In the news: Furlong talks retirements for longtime politicians

Liberal Arts & Sciences Dean Scott Furlong helped provide context Friday (April 11) for the retirement announcements of two longtime state Republicans, state Sen. Mike Ellis and U.S. Rep. Tom Petri. Speaking with reporter Jennifer Wilson of WBAY, Channel 2, Furlong said the Republican Party has become more conservative in recent years, and that more moderate politicians may no longer fit in. “Both of them tend to, in the grand scheme of Republicanism, tend to fall on the left-hand side of Republicanism,” Furlong said, adding that the message from many in the party has become more clear. “You’re not toeing the ideological line that some of us want you to toe, and we’re going to challenge you as a result of that,” he said. “And we’re seeing that throughout the United States.” Full story.