Scott Walker Accused of Illegal Fundraising
One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross said there is one simple question Gov. Walker must answer as his 2014 and beyond campaigns heats up: "Are you still doing it?" [MSNBC]
Earned Media
Details of judges’ decisions to halt John Doe probe
“Basically what happened was is that they got caught and they are trying to use any and all legal arguments to try and get the case thrown out so they can save their bacon. It’s very simple,” said Scot Ross. [WLUK-TV]
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]
UNSPUN: June 18, 2014
[WMTV-TV]
Turning a blind eye to political corruption?
DA Schimel seems to think he’s there to serve the interest of donors — and he’s come flat out and said it. The essence of representative government is people buying and selling legislation? [WITI-TV]
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]
Wisconsin needs to make small business a priority
As a report by One Wisconsin Now detailed last month, 60 percent of WEDC economic development funds went to only 30 percent of businesses receiving assistance. [Julie Lassa]
DA: Lawmakers, donors working together expected
A Republican prosecutor running for attorney general suggested it’s not unusual for legislators to work with campaign donors on legislation, calling the collaboration the “essence” of government, an email a liberal group released Wednesday shows. One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross said Waukesha County District Attorney Brad Schimel’s remarks indicate he believes lawmakers can […] [Associated Press]
Brad Schimel declines to investigate Kleefisch child-support bill
“Why can’t a legislator press for legislation that benefits a person who has contributed to their campaign?” Schimel asked in an email to the liberal group One Wisconsin Now. “Isn’t that the essence of representative government?” Schimel, a Republican running for attorney general, went on to say politicians should not solicit donations “in exchange for […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
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]
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]
UNSPUN: June 4, 2014
One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross makes his regular appearance on UNSPUN. [WMTV-TV]
One Wisconsin Now Slams Gov. Walker on Capitol City Sunday
Scot Ross, executive director of the liberal group One Wisconsin Now, isn’t buying Walker’s answer. “There’s something there,” said Ross. “All this discussion about a settlement comes after there’s been discussion about the records being made public from the investigation and I think that’s what he fears the most.” [WKOW-TV]
One Wisconsin Now says WEDC money going to Scott Walker donors like Edgewater developers
A liberal advocacy group is leveling heavy criticism at the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, claiming the quasi-private agency championed by Gov. Scott Walker is delivering financial assistance to campaign donors. [Capital Times]
Desperate Attempt by Gov. Walker to Keep Documents Secret From the Public?
“Seeing what was revealed in just a fraction of the documents from the first John Doe criminal probe of Gov. Walker and his associates, it’s no wonder he’s desperate to keep more of the paper trail of his record of cronyism, corruption and incompetence away from the media and the public,” said Ross. [WMTV-TV]
One Wisconsin Now Hits Gov. Walker over Alleged John Doe Deal
“There is no question that Gov. Walker is driven by political ambition for higher office and his next election. And he is clearly, and rightly, concerned about what additional document dumps from the criminal investigations of his administration and campaign will do to his 2014 election prospects and 2016 presidential ambitions. What remains to be […] [WQOW-TV]
Targeted benefits for businesses: Job creation or corporate welfare?
Last year, a report from the liberal group One Wisconsin Now noted that executives at companies receiving subsidies from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation had contributed $429,060 to Gov. Scott Walker. [Capital Times]
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]
One Wisconsin Now takes on Gov. Scott Walker’s failed WEDC
A report released today by One Wisconsin Now analyzing state funds distributed by the quasi-private WEDC, created by Gov. Scott Walker, raises serious questions about who is really benefitting. [WLUK-TV]
One Wisconsin Now files FEC complaint over Sen. Ron Johnson disclosure fail
One Wisconsin Now has filed a complaint with the FEC alleging Sen. Ron Johnson has improperly failed to disclose any incurred obligations and expenditures associated with his lawsuit against the Affordable Care Act. [WJFW-TV]
One Wisconsin Now requests federal election observers at polls in November
The liberal group One Wisconsin Now is asking for federal election observers to monitor the state’s November elections, citing concerns over voter intimidation. Scot Ross, the group’s executive director, sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder Tuesday, noting that federal observers had monitored elections in 2012 — and saying that recent Republican policies […] [Wisconsin State Journal]
Walker doesn’t disclose total book payment
“This report shows Gov. Walker continues to keep secret from the people of Wisconsin both the details of how much he personally enriched himself for his lucrative pre-presidential campaign book deal, as well as who financed his criminal defense fund,” said Scot Ross, director of the liberal advocacy group One Wisconsin Now. “Given the corruption, […] [Associated Press]
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]
How a weak housing market is weighing on the economic recovery
The trillion dollar student loan debt is not just a crisis for students. It is literally standing between college graduates and their share of the American dream and a more robust economic recovery both nationally and, as shown by our research, in Wisconsin. [Capital Times]
RGA doubling down
One Wisconsin Now executive director Scot Ross, citing unnamed industry sources, said the RGA has reserved $770,000 in Milwaukee, $620,000 in La Crosse and Eau Claire, $230,000 in Green Bay and $340,000 in Wausau and Rhinelander. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported similar figures Thursday. [Wisconsin State Journal]
Town hall meeting deals with issue of student debt
Now a freshman at the University at the Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Boggs said he knows that the cost of higher education is a major factor for students. On Tuesday, he took part in a town hall meeting on student debt on the UWSP campus. The meeting was hosted by state Rep. Katrina Shankland, D-Stevens Point, state […] [Stevens Point Journal]
Story on student loan debt sparks questions
The One Wisconsin survey found that the average monthly loan payment for respondents of all educational attainment — some college but no degree through graduate degree — was $388 a month. The institute also reports that average length of repayment for those with a bachelor’s degree was 18.7 years. “The data is indisputable,” says Ross. “The […] [Capital Times]
Tuition freeze ‘unsustainable’ solution to college affordability
The One Wisconsin [Institute] survey found that the average monthly loan payment for respondents of all educational attainment was $388 a month. [Capital Times]
Liberal group asks Supreme Court to stay out of John Doe case
One Wisconsin Now sent the court a letter saying two groups involved in the investigation — Wisconsin Club for Growth and Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, the state’s chamber of commerce — helped get the court’s four conservative-leaning justices elected. The two groups have spent a combined $7.3 million to support Annette Ziegler, David Prosser, Michael […] [Associated Press]
Liberal group asks Supreme Court to refuse to take John Doe case
A liberal group on Monday asked the state Supreme Court to refuse to take a case related to a secret investigation of fundraising and spending in Wisconsin’s recent recall elections. Scot Ross, the executive director of One Wisconsin Now, argued in a letter to the court that the four conservatives on the seven-justice court should have […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
Scott Walker should get behind Higher Ed, Lower Debt bill
If Gov. Scott Walker really wants to help Wisconsin families with higher education expenses, he should support reforms on student loan debt instead of grabbing headlines about another tuition freeze at the University of Wisconsin, says progressive advocate Scot Ross. [Capital Times]
Scott Walker campaign asks Supreme Court to intervene in ‘John Doe’ investigation
Citing numbers from the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, OWN executive director Scot Ross noted the four-member conservative majority on the court had benefited from millions of dollars in outside spending by the groups targeted by the investigation. “The parties that Gov. Walker’s legal appeal would protect from investigation have spent millions to put a right-wing majority on […] [Wisconsin State Journal]
One Wisconsin Now on Al Jazeera to Talk Voter Suppression
Mike Browne, Deputy Director of One Wisconsin Now and the Institute sat down with Al Jazeera to discuss Gov. Scott Walker’s and the GOP’s attacks on the right to vote in Wisconsin. [Al Jazeera]
Big Money Donors Prepare to Open Wallets
Joy Reid and One Wisconsin Now's Scot Ross look at how the Supreme Court obliterated post-Watergate campaign finance protections against "big money" trying to buy American elections. [MSNBC]
Barrett, One Wisconsin Now keep pressure on Walker over early voting
The liberal group One Wisconsin Now, Mayor Tom Barrett, elected officials and community activists gathered at City Hall Thursday to urge Gov. Scott Walker to veto a bill that would limit early voting. Scot Ross, executive director of One Wisconsin Now, urged Walker to veto the measure, saying Wisconsin citizens want to have high and […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
Ryan says anti-poverty programs damage ‘dignity’ of the poor
Rep. Ryan has held a series of in-district town halls but has remained studiously silent on the latest, racist attacks on voting in Wisconsin. [MSNBC]
Sens. attacking early voting have voted early
In reviewing publicly available voting records, the progressive group One Wisconsin Now found a big surprise: Fifteen of the 17 state Senators who supported legislation to restrict early voting hours in Wisconsin have themselves voted early. In a press statement, One Wisconsin Now executive director Scot Ross slammed the senators for what he called “hypocrisy.” “That these […] [Wisconsin Gazette]
This Week in Voter Suppression: Wisconsin
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is in a close race with his Democratic challenger Mary Burke. Yet his primary concern seems to be on voter ID requirements in the state. One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross joins the Melissa Harris-Perry panel to discuss why. [MSNBC]
Can Outrage Over Student Loans Create a Political Bloc?
This morning Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) is kicking off “Higher Ed Not Debt,” a new coalition of progressive groups looking to turn the widespread frustration over student debt into a full-fledged political force. In the past few months, various progressive organizations — including One Wisconsin Now — had begun talking about formalizing an effort, leading up to today’s […] [Business Week]
The politics of Voter ID in Wisconsin
Gov. Scott Walker is putting the entire weight of the governorship behind Voter ID. Scot Ross, executive director of One Wisconsin Now, a liberal group that has been ferociously attacking Republicans on Voter ID for years, says that the opinion dynamics on the issue have changed dramatically in Wisconsin in recent years. “Now there’s unanimity against it […] [Capital Times]
The War on Voting Rights in Wisconsin
Scot Ross, executive director of One Wisconsin Now, joins The Reid Report to discuss efforts in Wisconsin by Republicans to put a stop to early voting. [MSNBC]
Is student debt, not slacker lifestyle, why millennials don’t buy real estate?
One Wisconsin Institute recently released a report on the economic impact of student loan debt, finding that middle class households with student loan debt are overwhelmingly more likely to rent than to own a home. [Capital Times]
Republican Governors release second attack ad
The Republican Governors Association has released its second attack ad against Democrat Mary Burke in the Wisconsin governor’s race. The group has not said how much they are spending on the ads, but the liberal group One Wisconsin Now says it has spent $1.2 million on the spots. [Associated Press]
Plain Talk: Student debt becomes a drag on the economy
Scot Ross of One Wisconsin Now has been pointing out for years that as a nation we need to find a way to solve the incredible student loan debt crisis that grips our society. [Capital Times]
By endorsing Walker, Hookstead reclaims the public spotlight once again as “sexist undergrad”
David Hookstead, known around the University of Wisconsin for his UW Confessions page and his empty-headed claims regarding rape culture (it’s “nonexistent”), has once again caused a public stir, this time in his attempt to endorse Gov. Scott Walker. One Wisconsin Now socially exposed Hookstead’s tribulations. [Badger Herald]
Potential signs of economic decline
The impact of student debt has translated into over $6 billion in losses for automotive sales every year, based on a report by One Wisconsin Institute, an organization involved in fixing the student debt crisis. [Coyote Chronicle]
Students deserve tuition break
The average debt per student in Wisconsin is nearly $25,000… That’s the 15th highest rate in the nation, and 67 percent of graduating students in the state will have some form of debt. [Fourth Estate]
GOP ad buy for Walker tops $1 million, liberal group say
Scot Ross, executive director of One Wisconsin, said Republicans donors have “pressed the panic button” on Walker’s campaign. ”(Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce’s) million dollar buy didn’t move the needle,” Ross said, referring to another recent ad supporting Walker. “And so now RGA is doing the dirty work and spending in Wisconsin before they’ve dumped money practically […] [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
Emails pose problem for Wisconsin governor
The messages “unmask the real Gov. Walker,” said Mike Browne, deputy director of the liberal group One Wisconsin Now. “He is revealed as a politician personally managing the minutest details of his public persona and during times of crisis showing more concern for protecting his image and prospects for higher political office than solving problems,” Browne […] [Associated Press]
Email dump makes political hurdles for Walker
The emails raise serious questions about his ethics and trustworthiness as a politician and public official. [MSNBC]