WILL Budget Briefing: A Deep Dive on Governor Evers’ 2021-23 State Budget Proposal
Increases in spending, programs, and new attacks on education and worker freedom
Mar 4th, 2021WILL Warns City of Madison New Bird-Safe Glass Ordinance Undermines Wisconsin’s Uniform Building Code
Notice of Claim warns Madison that city ordinance violates state law
Mar 3rd, 2021Dane County Drops Most Fines Against Dance Studio
Health department enlisted the wrong attorneys and filed far too many counts
Mar 1st, 2021Wisconsin Supreme Court to Hear Arguments in WILL Religious Liberty Lawsuit
Feb 26th, 2021
Wisconsin’s Emergency Powers Laws in Urgent Need of Reform
New study examines Wisconsin’s emergency powers laws, provides recommendations for reform
Feb 24th, 2021Judge Orders Wisconsin DNR to Hold February 2021 Gray Wolf Hunt
WILL sued DNR for violating state law by refusing to schedule winter 2021 hunt
Feb 11th, 2021Dane County Health Department Relaxes Sports Restrictions After WILL Lawsuit
Legal challenge to authority of Dane County Health Department continues
Feb 8th, 2021WILL Represents Dane County Dance Studio in Fight Against Health Department Fines, Orders
Without warning, health department fined dance studio nearly $24,000 for video recording dances in small groups
Feb 4th, 2021WILL Sues Wisconsin DNR for Ignoring State Law Requirement to Schedule Wolf Hunt
DNR is required by 2011 state law to hold wolf hunt between November and February
Feb 2nd, 2021MPS Policy Pays Public Employees to Work for Teachers Unions
Union leave policy results in public subsidy to labor unions, violates Constitution’s ban on compelled speech
Jan 28th, 2021Wisconsin’s Open Enrollment Program Provides Critical School Choice Option for 62,000 Students
New study profiles open enrollment program, examines school district impact
Jan 21st, 2021WILL Files Lawsuit Challenging Dane County Health Department’s Authority to Enact COVID Restrictions
Lawsuit in Dane County Circuit Court argues county board must approve health department’s restrictions
Jan 20th, 2021WILL Warns City of Madison of Lawsuit Over Unconstitutional Racial Discrimination
Notice of Claim asserts racial quotas violate the law, Constitution
Jan 13th, 2021WILL Goes to Court in Rural School Choice Fight
Summary judgment hearing to determine fate of vacant elementary school
Jan 8th, 2021STUDY: Wisconsin School Districts That Started School Year Virtually Experience Greatest Enrollment Declines
Amidst statewide enrollment decline, schools that opted for virtual learning see largest declines
Dec 16th, 2020WILL Files Motion for Contempt After City of Racine Ignores Supreme Court Order
Racine Public Health Administrator instructs schools to remain closed despite injunction
Nov 30th, 2020Wisconsin Supreme Court Blocks Racine School Closure Order, Grants WILL Original Action
Case held in abeyance while Court considers Dane County school closure order
Nov 25th, 2020WILL Files Original Action in WI Supreme Court to Halt Latest Dane County Gathering Ban, Restrictions on Businesses
Dane County and the City of Madison have unlawfully delegated law-making power to the health department
Nov 23rd, 2020WILL Asks Wisconsin Supreme Court to Halt Racine School Closure Order
The Court already issued an injunction putting similar order on hold in Dane County case
Nov 19th, 2020Study: Unions, Politics Appear to Drive Fall School Reopening Decisions in Wisconsin
Local presence of COVID-19 not predictive of district decisions
Nov 16th, 2020WILL Hires Kyle Koenen to be Policy Director Koenen brings extensive legislative experience to WILL policy team
Koenen brings extensive legislative experience to WILL policy team
Nov 10th, 2020WILL Amicus: Gov. Evers’s Emergency Declarations Threaten Separation of Powers
WILL files amicus in original action before Wisconsin Supreme Court
Nov 3rd, 2020Walker-era FoodShare Reforms Lowered Unemployment, Boosted Labor Force Participation
New study finds positive workforce effects from 2015 reforms
Oct 26th, 2020WILL Asks Judge to Decide on Merits in Lawsuit Challenging Gov. Evers’s Emergency Declarations
Critical questions remain before the court on emergency powers
Oct 23rd, 2020Surplus Property Law Results in Just One Vacant Milwaukee School Sale to Charter School
WILL Policy Brief revisits how state law was thwarted by local actors for the last five years
Oct 13th, 2020WILL Pledges Appeal in Lawsuit Challenging Governor Evers’s Emergency Declarations
Judge denies WILL’s motion for injunction
Oct 12th, 2020Wisconsin Supreme Court Sides with Legislature in Critical Separation of Powers Case
WILL filed amicus urging Supreme Court to allow Legislature to defend state law
Oct 6th, 2020Judge Issues Injunction: Madison School District Staff Cannot Lie or Deceive Parents About Gender Transitions at School
WILL sued MMSD for violating parental rights with gender identity policy
Sep 29th, 2020WILL Files Motion for Immediate Injunction in Lawsuit Challenging Governor Evers’s Emergency Declaration
Motion for immediate relief comes after Governor Evers extends emergency
Sep 28th, 2020Governor Evers Violates State Law Again with Third COVID Emergency Declaration
WILL sued Governor Evers in Polk County in August over second COVID emergency
Sep 22nd, 2020Judge Rules DPI Violated State Law in Release of 2019 School Choice Data
WILL sued after DPI selectively released data in violation of state law
Sep 18th, 2020Wisconsin Supreme Court Agrees to Hear WILL Challenge to Dane County School Closure Order
Court issues temporary injunction allowing schools to open immediately
Sep 10th, 2020WILL Asks Wisconsin Supreme Court to Invalidate Dane County School Closure Order
Original action on behalf of affected parents, private schools, and school associations
Aug 26th, 2020WILL Sues Governor Evers Over Second COVID-19 Emergency Declaration
Lawsuit filed in Polk County challenges Governor Evers’s power grab.
Aug 25th, 2020WILL to Racine Unified: District Must Meet Legal Requirement to Bus Students to Private Schools
RUSD evades legal obligation to private schools as District goes virtual
Aug 14th, 2020STUDY: No High-Performing School Options for 40,000 Wisconsin Students in 134 ZIP Codes
WILL study identifies high-performing school deserts in Wisconsin
Jul 30th, 2020WILL Files Amicus in National Legal Fight Over CARES Act Relief for Private Schools
WILL leads coalition of 38 state and national groups advocating for private schools
Jul 29th, 2020WILL Urges Madison West High School to Reconsider Racially Segregated Group Discussions
Madison West High School students were separated by race for group discussions
Jul 23rd, 2020WILL Drops Lawsuit After DNR Resumes In-Person Hunter Education
DNR reverses course after WILL lawsuit
Jul 15th, 2020Wisconsin Supreme Court: Three of Governor Evers’ Budget Vetoes Unconstitutional
Court strikes down 3 of 4 budget vetoes in WILL original action
Jul 10th, 2020U.S. Supreme Court Orders Seventh Circuit to Reconsider Decision in WILL Religious Liberty Case
Case against DPI will be reassessed in light of Espinoza v. Montana
Jul 6th, 2020DPI Drops Illegal Policy After WILL Lawsuit
WILL sued DPI for blocking family from state voucher program
Jul 2nd, 2020U.S. Supreme Court Decision a Win for Families, School Choice
WILL and Scott Walker submitted amicus in key school choice case
Jun 30th, 2020WILL, Wisconsin Realtors Association Secure Property Rights Victory in Lake Geneva
WILL lawsuit results in City Council action
Jun 25th, 2020EPA Adopts WILL Recommendation, Majority of Sheboygan County Attains National Air Quality Standards
EPA limits non-attainment zone in the county
Jun 19th, 2020WILL Sues DNR For Illegally Canceling In-Person Hunter Safety Courses
State agency cancels all in-person courses citing COVID-19
Jun 17th, 2020WILL Asks Wisconsin Elections Commission to Ban Ballot Harvesting
Rules petition would make clear ballot harvesting is illegal under Wisconsin law
Jun 8th, 2020WILL Appeals Ruling Upholding Brown County Sales Tax
WILL asks Court of Appeals to invalidate new tax used to fund big-ticket spending items
May 20th, 2020Study: More Than Half of Wisconsin Colleges Substantially Restrict Free Speech
Broad speech restrictions, bias response teams, and free speech zones impair free expression and open debate
Apr 23rd, 2020WILL Goes Before Wisconsin Supreme Court in Veto Lawsuit
Oral arguments in challenge to Governor Evers’ use of executive power
Apr 20th, 2020WILL Sues Marquette County Sheriff for Free Speech Violation
Sheriff, Patrol Sergeant threatened teen with arrest over social media post
Apr 16th, 2020WILL Asks Supreme Court to Review WEC Lawsuit
Wisconsin deserves clean elections in 2020
Mar 11th, 2020Green New Deal would cost Wisconsin families over $40,000 per year, cripple agriculture industry
WILL partners with national policy organizations to estimate impact of Green New Deal to Wisconsin
Feb 26th, 2020WILL Sues Madison Schools for Violating Parental Rights
District refuses to alter gender identity policies
Feb 18th, 2020WILL, Badger Institute: Reform Occupational Licensing for a Better Wisconsin Economy
Free-market groups partner to make the case for reform
Feb 5th, 2020WILL, SCWA Win School Choice Lawsuit Against DPI
Judge rules DPI violated law in treatment of choice schools
Jan 14th, 2020WILL Asks Court to Hold Wisconsin Elections Commission in Contempt
State elections agency refuses to comply with court order.
Jan 2nd, 2020What You Need to Know: Court Order in WILL Lawsuit Against Elections Commission
Dec 16th, 2019
Study: When WI Union Members Vote, Number of Public Unions Shrink
Original Act 10 research examines effect of annual certification election results
Nov 21st, 2019WILL Sues Wisconsin Election Commission
Agency ignored state law, allowing voter registrations at old addresses to remain active.
Nov 13th, 2019#KeepYourPromise Governor Evers
One month after pledge, Evers shows no progress on government transparency
Oct 9th, 2019Former WILL attorney launches open government law firm
"WILL is pleased to welcome the Wisconsin Transparency Project to the scene."
Oct 4th, 2019WILL Explainer: Why the 7th Congressional District Special Election Date Has to Change
Governor Evers has now admitted that his Executive Order setting these dates violates federal law and he is in the process of setting new dates.
Oct 2nd, 2019WILL, Scott Walker Submit Amicus to U.S. Supreme Court in School Choice Case
School choice, religious freedom at stake in Espinoza v. Montana
Sep 25th, 2019WILL Defeats Gun Ban, Defends Second Amendment
Housing Authority of the City of Menomonie to remove unconstitutional lease provision
Sep 18th, 2019WILL Wins Campus Free Speech Victory
NWTC's Public Assembly Policy deemed "unconstitutional."
Sep 13th, 2019Study: Evers, Barnes, & Agencies Failing to Follow Walker Open Government Executive Orders
Evers’ administration is dysfunctional and disorganized, threatens to move Wisconsin backwards on transparency.
Sep 9th, 2019Court Grants WILL Motion to Intervene in Rural School Choice Case
Community group Shepherd’s Watch is now a party to legal dispute over vacant school
Aug 28th, 2019WILL Suggests Improvements to UW Free Speech Policy
Submits public comment to better balance, safeguard First Amendment rights of all
Aug 20th, 2019WILL Sues Evers at Wisconsin Supreme Court Over Budget Vetoes
Original action asks Supreme Court to rein in, limit partial vetoes
Jul 31st, 2019Two Eau Claire TIF Cases Dismissed
Courts unwilling to enforce statutory limitations on controversial financing schemes
Jul 19th, 2019New Address: WILL Moves to 330 East Kilbourn
WILL moves to new office on July 22
Jul 19th, 2019New Hire: WILL adds former Deputy Solicitor General
Litigation team grows to meet heightened challenges
Jul 9th, 2019WILL Fights for School Choice in Rural Wisconsin
Antigo School District refuses to sell vacant building to local Christian community group
Jul 8th, 2019WILL Stands Up For Free Speech, Religious Liberty of Appleton School Board Member
Puts Appleton School Board on notice for potential First Amendment violations
Jul 2nd, 2019WILL Sues to End Mandatory State Bar Membership, Dues
First Amendment protects speech, association rights of attorneys
Jun 17th, 20192019 Apples to Apples: Charter, Choice Outperform Traditional Public Schools in Growth, Test Scores
Wisconsin's education options are working
Jun 13th, 2019WILL & State/National Conservative Groups Warn Legislature on Wedding Barns
Groups stand up for economic freedom, limited government
Jun 10th, 2019Get Ready for Tuesday’s Healthcare Debate
WILL research on the cost of Evers' proposed plans, and common sense solutions.
Jun 3rd, 2019School Teacher Asks to Intervene in Latest Act 10 Lawsuit
WILL continues the fight to protect Walker’s collective bargaining reform law.
May 24th, 2019Common Sense Healthcare Reforms for Wisconsin
Seven reforms to lower costs and increase access to care
May 20th, 2019Governor Evers’ Budget: What You Need to Know
Read WILL's analysis before the legislature votes
May 8th, 2019WILL is Moving Offices!
Enters a new phase of growth with bigger office space in Milwaukee
May 6th, 2019Republican leadership puts interests of the state ahead of politics
“Doing what’s right is not always easy. But by rejecting costly federal Medicaid expansion, the Republican legislative leadership is acting in the best interest of the state of Wisconsin and we applaud them for standing on principle.”
May 3rd, 2019Former Lawmakers, WILL Enter Extraordinary Session Lawsuit
Former Speaker, Lt. Gov., lawmakers make the case for extraordinary sessions and laws jeopardized by Dane County ruling
Apr 23rd, 2019WILL Sues City of Eau Claire for Using Illegal TIF to Raise Tax Revenue
City claims it needs TIF district for a building that’s already built, misuses tax dollars along the way
Apr 17th, 2019Scott Walker, WILL Ask SCOTUS to Take School Choice Case
Brief highlights the benefits and success of school choice in Wisconsin
Apr 12th, 2019WILL Polls Critical Education Policy Questions in Wisconsin
Statewide poll finds low support for Evers' attack on school choice
Apr 9th, 2019WILL, SCWA Sue DPI in School Choice Lawsuit
State’s ed agency illegally preventing private choice schools from counting “virtual instruction” towards classroom learning requirements
Mar 27th, 2019Trump Discusses WILL Lawsuit at White House
Free speech executive order prominently features WILL
Mar 22nd, 2019Study: K-12 Spending Increases Unlikely to Result in Student Success
New analysis on K-12 spending on public schools raises questions about student impact
Mar 18th, 2019Governor Evers Agrees With WILL on Legal Status of Wedding Barns
Evers administration pledges to interpret law as previously practiced
Mar 8th, 2019Evers Admin. Prolongs Uncertainty for Wedding Barn Owners
Evers, Kaul provide no clarity on legality of wedding barns
Mar 7th, 2019WILL Budget Explainer: The Administrative State
“Governor Evers’ budget is a liberal-wish list on a number of levels, but an undertold story is how it would strengthen the executive branch, usurping power from the legislature."
Mar 7th, 2019Governor Evers’ Budget Targets School Choice: What You Need to Know
Governor Evers' Budget Targets School Choice: What You Need to Know
Feb 25th, 2019Medicaid Expansion to Cost Wisconsinites $600 Million Per Year
New WILL, CROWE study analyzes true cost of Medicaid expansion
Feb 19th, 20191 Year Later: Religious-themed Valentines STILL Cannot Be Freely Distributed at Tech College
WILL produces new video showing Polly innocently handing out Valentines, files for summary judgment
Feb 13th, 2019WILL Sues DPI For Embargoed ESSA Documents
Documents would shine light on whether DPI is illegally implementing ESSA
Feb 11th, 2019WILL Releases K-12 Education Reform Agenda
Detailed policy roadmap shows how state can improve student outcomes
Jan 29th, 2019WILL Sues Evers Administration to Protect Wedding Barns
Asks judge to protect economic freedom, remove uncertainty
Jan 15th, 2019WILL Announces New Hires, Staff Promotions
Adds staff to face new challenges
Jan 4th, 2019WILL Asks Supreme Court to Rule War Memorial Cross Constitutional
Amicus argues cross does not violate the Establishment Clause.
Dec 21st, 2018Trump Administration Seeks to Cancel Misguided Obama-era School Discipline Policy
WILL work has championed rescinding the illegal, harmful policy
Dec 20th, 2018WILL Promotes Libby Sobic to Director of Education Policy
Sobic to have expanded role managing WILL's K-12 education reform project.
Dec 18th, 2018Reform Federal Disability Insurance to Help Address Wisconsin’s Labor Shortage
Subjective criteria, work disincentives plague disability insurance program
Dec 6th, 2018Extraordinary Session Update: Legislature Approves Critical Reforms
Legislature approves administrative rulemaking reforms, tax reform; maintains DPI oversight
Dec 5th, 2018Extraordinary Session Policy Items Flying Under the Radar
A lot of good but a few red flags
Dec 4th, 2018Study: Parents in Milwaukee Are Choosing Schools Based on Quality
What you need to know about WILL’s landmark school choice study
Nov 27th, 2018WILL disagrees with legal analysis, prepared to fight for economic freedom
WILL disagrees with legal analysis, prepared to fight for economic freedom
Nov 26th, 2018WILL Hires Lucas Vebber as Deputy Counsel
Before joining WILL, Lucas served as General Counsel and Director of Environmental and Energy Policy at Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce.
Aug 23rd, 2018Supreme Court Rules Congress Can’t Require States to Prohibit Sports Betting
“This is a victory for competitive federalism,” said Rick Esenberg, President and General Counsel of WILL
May 14th, 2018WILL Wins Open Records Fight with Representative Brostoff
Despite this settlement, the legal issue of whether custodians must provide records in their electronic format when requested remains unresolved.
May 3rd, 2018WILL Releases Most Comprehensive Analysis of School Performance
"Our study is the most comprehensive, updated analysis on Wisconsin school performance," Dr. Will Flanders, author of the report says.
Apr 17th, 2018WILL Memo: Bill Could End Tailgating As We Know It
The bill and amendment unanimously passed the Assembly by voice vote.
Mar 9th, 2018WILL Sues Rep. Brostoff in E-mail Dispute
Brostoff is refusing to turn over electronic records, instead insisting on printing them and charging unnecessary fees.
Feb 16th, 2018Wisconsin Supreme Court Takes WILL Case Challenging Wisconsin’s Law Prohibiting Cemeteries from Operating Funeral Homes
The law does nothing more than protect funeral directors from competition.
Jan 12th, 2018ICYMI: Wall Street Journal Highlights Marquette Professor’s Fight for Academic Freedom
In April of 2016 Professor McAdams enlisted the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty to sue Marquette University for breach of contract.
Jan 11th, 2018CJ Szafir Promoted to Executive Vice President
The Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty announced the promotion of CJ Szafir to Executive Vice President.
Jan 2nd, 2018WILL on K-12 School Report Cards
The report cards include two major changes from previous years: the full inclusion of private schools in the choice programs and the use of student growth as a metric for school performance.
Nov 21st, 2017WILL Sues State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers
The lawsuit claims that Evers and DPI are refusing to follow the newly enacted REINS Act.
Nov 20th, 2017WILL Study Explores How School Districts Comply With Open Records Laws
Report documents the average response time for open records requests for twelve of Wisconsin’s largest school districts.
Nov 14th, 2017WILL Files Petition for Review With The Wisconsin Supreme Court In Professor McAdams’ Case Against Marquette
WILL believes the court should hear the case now because there is no binding precedent on the question of how far academic freedom extends.
Nov 8th, 2017Wisconsin’s Largest Legal and Policy Center Continues to Grow
Adds new staff to growing policy team
Aug 28th, 2017New Report Shows Impact of Current Accountability Measures in Milwaukee Parental Choice Program
Report challenges voucher program critics’ opposition that schools are “unaccountable”
Aug 1st, 2017