Rep. Pocan Authors New Legislation to Aid Student Loan Borrowers
The Relief for Underwater Student Borrowers Act would allow student loan borrowers who have been granted debt relief as a result of consistent repayment towards their student loan debt an exemption from being taxed on the amount forgiven.
Gov. Walker Conducts Photo-Op at For-Profit College Chain Under Investigation by Attorneys General
Gov. Walker is visiting a branch of ITT Tech which operates 145 campuses in 35 states and is one of four for-profit colleges under investigation by multiple attorneys general across the country.
GOP-Led Committee Studying Technical College System Ignoring Issues of Affordability, Student Debt
A GOP-controlled committee examining changes to the governance and funding sources of the Wisconsin Technical College System appears poised to ignore the critical issue of affordability for students.
Latest Poll in Governor’s Race Gives Clues to Walker, GOP Push to Make it Harder for Students and Young People to Vote
Now we see why Gov. Walker and his lapdog Republican controlled legislature were so eager to erect new barriers to young people voting – they’re overwhelmingly opposed to his record of cronyism, corruption and incompetence.
Student Loan Debt Reform Boosts Burke to Commanding Lead Among Younger Voters
The latest Marquette University Law poll shows former Trek Executive Mary Burke with a commanding lead of 48-35 among voters aged 18-29.
Kleefisch Tech College Tour Ignores Walker Failures on Student Loan Debt
Massive cuts, skyrocketing tuition and opposing reforms that would allow borrowers to refinance their loans, just like you can a mortgage or car loan – that’s the Walker-Kleefisch record.
Twenty to Life: Higher Education Turning Into Multi-Decade Debt Sentence
The explosion in student loan debt has caused borrowers across the nation to spend an average of more than 20 years to pay off their higher education debt.
Saul Newton: Sen. Ron Johnson’s shameful votes
We need elected officials willing to fight for us. Instead, Johnson has shown us exactly who he is: an embarrassment to Wisconsin. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
Refinancing Help for Student Loan Borrowers Blocked by U.S. Senate Republicans
Republicans in the U.S. Senate today voted to block action on legislation authored by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and sponsored by Sen. Tammy Baldwin to allow student loans to be refinanced.
Walker Cut UW Tuition and Student Loan Debt
One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross, who has become a national leader on student loan debt issues, decried Walker’s “stunning lack of leadership.” “Wisconsin’s student loan debtors had a pathway to real tax relief, but Governor Walker is only interested in tax breaks for corporations and the rich,” said Ross. “Drastic cuts to the […] [Capital Times]
New Data Reveals Depths of Student Loan Debt Crisis in Wisconsin
New data released today by the White House, based on 2014 Department of Education statistics, reveal Wisconsin’s share of the $1.2 trillion student loan debt crisis.
Obama links student loan payments to 10 percent of income
Research conducted by the liberal advocacy group, One Wisconsin Institute, found Wisconsin residents with student loan debt were paying nearly $500 a month for more than 20 years. [Capital Times]
Will Sen. Ron Johnson Extend Call for Transparency to Himself?
In a recent press release Sen. Ron Johnson announced he is calling for more “transparency” in the Congressional Budget Office’s fiscal analyses of the Affordable Care Act.
President Obama Helps Student Loan Borrowers With Order to Allow Lower Monthly Payments, Support for Loan Refinancing
Obama announced new initiatives to help the estimated 40 million plus Americans currently burdened with over $1.2 trillion in student loan debt.
Wisconsin Democrats talk about getting young people to the polls
Liberal group One Wisconsin Now handed out “100 Grand” candy bars to symbolize the debt many college graduates now carry and stickers that read, “I am a Student Loan Debt Voter.” [Capital Times]
In Historic First, Wisconsin Democrats Call for Action to Help Over 753,000 Wisconsin Student Loan Borrowers
In a historic first, Wisconsin Democrats today included support for common sense measures to help Wisconsin borrowers refinance their student loan debt as part of their party platform.
Seceding from the Union or Providing Relief from Student Loan Debt Crisis: Which is Better for the Wisconsin Economy?
The GOP engaged in a debate over a party platform resolution authorizing the state to secede from the union. Democrats meanwhile are set to take on serious economic issues.
U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson Has a Lot to Say About Student Loan Debt… But None of It Makes Any Sense
Johnson’s disingenuousness was on full display as he conflated efforts to help student loan borrowers refinance loans with limited loan forgiveness programs.
U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson Needs to Go Back to School on Student Loan Debt
Recent statements from U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson on student loan debt reveal a need for him to go back to school on the issue.
Memo to Charlie: Gov. Walker’s Student Loan Debt Fail
Gov. Walker and his sycophants like Charlie Sykes that regurgitate the Governor’s talking points can spin all they like. The fact remains that under Gov. Walker the student loan debt crisis in Wisconsin has gotten worse, not better.
Scott Walker, Opponent Mary Burke Tied in Latest Poll
Burke put state Democrats’ popular measure to refinance student debt in her jobs plan, pointing out the toll college loan debt takes on Wisconsin’s economy and on its struggling middle class. This issue resonates strongly with Wisconsin’s 800,000 student debtors, who rank debt relief among their top political concerns. And they receive a monthly reminder of […] [The Progressive]
Rep. Pocan Introduces Federal Student Loan Refinancing Act, Offers Lower Interest Rates for Borrowers
U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (WI-2) today introduced legislation, H.R. 4622, to automatically lower interest rates on federal student loans to 4%.
Sen. Warren Announces New 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.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, others praise Voter ID ruling
On the One Wisconsin Now blog, Scot Ross writes that the bill pending in Congress to address the student loan debt crisis is a help, but far from being a solution to the now $1.2 trillion problem. [Capital Times]