Senator-elect Elizabeth Warren officially received her committee assignments today, and she will sit on the Senate Banking Committee, with key oversight over Wall Street and the financial system. Progressives agitated for weeks for Warren to get this spot, and in the end it wasn’t that difficult a lift. I’m looking forward to future hearings from [...]

Let’s contrast two lawmakers from the Upper Midwest and their reactions to the still-without-terms foreclosure fraud settlement. Al Franken has a video out toeing the party line on the settlement, really just informing borrowers that, over the next 6-9 months, they may be contacted if they’re eligible for a cash payment from a wrongful foreclosure [...]

With a potential settlement in the foreclosure fraud case anticipated soon, Wisconsin Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin has introduced a resolution expressing opposition to any deal that immunizes banks for criminal misconduct. Obviously this isn’t the type of resolution that John Boehner will rush to the floor. But if it starts to raise consciousness, and can be [...]

Former Wisconsin Sen. Russ Feingold will not run for any state or federal office in 2012, at a time with an open Senate seat and a potential gubernatorial recall election. In an email going out to supporters early Friday morning, Feingold called it a difficult decision but said he wanted to devote his time to [...]

Another large rally took place in Madison, Wisconsin today, as filmmaker Michael Moore and Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) spoke to a crowd estimated at around 12,000 by Capitol police. Other estimates were higher, and in addition to the throng outside, close to 8,000 protesters gathered inside the Capitol today. The crowd roared in approval as [...]