Ashland County District Attorney Sean Duffy has announced he'll run against 7th District Congressman Dave Obey. "I think people are ready to come over," says Duffy. "They ready for a change, they're ready for true representation from somebody who actually lives here, who cares about the area, who's kids go to school here."

Duffy, a Republican, says there's a reason he's starting his campaign so early. "Starting a year and a-half in advance is going to be helpful to us, in getting our message out and in drawing a contrast between our campaign and Dave Obey's."

"He's focused on Wall Street and in government," says Duffy of Obey, "I think we need to focus on small businesses here in the district."

Duffy says he's prepared to deal with his time on MTV's The Real World . "There's some things that I've said and done that would embarrass me today, and those will all come out, I'm prepared for that," he says. "I don't think (residents of the district) are concerned about a reality TV show from twelve years ago, they're concerned the reality that they're living in today."  

A state lawmaker is attacking a five and a half percent tuition hike expected to be approved by University Wisconsin Board of Regents this week. Whitewater Republican Steve Nass is a member of the Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities.

The tuition increase "ignores the plight that the middle class families are going through right now," says Nass, who accuses the Regents of "arrogance," for allowing the increase to go forward. Regents are expected to okay the increase Thursday.

AUDIO: John Colbert reports (:35 MP3)