WILL, Taxpayers Sue the Biden Admin. Over Student Loan Debt Forgiveness

WILL filed a federal lawsuit against the Biden Administration on behalf of the Brown County Taxpayers Association, challenging the new federal student debt forgiveness program. The “One-Time Student Loan Debt Relief Plan,” announced by President Biden on August 24, 2022, promises to cancel debts owed to the U.S. Treasury by tens of millions of borrowers, all without authorization of such a program by Congress or federal law. The U.S. Department of Education is expected to begin canceling debts in the coming days, potentially costing U.S. taxpayers more than $1 Trillion.

🗯 WILL President and General Counsel, Rick Esenberg, said, “The President has no authority to order a wholesale forgiveness of student loans, costing taxpayers over a trillion dollars. Whether this plan is good for America is for Congress to decide. We understand the procedural challenges, but we cannot stand idly by while the President shreds our separation of powers. This can’t become the new normal for Democrats or Republicans. We will fight for the rule of law and take this issue all the way to the United States Supreme Court if necessary.” 

⚖️ This lawsuit is a part of WILL's Equality Under the Law Project Project. WILL President and General Counsel, Rick Esenberg, and Deputy Counsel, Dan Lennington, recently co-authored an op-ed in The Federalist on topics concerning this initiative. 

🗞 Read about WILL's recent legal action in The Washington Post, USA Today, and the Associated Press. 

🎙 Listen to the news on The Vicki McKenna Show (starting at 19:10).

NEW | Report Teaches Hope Instead of Critical Race Theory in Social Studies

WILL is proud to partner with Scott Niederjohn and Mark Schug, professors who have spent their careers crafting social-studies curriculum and training teachers, to provide a roadmap for educators and parents looking to understand how academic theories impact student learning of social studies.

🗯 WILL Director of Education Policy, Libby Sobic, said, “We encourage Wisconsin school districts to use this report as a guide. Students deserve the right resources and skills to analyze social studies-based subjects, for their personal growth and individual liberties.”

📖 Read the full report.

🍎 Find out more about the Restoring American Education Initiative.

WILL WINS | State Agency Turns Over Public Records to News Outlet

WILL filed suit in Washington County Circuit Court on behalf of Wisconsin Right Now, a Wisconsin-based conservative news outlet that sought public records from the Wisconsin Parole Commission (WPC). WPC had months to fulfill the request, and had not done so– failing to comply with the public records law.

Last Thursday, Judge Michael Kenitz signed an alternative writ, commanding WPC to immediately release the public records to the news outlet; or, show up in court, explaining why the commission could not comply. The next day, the commission fulfilled the public records request. 

🗯 WILL Deputy Counsel, Lucas Vebber, said, "This is a total victory for WILL. We are planning to dismiss the lawsuit, and we're thankful that the Court stepped in to keep our government accountable." 

Legal Update: Procedural Victory for WILL

WILL, on behalf of Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, the state’s chamber of commerce and manufacturers’ association, filed a lawsuit against the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The suit argues that the DNR had been unlawfully enforcing certain regulations without first going through the rulemaking process– to the injury of businesses in the state. WILL won that suit at the circuit court level, and the DNR appealed. Except, they tried to appeal the case, which was filed in Waukesha County (part of appellate District II), to a different appellate district: District IV.

WILL filed a motion with the Court of Appeals to move the appeal back to District II where it was legally required to be heard, and the state opposed that motion. The Court of Appeals sided with WILL, granting the motion to change the venue to District II.

📄 Read the Order on Venue Motion for more information. 

OP-ED | Defending School Choice

WILL Director of Education Policy, Libby Sobic, co-authored an op-ed in Empower Wisconsin. As supported by the newly founded Wisconsin Coalition for Education Freedom, those in favor of school choice "simply want parents to have the right to decide what is best for their own children – whether that be one of Wisconsin’s many excellent traditional public schools, a public charter school, or a school that participates in one of the state’s parental choice programs."