Our Constitution establishes the separation of powers to strengthen liberty and serve as a protection against government abuse. They are essential facets of our democracy.
Yet both are under attack by unelected bureaucrats and rogue government officials who have claimed for themselves more power and control than the people ever gave to them. As these power grabs become more and more frequent and the administrative state grows, it is more important than ever that everyday Americans fight back. The Limited Government Project at the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty is the vanguard in that fight.
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Free Speech
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Government Accountability
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Checks & Balances
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Individual Rights
We fight to enforce structural limitations on government power.
We hold bureaucrats to the rule of law. Rogue government officials at the local, state and federal level who act beyond the authority given to them must be reined in. The Limited Government Project project stands at the forefront of that fight, litigating cases in state and federal court to ensure that government officials act within their lawful authority.
Latest Highlight
Brown County Taxpayers v. Evers
Thirty-three years after Wisconsin voters amended the Constitution to prevent future gambling expansions, lawmakers enacted Act 247 without another voter-approved constitutional amendment. With Governor Evers preparing to negotiate tribal gaming compact amendments, the lawsuit seeks to stop the law before…
WPT v. Town of Buchanan
WILL filed a lawsuit against the Town of Buchanan, in Outagamie County, after the municipality adopted and implemented a “transportation utility fee” that violates state law and circumvents strict levy limits.
WILL Warns Mequon That Attempts to Enforce Sign Ordinance Violate First Amendment
School Board recall organizers confronted by police on multiple occasions The News: The Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL)…
Limited Government Project
Case Won
Tankcraft v. OSHA
WILL sued the Biden administration in federal court, on behalf of two Wisconsin businesses, challenging the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) sweeping new vaccine-or-test mandate for businesses with 100 or more employees. OSHA’s emergency rule, issued November 4, requires businesses of a certain size to require proof of vaccination or regular COVID-19 tests for their employees. Companies that do not comply face penalties of over $13,000 per violation, or over $136,000 for a willful violation.
Limited Government Project
Case Won
BARTLETT V. EVERS
Governor Evers used his partial veto authority to create new laws and pay for new projects the Legislature never approved. We believe that practice is a usurpation of the Legislature’s authority to write laws, and filed an original action in the Wisconsin Supreme Court in order to enforce limits on the power.
Limited Government Project
Case Won
WCRIS V. HEINRICH
WILL filed an original action to the Wisconsin Supreme Court asking for a review of the Dane County health department’s order closing all schools, public and private, for grades 3-12.
Limited Government Project
Case Won
School Choice Wisconsin Action et al. v. Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
School Choice Wisconsin Action and two schools are suing the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI), challenging several of DPI’s rules which were not promulgated in compliance with statutory rulemaking procedures; and, which exceed the DPI’s authority as set forth in state law.
Limited Government Project
Concluded Case
Pellegrini v. Wisconsin Elections Commission, et al.
On behalf of Robert Pellegrini, a registered Wisconsin voter and taxpayer, the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) filed a lawsuit against the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC) challenging WEC’s abdication of its duties to investigate and decide complaints against local election officials. Instead of the six WEC Commissioners deciding those complaints, they have delegated the responsibility to staff.
Limited Government Project
Concluded Case
Braun v. Wisconsin Elections Commission
A registered Wisconsin voter and taxpayer sues the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC) in regards to the illegal use of the National Mail Voter Registration Form ("the Form"). The lawsuit, filed in the Waukesha County Circuit Court, urges the court to declare that the use of this voter registration form in Wisconsin is illegal and orders WEC to withdraw its approval of the Form. The Form adds extra criteria not authorized by statute or rule while simultaneously failing to include all items mandated by Wisconsin statute (Wis. Stat. § 6.33(1)).
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Policy Work
WILL Highlights Measures to Promote Government Transparency Through Public Records
WILL released a new report called “Shining a Light: Enhancing Transparency and Accountability in Wisconsin’s Public Records Process.” The report highlights several actionable reforms that would enhance government transparency and make it easier for citizens to hold their government accountable.
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The Left’s Biggest Redistricting Crutch Examined
The so-called Efficiency Gap is often used to attack legislative maps, but relying on this statistical measure has major limitations according to WILL’s new report.
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WILL Unveils Open Records Guide to Promote Transparent Government
New guide part of an ongoing effort provided to help citizens better understand and interact with government officials and hold them accountable.
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The Citizen's Guide to the Wisconsin Administrative State
The separation of powers is fundamental to American government. We all learn that the U.S Constitution divides power in our system: the legislative branch writes laws, the executive branch enforces laws, and the judicial branch interprets laws. What we often ignore is the way the executive branch has also been empowered to write and interpret […]
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Legislature Should Protect Wisconsin’s Public Records Law
Recent court decision may cause government actors to withhold records. The News: The Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) issued a policy brief that encourages the Wisconsin legislature to fix Wisconsin’s open records law, in light of a recent Wisconsin Supreme Court decision, to ensure that government actors are held accountable when they are sued for […]
Read More WILL Applauds Committee Action to Suspend Burdensome Red Tape on Rentals with Pools
WILL testified in favor of the JCRAR action to suspend the burdensome regulations until the next legislative session after consulting with numerous homeowners who are caught in this regulatory catch-22.
Read More Six Reforms to Improve Wisconsin’s Regulatory Climate
A recent WILL study found that the Wisconsin Administrative Code contains more than 161,000 restrictions, making Wisconsin the most regulated state on a per-capita basis in the Great Lakes region. WILL Policy Director, Kyle Koenen, and WILL Deputy Counsel, Lucas Vebber, provide six specific reforms that policymakers can adopt to address Wisconsin’s burdensome regulatory climate.
Read More STUDY: Wisconsin Has More Per Capita Regulations Than Neighboring States
New study finds Wisconsin has 161,000 restrictions in regulatory code. The News: A new study from the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) finds that the Wisconsin Administrative Code contains more than 161,000 restrictions, making Wisconsin the most regulated state on a per-capita basis in the Great Lakes region. The study, Wisconsin Regulation in Focus, examines the […]
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Individual Liberties
Constitutional Government and Rule of Law
Economic Freedom
Education Reform
