Stopping the Heavy Hand of Government VICTORY | WILL Secures Public Records Victory in Eau Claire School District, Vows to hold School Districts Accountable When Parents Are Ignored WILL and its client have received a completed open records request from the Eau Claire Area School District, securing an important victory for open records and transparency. The school district spent weeks concealing the information and chose to provide it the day before an August 11th court appearance triggered by our lawsuit. 🗯 WILL Associate Counsel, Cory Brewer, stated, “Every public school district has an obligation to comply with open records laws, but the Eau Claire Area School District acted like it was an exception. WILL is voluntarily dismissing our lawsuit since the documents requested have been provided, but from the beginning of this process the school district disregarded applicable laws and rights of parents in the district.” 🗯 Eau Claire parent and WILL Client, Leah Buchman, stated, “Parents shouldn’t have to go to court to get answers from their school district. Unfortunately for parents, the school chose to initially conceal this information from parents, delay its release for weeks due to an ‘investigation’ and frankly act like they were above the law. I would hope going forward the school district acts as a partner with parents to foster a positive and collaborative learning environment at the benefit of our whole community.” 📰 Learn more about this win here, or watch this video. Read Here NEW | WILL Provides Testimony in Opposition to Burdensome Regulation of Wisconsin’s “Wedding Barn” Industry WILL strongly encourages the Senate Committee on Universities and Revenue to amend AB 304/ SB 332, particularly as the bill relates to the regulation of Wisconsin’s “wedding barn” industry. 🗯 WILL Deputy Counsel, Lucas Vebber, stated, "Do you really want to outlaw wedding barns, and prohibit Wisconsin families from renting a lake house and serving Miller Lite at their family reunion? That flies in the face of individual liberty and common sense. Today, WILL strongly encouraged policymakers to amend legislation that would impose regulatory burdens, restrict competition, and decimate the livelihoods of farmers around the state." 📰 Read more about this issue in The Wisconsin Examiner, or listen to Lucas' interview on The WI Morning News podcast or The Vicki McKenna Show. Learn More ICYMI | Guide helps citizens better understand and interact with government officials and hold them accountable WILL’s Preserving Democracy Project has put forward a new report, The Citizens Guide To Open Government. It lays out the law that governs open records and open meetings while also providing best practices for holding government accountable. 🗯 Lucas Vebber, WILL Deputy Counsel, stated, “Wisconsin has a long history of open and transparent government. A transparent government is one accountable to its citizens. By utilizing the information contained in this guide, we hope to assist the public to ensure that accountability.” 🗯 Katherine Spitz, WILL Associate Counsel, added, “WILL has been leading the charge to protect the people’s right to information from their government. Putting forward this guide is the natural next step in supporting an informed, active, engaged citizenry who can hold their government accountable when necessary.” Learn More VIRTUAL EVENT | How to Hold Your Government Accountable 📺 Join WILL Attorneys, Lucas Vebber and Kate Spitz, this Thursday, August 24 at 11 AM for a virtual townhall on how to make public records requests, deal with delays and responses, navigate open meetings issues, and learn other best practices to engage with your government. Sign Up Here EVENT | WILL Annual Celebration 🎉 It's that time of the year again! Please join us next month, on September 20th, 2023, at the Italian Community Center in Milwaukee for our Annual Celebration. Cocktails start at 5 PM, with dinner to follow. We welcome our friend, Kimberley Strassel—member of the editorial board for The Wall Street Journal, as well as the weekly Potomac Watch political column—as our keynote speaker. VIPs will have an opportunity to have their books signed by Kim during the cocktail reception. Her latest book, “The Biden Malaise,” is out now. For information on group ticket discounts and sponsorships, contact WILL Development Director, Lesley Luehrs. Check out details about this year's event here. We look forward to celebrating WILL's success and mission with you! Our work wouldn't be possible without your support and encouragement. Register Here   Defend Freedom The work we do would not be possible without the generosity of YOU, our donors; we are a tax exempt 501(c)(3) organization that receives no public funds. As a non-profit and non-partisan organization, we litigate in the areas of equality under the law, property rights, the freedom to earn a living, voting rights, regulation, taxation, school choice, and religious freedom. As an educational organization, we strive to advance the debate concerning law and public policy in these and other areas. Please consider making a donation to secure the blessings of liberty and to defend freedom. 🇺🇸 Stand With Us Read more at www.will-law.org. Check out our various social media platforms!   Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty | 330 E. Kilbourn, Suite 725, Milwaukee, WI 53202 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected] powered by Try email marketing for free today!