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Tony Evers
DWon the General, 2022 Wisconsin Governor
Governor of Wisconsin (2019 - present)
Governor of Wisconsin (2019 - Present)
To be claimed
— Number of Grandchildren:
What is your stance on abortion?
- Pro-choice
Should there be more restrictions on the current process of purchasing a gun?
- Yes
Do you support the legalization of same sex marriage?
- Yes
Should gay couples have the same adoption rights as straight couples?
- Yes
Should employers be required to pay men and women the same salary for the same job?
- Yes, and businesses should be required to publish their salary ranges for each position
Should the government enforce a "stay-at-home" order to combat the coronavirus?
- Yes
Should the government increase environmental regulations to prevent climate change?
- Yes
Should the government continue to fund Planned Parenthood?
- Yes
Do you support the impeachment of President Donald Trump?
- Yes
Should the government require children to be vaccinated for preventable diseases?
- Yes, but only for deadly contagious diseases
Should marital rape be classified and punished as severely as non-marital rape?
- Yes
Should health insurers be allowed to deny coverage to individuals who have a pre-existing condition?
- No
Should police officers be required to wear body cameras?
- Yes
Should the federal government institute a mandatory buyback of assault weapons?
- Yes
Should a business be able to deny service to a customer if the request conflicts with the owner’s religious beliefs?
- No
Should the government regulate the prices of life-saving drugs?
- Yes, and we should socialize medicine and healthcare
Should "gender identity" be added to anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
- No
Should health insurance providers be required to offer free birth control?
- Yes
Should adults that are illegally attempting to cross the U.S. border be separated from their children?
- No
Should the U.S. raise taxes on the rich?
- Yes
Should the government increase funding for mental health research and treatment?
- Yes
When should your state end the "Stay at Home" order and reopen its economy?
- Until a vaccine is approved by the FDA
Should the U.S. build a wall along the southern border?
- No
Should there be a temporary ban on all immigration into the United States?
- No
Do you support increasing taxes for the rich in order to reduce interest rates for student loans?
- Yes
Should the government raise the federal minimum wage?
- Yes
Should Muslim immigrants be banned from entering the country until the government improves its ability to screen out potential terrorists?
- No, banning immigrants based on their religion is unconstitutional
Should local police increase surveillance and patrol of Muslim neighborhoods?
- No, targeting Muslims is unconstitutional, racist, and incendiary
Should the federal government pay for tuition at four-year colleges and universities?
- Yes
Should the redrawing of Congressional districts be controlled by an independent, non-partisan commission?
- Yes, gerrymandering gives an unfair advantage to the party in power during redistricting
Should the military allow women to serve in combat roles?
- Yes
Should businesses be required to provide paid leave for full-time employees during the birth of a child or sick family member?
- Yes
Should the U.S. go to war with Iran?
- No
Should illegal immigrants have access to government-subsidized healthcare?
- Yes, if they pay taxes
Should people on the "no-fly list" be banned from purchasing guns and ammunition?
- Yes, but not until the no-fly list screening process is improved for accuracy and includes due process
Should children of illegal immigrants be granted legal citizenship?
- Yes, if they were born here
Should every 18 year old citizen be required to provide at least one year of military service?
- No
Should immigrants be deported if they commit a serious crime?
- Yes, as long as it is safe for them to return to their country
Should the U.S. remain in the United Nations?
- Yes
Are you in favor of decriminalizing drug use?
- Yes
Should foreign lobbyists be allowed to raise money for American elections?
- No, foreign interests should not be able to buy the influence of our politicians
Should the federal government increase funding of health care for low income individuals (Medicaid)?
- Yes, but I prefer switching to a single payer healthcare system
Do you support the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)?
- Yes
Should there be term limits set for members of Congress?
- Yes, term limits will increase performance and prevent corruption
Do you support the legalization of Marijuana?
- Yes
Should the electoral college be abolished?
- Yes
Should the U.S. raise or lower the tax rate for corporations?
- Keep current rates but eliminate deductions and loop holes
Should local law enforcement be allowed to detain illegal immigrants for minor crimes and transfer them to federal immigration authorities?
- No, only if they are convicted of a violent crime
Do you support the death penalty?
- No
1. Should there be a limit to the amount of money a candidate can receive from a donor?
- Yes, politicians should not be bought by wealthy donors
Do you support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources?
- No, we should pursue more sustainable energy resources instead
Should the government attempt to influence foreign elections?
- No, and we should not try to influence any other country’s elections or policy
Should the NSA (National Security Agency) be allowed to collect basic metadata of citizen’s phone calls such as numbers, timestamps, and call durations?
- No, only with a warrant showing probable cause of criminal activity
Do you support a single-payer healthcare system?
- Yes
Should immigrants be required to learn English?
- No, we should embrace the diversity that immigrants add to our country
Should it be illegal to join a boycott of Israel?
- No
Should working illegal immigrants be given temporary amnesty?
- Yes, create a simple path to citizenship for immigrants with no criminal record
Should sanctuary cities receive federal funding?
- Yes
Should transgender athletes be allowed to compete in athletic events?
- Yes
1. Should the U.S. remain in NATO?
- Yes, but NATO should focus more on counter-terrorism strategies
Should victims of gun violence be allowed to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers?
- No, manufacturers and dealers should only be held liable for negligence
Should the government give tax credits and subsidies to the wind power industry?
- Yes, the government should support more sustainable energy technologies
Should the President be able to authorize military force against Al-Qaeda without Congressional approval?
- No
Should states be allowed to display the Confederate flag on government property?
- No
Do you support the killing of Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani?
- No
Should the military be allowed to use enhanced interrogation techniques, such as waterboarding, to gain information from suspected terrorists?
- No, torture is inhumane, unethical, and violates the 8th amendment
Should illegal immigrants be offered in-state tuition rates at public colleges within their residing state?
- Yes, as long as they pay taxes
Should the government regulate social media sites, as a means to prevent fake news and misinformation?
- No, the government should not determine what is fake or real news
Should the U.S. increase restrictions on its current border security policy?
- No, make it easier for immigrants to access temporary work visas
Should a photo ID be required to vote?
- Yes, this will prevent voter fraud
Should businesses be required to have women on their board of directors?
- No, board members should be the most qualified regardless of gender
Should the government hire private companies to run prisons?
- No
Should the government prevent "mega mergers" of corporations that could potentially control a large percentage of market share within its industry?
- Yes, if the merged corporation would have more than 50% of the market share
Should internet service providers be allowed to speed up access to popular websites (that pay higher rates) at the expense of slowing down access to less popular websites (that pay lower rates)?
- No
Should disposable products (such as plastic cups, plates, and cutlery) that contain less than 50% of biodegradable material be banned?
- Yes
Should welfare recipients be tested for drugs?
- No
Should the U.S. expand offshore oil drilling?
- No
Should the U.S. continue to support Israel?
- We should give equal support to Israel and Palestine.
Should immigrants be required to pass a citizenship test to demonstrate a basic understanding of our country’s language, history, and government?
- Yes, but it should only cover very basic and simple topics
Should terminally ill patients be allowed to end their lives via assisted suicide?
- Yes, but only after a psychological examination to show they fully understand this choice
Should political candidates be required to release their recent tax returns to the public?
- Yes, and require a public audit each year they are in office
Should the U.S. withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement?
- No
Should the government make cuts to public spending in order to reduce the national debt?
- No
1. Should corporations, unions, and non-profit organizations be allowed to donate to political parties?
- No, and political campaigns should be publicly funded
Should the US increase or decrease the amount of temporary work visas given to high-skilled immigrant workers?
- Increase, our economy relies on businesses hiring the highest skilled workers at the lowest cost
Do you support the Patriot Act?
- No, and pass strict laws prohibiting government surveillance without probable cause and a warrant
Should people be required to work in order to receive Medicaid?
- No, the vast majority of people who receive Medicaid are disabled
Do you support a universal basic income program?
- Yes
Should the federal government be allowed to negotiate drug prices for Medicare?
- Yes
Should universities provide "trigger warnings" and "safe spaces" for students?
- Yes
Should it be illegal to burn the American flag?
- No, this is a violation of free speech
Should there be a 5-year ban on White House and Congressional officials from becoming lobbyists after they leave the government?
- Yes, and ban all forms of lobbying
Should the U.S. conduct military strikes against North Korea in order to destroy their long-range missile and nuclear weapons capabilities?
- No, we must use every diplomatic option first
Should the minimum voting age be lowered?
- No, and voters should be required to pass a basic test demonstrating their understanding of politics in order to vote
Should there be fewer or more restrictions on current welfare benefits?
- More, reform the system so that it supplements, rather than replaces, a working income
Do you believe labor unions help or hurt the economy?
- Help
Should the government pass laws which protect whistleblowers?
- Yes, but only if releasing the information does not threaten our national security
Should the U.S. provide military aid to Saudi Arabia during its conflict with Yemen?
- No, and cut ties with Saudi Arabia until they end their human rights violations
Should women be allowed to wear a Niqab, or face veil, to civic ceremonies?
- Yes, we should respect all cultural traditions
Should the government increase or decrease military spending?
- Decrease
Should the Supreme Court be reformed to include more seats and term limits on judges?
- Yes
Should prisons ban the use of solitary confinement for juveniles?
- Yes
Should the IRS create a free electronic tax filing system?
- Yes
Should the U.S. accept refugees from Syria?
- Yes
Do you support affirmative action programs?
- Yes
Do you support Common Core national standards?
- Yes
Should the US assassinate suspected terrorists in foreign countries?
- No
Should the government support a separation of church and state by removing references to God on money, federal buildings, and national monuments?
- Yes, but do not waste money removing existing references
Should the government increase the tax rate on profits earned from the sale of stocks, bonds, and real estate?
- Yes, and increase to the average U.S. tax rate (31.5%)
Should cities open drug "safe havens" where people who are addicted to illegal drugs can use them under the supervision of medical professionals?
- Yes, drug abuse should be treated as a health issue, not a criminal issue
Should the government stop construction of the Dakota Access pipeline?
- Yes
Should the US increase or decrease foreign aid spending?
- Increase
Should the U.S. send ground troops into Syria to fight ISIS?
- No, we should stay out of this conflict
Should the government require businesses to pay salaried employees, making up to $46k/year, time-and-a-half for overtime hours?
- Yes, and the government should do more to protect workers’ rights
Should the government be allowed to seize private property, with reasonable compensation, for public or civic use?
- Yes
Should foreign terrorism suspects be given constitutional rights?
- Yes
Should the military fly drones over foreign countries to gain intelligence and kill suspected terrorists?
- Yes
Should the government use economic stimulus to aid the country during times of recession?
- Yes, the government should intervene to boost a recovery
Should there be more or less privatization of veterans’ healthcare?
- Less, we should increase funding to improve the current system instead
Should the government raise the retirement age for Social Security?
- No, this will disadvantage low income seniors whose life expectancy is lower than wealthier seniors
Should producers be required to label genetically engineered foods (GMOs)?
- Yes, I trust the science of responsible food engineering but I don’t trust the motives of the food companies selling them
Should the federal government fund Universal preschool?
- Yes
Should convicted criminals have the right to vote?
- Yes, but only after completing their sentences and parole/probation
Should the United States pull all military troops out of Afghanistan?
- Yes
Should immigrants to the United States be allowed to hold dual citizenship status?
- Yes, unless they have committed an act of terrorism
Should a politician, who has been formerly convicted of a crime, be allowed to run for office?
- Yes, as long as it was not a felony, violent, financial, or sexual crime
Do you support mandatory minimum prison sentences for people charged with drug possession?
- No
Should the U.S. continue to participate in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)?
- Yes, NAFTA helps lower the prices of consumer products
Should the current estate tax rate be decreased?
- No, and increase it at a progressive rate
Do you support the use of nuclear energy?
- Yes, temporarily while we increase investment into cleaner renewable alternatives
Should drug traffickers receive the death penalty?
- No, I do not believe in the death penalty
Should the government fund space travel?
- Yes, and drastically increase NASA’s current budget
Should the U.S. formally declare war on ISIS?
- No, we should stay out of Middle Eastern conflicts
Do you support President Obama’s move to lift the trade and travel embargo on Cuba?
- Yes
Should the government add or increase tariffs on products imported into the country?
- No, a global free trade system is better for our businesses and consumers
Should the U.S. increase tariffs on imported products from China?
- No
Should the U.S. provide military assistance to defend Ukraine from Russia?
- No, we should pursue diplomatic options instead
Should the President offer tax breaks to individual companies to keep jobs in the U.S.?
- No, the government should not interfere with the free market
Should the government break up Amazon, Facebook and Google?
- No
1. Should the U.S. defend other NATO countries that maintain low military defense budgets relative to their GDP?
- Yes, and refusing to defend other NATO countries sets a dangerous precedent for the balance of global power
Should the Federal Reserve Bank be audited by Congress?
- Yes, we deserve to know who the bank gives money to
Should the government subsidize farmers?
- Yes, but only small local farms instead of large corporations
Would you favor an increased sales tax in order to reduce property taxes?
- No, property taxes are the most reliable and consistent form of state revenue
Should the U.S. continue NSA surveillance of its allies?
- No, spying on our allies severely damages our reputation abroad
Should U.S. citizens be allowed to save or invest their money in offshore bank accounts?
- No
Should pension plans for federal, state, and local government workers be transitioned into privately managed accounts?
- No, privately managed accounts will jeopardize the financial security of senior citizens
Should the U.S. government grant immunity to Edward Snowden?
- Yes, he should be protected under the Whistleblower Protection Act
Should the U.S. prevent Russia from conducting airstrikes in Syria?
- No, all airstrikes should be conducted through UN coordination
Should non-violent prisoners be released from jail in order to reduce overcrowding?
- Yes, but place them under house arrest using an electronic bracelet
Do you support the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)?
- Yes
Should the U.S. sell military weapons to India in order to counter Chinese and Russian influence?
- No, and we should increase diplomatic efforts to resolve conflicts peacefully
Should pension payments be increased for retired government workers?
- Yes
Should the government increase spending on public transportation?
- Yes
Should Jerusalem be recognized as the capital of Israel?
- No
Should an in-state sales tax apply to online purchases of in-state buyers from out-of-state sellers?
- Yes
Should the government decriminalize school truancy?
- Yes
Should the Chinese government be able to extradite fugitives from Hong Kong?
- No
Should cities be allowed to offer private companies economic incentives to relocate?
- Yes, if the company promises to create new jobs by hiring local residents
Should the government cancel production of the F-35 fighter?
- Yes
Should the government classify Bitcoin as a legal currency?
- No, classify it as a commodity
Should the government acquire equity stakes in companies it bails out during a recession?
- No
Should the United States acquire Greenland?
- No
Should the military upgrade Air Force One?
- No, not until the cost ($4B) is dramatically reduced
Should sports betting be legal?
- Yes, but let each state decide
On June 25, 2019, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled in a lawsuit originally filed against Evers that the Department of Public Instruction and its superintendent must have written approval from the governor before drafting or implementing new administrative rules. In November of 2017, the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL) filed a lawsuit alleging that Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) were in violation of the state's REINS Act (Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act). WILL’s lawsuit asked the court to issue a declaratory judgment ordering Superintendent Evers to comply with the state REINS Act. WILL's suit was filed on behalf of two school board members and two public school teachers from Wisconsin school districts. Click below for a timeline of events related to the lawsuit June 25, 2019: Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that DPI must have new rules approved by the governor In a 4-2 decision, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled in favor of Kristi Koschkee and held that the Department of Instruction (DPI) and Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) must receive written approval from the governor before drafting or implementing new administrative rules. The court held that the Wisconsin Constitution allows the state REINS Act to apply to the DPI because the power to make rules is legislative and controlled by the legislature. July 20, 2018: Wisconsin Supreme Court rules on REINS Act case The Wisconsin Supreme Court issued a ruling on the requirement that Evers make use of legal defense provided by the Department of Justice on July 20, 2018. It ruled that Evers and the Department of Public Instruction were to be allowed to select the counsel of their choice on the grounds that Attorney General Bill Schuette's (R) position on the REINS Act and desired outcome for the case was contradictory to Evers'. The court also ruled that Gov. Scott Walker (R) was not a necessary party to the case. April 13, 2018: Wisconsin Supreme Court agrees to hear REINS Act case against Evers and DPI The Wisconsin Supreme Court issued a decision on April 13, 2018, agreeing to consider WILL's lawsuit against Superintendent Evers and DPI as an original action. In the decision, the court did not give its reasons for taking the case. The court also did not respond to Evers' request for independent representation. The decision to take the case was supported by a majority of the court, while Justices Ann Walsh Bradley and Shirley Abrahamson dissented, arguing that the issue presented was already addressed in Coyne v. Walker. Oral arguments in Koschkee v. Evers were held on May 15, 2018. February 6, 2018: Dane County judge denies motion seeking a declaration that the Wisconsin REINS Act does not apply to the state superintendent On February 6, 2018, Dane County Circuit Judge Richard Niess denied a motion filed in December 2017 in a dormant lawsuit between Governor Walker and Superintendent Evers. At the conclusion of that now-dormant suit, the Wisconsin Supreme Court upheld an injunction from a Dane County judge preventing the governor from applying to the state superintendent a 2011 law requiring state agencies to obtain gubernatorial permission when issuing regulations. The motion, filed by a group of teachers in support of Evers’ position, asked Judge Niess to rule that the Wisconsin REINS Act is similar enough to the 2011 regulatory permission law and therefore cannot be applied to Evers. Judge Niess denied the motion, holding that interpreting the REINS Act is a matter for the state supreme court and that there is no reason to believe that the Walker administration plans to violate the original injunction against applying the 2011 law to DPI. November 22, 2017: Governor Walker orders Wisconsin Department of Justice to represent Evers and DPI; Evers requests independent counsel On November 22, 2017, Governor Scott Walker (R) ordered the Wisconsin Department of Justice to represent Superintendent Evers in the case. An email statement from the governor's office to Wisconsin Public Radio read in part: "Superintendent Evers is being sued in his official capacity as a state official, therefore, the attorney general has the authority to represent him and determine the arguments that are in the best interest of the state." DPI spokesman Tom McCarthy said the same day that his department plans to file a motion seeking independent representation on the grounds that the Walker administration and state Attorney General Brad Schimel (R) do not have the same interests or desired outcome in the case as the department. Evers, who ran for Wisconsin governor as a Democrat in 2018, issued a separate statement on November 22 through his campaign spokeswoman, saying, "They will stop at nothing. They are so scared that I will beat Scott Walker, they are willing to waste thousands of taxpayer dollars re-filing a frivolous lawsuit they've already lost." Johnny Koremenos, director of communications and public affairs for the state justice department, also released a statement that day, which read in part: "It is not unusual for a client agency to disagree with the position of DOJ and this case is no different, but that is not a conflict of interest. Wisconsin law unequivocally gives the Attorney General the power to represent any state official or department upon the request of the Governor." November 20, 2017: Law firm sues the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and state superintendent, alleging REINS Act violations On November 20, 2017, the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL) filed a lawsuit against Tony Evers, the Wisconsin superintendent of public instruction, alleging that Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) were in violation of the state's REINS Act. WILL’s lawsuit was filed as an original action with the Supreme Court of Wisconsin and asked the court to issue a declaratory judgment ordering Superintendent Evers to comply with the state REINS Act. WILL's suit was filed on behalf of two school board members and two public school teachers from Wisconsin school districts. A press release from WILL, a nonprofit law firm and legal research organization, described the reasoning behind the lawsuit as follows: “ Among other things, the REINS Act requires statements of scope for proposed rules to be submitted to the State Department of Administration for an analysis of whether the agency has authority to promulgate the proposed rule. ... But records obtained by WILL indicate that Evers and the DPI are violating this provision of the law by refusing to send scope statements to the Department of Administration. DPI is also not sending scope statements to the Governor for approval. ” —Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, November 20, 2017 Tom McCarthy, a spokesman for DPI, said in a statement issued the same day as the lawsuit filing that the legal issues raised by WILL were already decided by the Wisconsin Supreme Court in the 2016 case Coyne v. Walker. McCarthy argued that the state REINS Act does not apply to DPI, writing, "Justice Gableman's decision in Coyne is clear and the Legislature understood the case’s impact on the REINS Act after discussions with our department. The case has no merit, period." According to Wisconsin Public Radio, "the state Supreme Court ruled 4-3 in Coyne v. Walker that the state schools superintendent has the authority to write rules independently." The four-justice majority in Coyne delivered four separate opinions, and the case was decided the year before the state REINS Act was passed.
July 20, 2018: Wisconsin Supreme Court rules on REINS Act case The Wisconsin Supreme Court issued a ruling on the requirement that Evers make use of legal defense provided by the Department of Justice on July 20, 2018. It ruled that Evers and the Department of Public Instruction were to be allowed to select the counsel of their choice on the grounds that Attorney General Bill Schette's (R) position on the REINS Act and desired outcome for the case was contradictory to Evers'. The court also ruled that Gov. Scott Walker (R) was not a necessary party to the case. April 13, 2018: Wisconsin Supreme Court agrees to hear REINS Act case against Evers and DPI The Wisconsin Supreme Court issued a decision on April 13, 2018, agreeing to consider WILL's lawsuit against Superintendent Evers and DPI as an original action. In the decision, the court did not give its reasons for taking the case. The court also did not respond to Evers' request for independent representation. The decision to take the case was supported by a majority of the court, while Justices Ann Walsh Bradley and Shirley Abrahamson dissented, arguing that the issue presented was already addressed in Coyne v. Walker. Oral arguments in Koschkee v. Evers were held on May 15, 2018. February 6, 2018: Dane County judge denies motion seeking a declaration that the Wisconsin REINS Act does not apply to the state superintendent On February 6, 2018, Dane County Circuit Judge Richard Niess denied a motion filed in December 2017 in a dormant lawsuit between Governor Walker and Superintendent Evers. At the conclusion of that now-dormant suit, the Wisconsin Supreme Court upheld an injunction from a Dane County judge preventing the governor from applying to the state superintendent a 2011 law requiring state agencies to obtain gubernatorial permission when issuing regulations. The motion, filed by a group of teachers in support of Evers’ position, asked Judge Niess to rule that the Wisconsin REINS Act is similar enough to the 2011 regulatory permission law and therefore cannot be applied to Evers. Judge Niess denied the motion, holding that interpreting the REINS Act is a matter for the state supreme court and that there is no reason to believe that the Walker administration plans to violate the original injunction against applying the 2011 law to DPI. November 22, 2017: Governor Walker orders Wisconsin Department of Justice to represent Evers and DPI; Evers requests independent counsel On November 22, 2017, Governor Scott Walker (R) ordered the Wisconsin Department of Justice to represent Superintendent Evers in the case. An email statement from the governor's office to Wisconsin Public Radio read in part: "Superintendent Evers is being sued in his official capacity as a state official, therefore, the attorney general has the authority to represent him and determine the arguments that are in the best interest of the state." DPI spokesman Tom McCarthy said the same day that his department plans to file a motion seeking independent representation on the grounds that the Walker administration and state Attorney General Brad Schimel (R) do not have the same interests or desired outcome in the case as the department. Evers, who ran for Wisconsin governor as a Democrat in 2018, issued a separate statement on November 22 through his campaign spokeswoman, saying, "They will stop at nothing. They are so scared that I will beat Scott Walker, they are willing to waste thousands of taxpayer dollars re-filing a frivolous lawsuit they've already lost." Johnny Koremenos, director of communications and public affairs for the state justice department, also released a statement that day, which read in part: "It is not unusual for a client agency to disagree with the position of DOJ and this case is no different, but that is not a conflict of interest. Wisconsin law unequivocally gives the Attorney General the power to represent any state official or department upon the request of the Governor." November 20, 2017: Law firm sues the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and state superintendent, alleging REINS Act violations On November 20, 2017, the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL) filed a lawsuit against Tony Evers, the Wisconsin superintendent of public instruction, alleging that Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) were in violation of the state's REINS Act. WILL’s lawsuit was filed as an original action with the Supreme Court of Wisconsin and asked the court to issue a declaratory judgment ordering Superintendent Evers to comply with the state REINS Act. WILL's suit was filed on behalf of two school board members and two public school teachers from Wisconsin school districts. A press release from WILL, a nonprofit law firm and legal research organization, described the reasoning behind the lawsuit as follows: “ Among other things, the REINS Act requires statements of scope for proposed rules to be submitted to the State Department of Administration for an analysis of whether the agency has authority to promulgate the proposed rule. ... But records obtained by WILL indicate that Evers and the DPI are violating this provision of the law by refusing to send scope statements to the Department of Administration. DPI is also not sending scope statements to the Governor for approval. ” —Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, November 20, 2017 Tom McCarthy, a spokesman for DPI, said in a statement issued the same day as the lawsuit filing that the legal issues raised by WILL were already decided by the Wisconsin Supreme Court in the 2016 case Coyne v. Walker. McCarthy argued that the state REINS Act does not apply to DPI, writing, "Justice Gableman's decision in Coyne is clear and the Legislature understood the case’s impact on the REINS Act after discussions with our department. The case has no merit, period." According to Wisconsin Public Radio, "the state Supreme Court ruled 4-3 in Coyne v. Walker that the state schools superintendent has the authority to write rules independently." The four-justice majority in Coyne delivered four separate opinions, and the case was decided the year before the state REINS Act was passed.
Wed 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM CST
The Rigby Pub & Grill Madison, WI
Sun 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM CDT
5927 Adams Rd, Fitchburg, WI 53575-1804, United States
