Analiese Eicher: A most unhappy anniversary – Five years since student loan debt in US reached $1 trillion
The bad news is if our leaders continue to fail to act, we’ll be facing $2 trillion day soon. [La Crosse Tribune]
Column
Savion Castro: Charlie Sykes’ defense of hate speech shows he hasn’t changed his stripes
For 23 years Charlie Sykes’ radio show was the loudest megaphone allowing right-wing Wisconsin Republicans to foment racial division. [Capital Times]
A Most Unhappy Anniversary
According to the latest estimates, over 43 million Americans now owe $1.4 trillion, making student loans the second largest consumer debt in the nation.
Grace Hauser: ‘Nuclear option’ and Neil Gorsuch make for a scary combination
After making a joke out of President Obama’s qualified nominee, it is disappointing that the GOP could not recognize the concerns of the other side. [Capital Times]
Scot Ross: We’re seeing something — let’s say and do something
One Wisconsin Now will be hosting a seminar for activists to learn the best tactics to make your voice heard during these times. [Capital Times]
Neil Gorsuch’s Dysfunctional Nuclear Family
Neil Gorsuch’s views fall far behind the rest of the country. But what is most unsettling is that he secured his critical position in a completely unprecedented manner.
Scot Ross: What could go wrong with a constitutional convention? Plenty
Now more than ever we need the Constitution we already have to protect our rights and to protect our democracy. [Capital Times]
Scot Ross: Refinancing student loans a real solution
Allowing them to refinance their student loans, just like you can with a mortgage, is a common sense solution to deliver real relief for Wisconsin borrowers. [Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune]
Americans Deserve Independent, Consensus Pick for U.S. Supreme Court. Neil Gorsuch is Not It.
We deserve, and need, a consensus justice on our high court whose loyalty is to all American people and our American values, not one president nor one party.
Scot Ross: New research, old problem: Voucher schemes might work for pols, but not kids
We ought to be able to agree that investment in our children’s education is of critical importance locally, as a state and as a nation. [Capital Times]
Jenni Dye: GOP would block health care choices
They are taking away the ability of Americans to get the health care services they need from the provider of their choice. [Superior Telegram]
Jenni Dye: Don’t put right-wing jurist in stolen court seat
The reward for Republicans stealing a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court ought not be the lifetime appointment of a right-wing judge. [Capital Times]
Sean Duffy, Paul Ryan and Congressional Republicans Poised to Prevent Wisconsinites From Choosing Their Own Health Care Provider
Sean Duffy, Paul Ryan and the GOP cabal in Washington D.C. are carrying out a political agenda, trying to eliminate an organization with which they disagree.
A Failure of Leadership: Gov. Scott Walker’s Big Dodge on Student Loan Debt Crisis
So here’s a little advice for Gov. Scott Walker, stop dodging the student loan debt crisis and start leading by supporting real, common sense reform.
Jenni Dye: Nass ignores serious issues of campus violence, UW funding
Nass apparently believes that his manhood is undermined by college students gathering to have frank discussions about issues of gender roles and stereotypes. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
Scot Ross: A 2017 guarantee: Progressives will lose every time we don’t fight back
Instead of questionable predictions, I offer Wisconsin progressives one ironclad guarantee — we will lose every single time that we don’t fight back. [Capital Times]
Jenni Dye: It shouldn’t take Christmas miracle for Ron Johnson to do his job
Will Sen. Ron Johnson and the GOP deliver on a judge to fill the longest-running federal judicial vacancy in the nation – or will they deliver a lump of coal? [Capital Times]
Why Does Scott Walker Get a Pass on Election Lie?
Allowing Scott Walker to spread misinformation about the impact of the voter ID law undermines the integrity of our elections.
Eric Wimberger (R-Wall Street)
People across the ideological spectrum agree that student loan debt is a crisis and that borrowers should be able to refinancing their loans like you can a mortgage. Eric Wimberger does not.
Sen. Ron Johnson to Donald Trump: Do As I Say, Not As I Do
We count on our courts to protect our rights and ensure everyone is treated equally by the law. It’s why they matter so much.
Campus Sexual Assault: Serious Issue of Student Safety or Administrative Burden?
If paying higher tuition means that programs will be put in place to create a campus climate that does not tolerate rape, I will happily pay more.
Refinancing Federal Student Loans: A Crisis You Should Know
You cannot refinance federal student loans with the government. We need to change the system. That means changing the minds of politicians like Scott Walker.
What Senator Scott Fitzgerald Knew
The evidence shows to date state Sen. Scott Fitzgerald has not been forthcoming or honest with the media about these matters.
Constituents Rally to Tell Sen. Ron Johnson to #DoYourJob
The unprecedented political power play by the GOP in D.C. in refusing to give a fair hearing and timely vote to Judge Merrick Garland stretched for over 150 days.
Analiese Eicher: Congratulations, grads — you’re borrowers now
Let’s celebrate the accomplishments of our graduates and let’s resolve to make sure they don’t face futures needlessly burdened by student debt. [Capital Times]
Functioning United States Supreme Court > Partisan Proclivities
You have the chance to make your voice heard and urge your senators to do the right thing - ensure the Supreme Court continues to work for all of us.
Analiese Eicher: Gender pay gap adds to student loan debt crisis for Wisconsin women
Gov. Scott Walker and the people voting for his backward policies are failing Wisconsin women. [Capital Times]
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Obstruction)
Allowing our courts to become deadlocked for petty political reasons would be unprecedented. It’s time Sen. Ron Johnson stop playing games and start doing his job.
GOP Should Flush Kremer’s Transphobic Bathroom Bill, Once and For All
Maybe Rep. Jesse Kremer should be focusing his “time” in the next legislative session on priorities more important than shaming transgender students.
Governor ‘Incomplete’ on Student Debt
I would describe Scott Walker’s college affordability scheme the same way I would characterize his own personal higher ed experience — woefully incomplete.
Natalie Spievack: UW could do more for student voters
UW-Madison is not doing nearly as much as it can to mitigate the effects of the Republican Legislature’s attempt to suppress the student vote. [Capital Times]
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?
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.
Sen. Rick Gudex Reveals Himself as a Politician, Not a Leader
Sen. Gudex and his fellow Republicans need to remember they’re supposed to be working for us, not covering Scott Walker’s backside, and resist the temptation to allow partisanship to overcome common sense.
Invitation Accepted, Governor Walker
While we are often at odds with Walker, on this we can agree: He most certainly should be evaluated by the company he keeps and his record in office.
Scott Walker signs anti-abortion bill into law
That even one woman’s life or health may be put at risk so Walker can increase his credibility with the extreme right-wing Republican presidential base is as unacceptable as it is heartbreaking. [Wisconsin Gazette]
10 Things You May Not Know About Scott Walker
Scott Walker is on the campaign trail touting himself as a “fresh face,” but he’s been running for political office since before he could rent a car.
Will Scott Walker Choose to Be a King?
After cowering behind closed doors, Republicans emerged to unleash the greatest assault on open records in our state’s history.
A Valuable Lesson in Gov. Scott Walker’s Education Record
The teachable moment is that behind every "bold" claim by Walker is a very different, cold, hard truth. It's a lesson the school children of Wisconsin know only too well.
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.
Scott Walker’s Wisconsin Is No Model to Follow
Despite a lifetime in campaign politics, Governor Walker has much to learn about the economy works.
Remember Gov. Walker, An Eagle Scout is an Eagle Scout for life
Judge for yourself if Scott Walker is living up to these ideals not only as an Eagle Scout but also as the governor of Wisconsin.
Photographic Evidence of Scott Walker’s Phony Badger Boosterism
A picture paints a thousand words. And this one really captures the essence of Scott Walker's rank hypocrisy and phony fandom.
Jenni Dye: Why doesn’t Scott Walker condemn Limbaugh’s rape comment?
By refusing to speak out now and allowing Limbaugh’s sick comments to stand, Walker is showing us where he really stands. [Capital Times]
Walker: No Rush to Condemn Rape Joke
By refusing to speak out now and allowing Rush Limbaugh’s sick comments to stand, Scott Walker is showing us where he really stands.
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.
State Senate Republicans Make a Bad Idea Even Worse
The efforts of both Assembly and Senate Republicans fall woefully short of protecting our children and tax dollars, instead putting ideology and political payback before helping our schools be the best that they can be.
Right to Work is Wrong for Wisconsin
A right to work law would take us in the opposite direction, and that’s why it’s wrong for families, wrong for workers and wrong for Wisconsin.
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.
Tonight! Rightwing Bradley Awards Streaming Live
The Progressive Magazine has a great post about tonight's 'Bradley Foundation' awards, emceed by recent…um…'newsmaker' George Will.