As former Wisconsin Sen. Russ Feingold aims to unseat GOP Sen. Ron Johnson, he is promoting a social media campaign advocating for a proposal that would allow students to refinance their loans. Jessie Opoien reports:
The campaign aims to illustrate the stark difference in opinion between Feingold and Republican Sen. Ron Johnson when it comes to addressing college affordability. Johnson opposes the refinancing proposal, arguing instead that the federal government should avoid involvement in college financing.
Serena Jaros, a student at UW-Milwaukee, is one of the students featured in the campaign. She said she has always wanted to be a journalist, but has watched many of her friends give up their passions in order to focus on paying off loans.
"I worked hard in school and got some scholarships, but even with them, I have had to take out $25,000 in loans to pay for college. My family tries to help but we don’t have a ton of money," Jaros wrote.
Johnson has called student loan refinancing a "big government giveaway proposal" and also referred to student loans as "free money."
The Republican senator voted against [Sen. Elizabeth] Warren's proposal to allow student loan borrowers to refinance their loans at significantly lower interest rates. To prevent the bill from adding to the federal deficit, it would enact the "Buffett Rule," imposing a minimum tax rate on millionaires.
Yeesh. Ron Johnson apparently doesn't mind saddling students with more debt—so long as the fortunes of millionaires aren't imposed upon.
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