WISCONSIN INSTITUTE FOR LAW & LIBERTY INC: Form 990, tax year 2013

View the entire original 990 at ProPublica ↗

Organization
WISCONSIN INSTITUTE FOR LAW & LIBERTY INC (EIN 45-1606079)
Tax period
2013-01-01 to 2013-12-31
Filed
2014-05-15
IRS object ID
201421359349305707
Schema version
2013v3.0
Source
Download XML · Original 990 at ProPublica

Every field in the e-filed return. Faint text is the IRS element name, for citing.

Return header ReturnHeader

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Return2014-05-15T12:50:07-05:00ReturnTs
Tax Period End2013-12-31TaxPeriodEndDt

Preparer Firm PreparerFirmGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Preparer Firm EIN391210538PreparerFirmEIN

Preparer Firm Name PreparerFirmName

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Business Name Line1SCRIBNER COHEN AND COMPANY SC CPASBusinessNameLine1

Preparer US Address PreparerUSAddress

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Address Line1400 EAST MASON STREET SUITE 300AddressLine1
CityMILWAUKEECity
StateWIState
ZIP Code53202ZIPCode
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Return Type990ReturnTypeCd
Tax Period Begin2013-01-01TaxPeriodBeginDt

Filer Filer

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
EIN451606079EIN

Business Name BusinessName

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Business Name Line1WISCONSIN INSTITUTE FOR LAW & LIBERTY INCBusinessNameLine1
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Business Name ControlWISCBusinessNameControlTxt
Phone4147279455PhoneNum

US Address USAddress

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Address Line11139 E KNAPP STREETAddressLine1
CityMILWAUKEECity
StateWIState
ZIP Code532022828ZIPCode

Business Officer BusinessOfficerGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
PersonRICHARD M ESENBERGPersonNm
Person TitlePRESIDENTPersonTitleTxt
Phone4147279455PhoneNum
Signature2014-05-15SignatureDt
Discuss With Paid PreparerYes (1)DiscussWithPaidPreparerInd

Preparer Person PreparerPersonGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Preparer PersonKELLY K MILLER CPAPreparerPersonNm
PTINP00562808PTIN
Phone4142711700PhoneNum
Preparation2014-05-15PreparationDt
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Tax2013TaxYr
Build TS2015-11-30 17:44:51ZBuildTS

Form 990 IRS990

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Principal OfficerRICHARD M ESENBERGPrincipalOfficerNm

US Address USAddress

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Address Line11139 E KNAPP STREETAddressLine1
CityMILWAUKEECity
StateWIState
ZIP Code532022828ZIPCode
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Gross Receipts$938,547GrossReceiptsAmt
Group Return For Affiliates0GroupReturnForAffiliatesInd
Organization501c3Yes (X)Organization501c3Ind
Website AddressWWW.WILL-LAW.ORGWebsiteAddressTxt
Type Of Organization CorpYes (X)TypeOfOrganizationCorpInd
Formation2011FormationYr
Legal Domicile StateWILegalDomicileStateCd
Activity Or MissionTHE ORGANIZATION IS DEDICATED TO THE PROMOTION OF FREE MARKETS, LIMITED GOVERNMENT, INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY, AND A ROBUST CIVIL SOCIETY.ActivityOrMissionDesc
Voting Members Governing Body4VotingMembersGoverningBodyCnt
Voting Members Independent3VotingMembersIndependentCnt
Total Employee7TotalEmployeeCnt
Total Volunteers2TotalVolunteersCnt
Total Gross UBI$0TotalGrossUBIAmt
Net Unrelated Bus Txbl Incm$0NetUnrelatedBusTxblIncmAmt
PY Contributions Grants$653,128PYContributionsGrantsAmt
CY Contributions Grants$906,928CYContributionsGrantsAmt
PY Program Service Revenue$10,693PYProgramServiceRevenueAmt
CY Program Service Revenue$31,415CYProgramServiceRevenueAmt
PY Investment Income$247PYInvestmentIncomeAmt
CY Investment Income$204CYInvestmentIncomeAmt
PY Other Revenue$0PYOtherRevenueAmt
CY Other Revenue$0CYOtherRevenueAmt
PY Total Revenue$664,068PYTotalRevenueAmt
CY Total Revenue$938,547CYTotalRevenueAmt
PY Grants And Similar Paid$0PYGrantsAndSimilarPaidAmt
CY Grants And Similar Paid$0CYGrantsAndSimilarPaidAmt
PY Benefits Paid To Members$0PYBenefitsPaidToMembersAmt
CY Benefits Paid To Members$0CYBenefitsPaidToMembersAmt
PY Salaries Comp Emp Bnft Paid$431,594PYSalariesCompEmpBnftPaidAmt
CY Salaries Comp Emp Bnft Paid$568,411CYSalariesCompEmpBnftPaidAmt
PY Total Prof Fndrsng Expns$0PYTotalProfFndrsngExpnsAmt
CY Total Prof Fndrsng Expns$17,503CYTotalProfFndrsngExpnsAmt
CY Total Fundraising Expense$42,751CYTotalFundraisingExpenseAmt
PY Other Expenses$83,025PYOtherExpensesAmt
CY Other Expenses$77,692CYOtherExpensesAmt
PY Total Expenses$514,619PYTotalExpensesAmt
CY Total Expenses$663,606CYTotalExpensesAmt
PY Revenues Less Expenses$149,449PYRevenuesLessExpensesAmt
CY Revenues Less Expenses$274,941CYRevenuesLessExpensesAmt
Total Assets BOY$386,638TotalAssetsBOYAmt
Total Assets EOY$660,533TotalAssetsEOYAmt
Total Liabilities BOY$1,046TotalLiabilitiesBOYAmt
Total Liabilities EOY$0TotalLiabilitiesEOYAmt
Net Assets Or Fund Balances BOY$385,592NetAssetsOrFundBalancesBOYAmt
Net Assets Or Fund Balances EOY$660,533NetAssetsOrFundBalancesEOYAmt
Info In Schedule O Part IIIYes (X)InfoInScheduleOPartIIIInd
MissionTHE ORGANIZATION IS DEDICATED TO THE PROMOTION OF FREE MARKETS, LIMITED GOVERNMENT, INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY, AND A ROBUST CIVIL SOCIETY.MissionDesc
Significant New Program Srvc0SignificantNewProgramSrvcInd
Significant Change0SignificantChangeInd
Expense$387,535ExpenseAmt
Revenue$31,415RevenueAmt
DescWISCONSIN INSTITUTE FOR LAW & LIBERTY IS DEDICATED TO THE PROMOTION OF FREE MARKETS, LIMITED GOVERNMENT, INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY, AND A ROBUST CIVIL SOCIETY THROUGH EDUCATION, LITIGATION AND PARTICIPATION IN PUBLIC DISCOURSE. AS A NON-PROFIT AND NON-PARTISAN ORGANIZATION, THE ORGANIZATION LITIGATES IN THE AREAS OF PROPERTY RIGHTS, THE FREEDOM TO EARN A LIVING, VOTING RIGHTS, REGULATION, TAXATION, SCHOOL CHOICE, AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM. AS AN EDUCATION ORGANIZATION, THE ORGANIZATION STRIVES TO ADVANCE THE DEBATE CONCERNING LAW AND PUBLIC POLICY IN THESE AND OTHER AREAS.OTHER AREAS INCLUDE:OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS:WE HAVE ASSISTED MANY INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS WITH OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS, INCLUDING INDIVIDUAL ACTIVISTS, THE EDUCATION ACTION GROUP FOUNDATION, MACIVER, AND LOCAL JOURNALISTS. SUCH ASSISTANCE INCLUDES HELP DRAFTING REQUESTS, WRITING THREATENING LETTERS TO RECALCITRANT GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, AND PROVIDING ADVICE FOR WHAT DOCUMENTS TO REQUEST.SUPREME COURT ANALYSIS:ASSOCIATE COUNSEL TOM KAMENICK HAS PREPARED A REPORT ON THE EFFICIENCY AND VOTING PATTERNS OF THE WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT. THAT REPORT IS SCHEDULED TO BE PRINTED IN THE APRIL VERSION OF THE WISCONSIN LAWYER MAGAZINE, AND MAY BECOME AN ANNUAL FEATURE. A PRELIMINARY VERSION WAS RELEASED DURING LAST APRIL'S SUPREME COURT ELECTION TO COUNTER MISINFORMATION THAT THE COURT WAS "DIVIDED" AND "DYSFUNCTIONAL."SOCIAL MEDIA:SINCE THE LAST REPORT, WE HAVE EXPANDED OUR SOCIAL MEDIA REACH WITH A GROWING TWITTER FOLLOWING AND A RECENT YOUTUBE CHANNEL. WE CONTINUE TO MAKE USE OF OUR WEBSITE'S BLOG AND OUR FACEBOOK PAGE. ALL OF OUR ATTORNEYS HAVE BLOGGED ON VARIOUS TOPICS, INCLUDING OPEN RECORDS, SCHOOL CHOICE, EMINENT DOMAIN, EDUCATION POLICY, AND ECONOMIC LIBERTY. WE HAVE ADDED LINKS TO THOSE POSTS ON OUR FACEBOOK AND TWITTER ACCOUNTS, AS WELL AS USING THEM TO SHARE POSTS FROM LIKEMINDED INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS RIGHT WISCONSIN, THE GOLDWATER INSTITUTE AND THE INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE.MEDIA & LEGISLATIVE APPEARANCES:MOST OF OUR ATTORNEYS, AND ESPECIALLY SO FOR OUR GENERAL COUNSEL, RICK ESENBERG, HAVE MADE MEDIA APPEARANCES TO DISCUSS TOPICS AS BROAD RANGING AS ACT 10, PROPOSED LOCAL ORDINANCES, SUPREME COURT ELECTIONS, STATE NULLIFICATION, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, THE RULE OF LAW, AND THE "FAST & FURIOUS" SCANDAL. THOSE APPEARANCES HAVE RANGED FROM LOCAL RADIO STATIONS AND NEWSPAPER ARTICLES TO STATEWIDE AND EVEN NATIONWIDE PROGRAMS. RICK ESENBERG AND ASSOCIATE COUNSEL & EDUCATION POLICY DIRECTOR CJ SZAFIR HAVE ALSO TESTIFIED BEFORE WISCONSIN LEGISLATIVE HEARINGS ON VARIOUS PROPOSED BILLS.STATE BOARD APPOINTMENTS:TWO OF OUR ATTORNEYS HAVE BEEN APPOINTED BY GOVERNOR SCOTT WALKER TO SERVE ON STATE BOARDS. CJ SZAFIR WAS APPOINTED TO THE WISCONSIN REAL ESTATE EXAMINING BOARD, WHICH ADVISES THE SECRETARY OF SAFETY AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ON MATTERS RELATING TO THE REAL ESTATE PRACTICE AND CONDUCTS PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE PRACTICE. TOM KAMENICK WAS APPOINTED TO SERVE ON THE WISCONSIN COUNCIL ON LIBRARY AND NETWORK DEVELOPMENT, WHICH ADVISES THE SUPERINTENDENT, THE GOVERNOR, AND THE LEGISLATURE ON ISSUES RELATED TO THE 3,600+ LIBRARIES ACROSS THE STATE.MARQUETTE INTERNSHIPS, VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:WE HAVE BEEN APPROVED TO BE PART OF MARQUETTE LAW SCHOOL'S INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, WHEREBY STUDENTS EARN CREDITS FOR WORKING AS INTERNS IN NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. WE HAVE NOW HAD FOUR INTERNS FROM THAT PROGRAM. WE ALSO HAVE HAD BOTH ATTORNEYS AND LAW STUDENTS VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME WITH US TO HELP ON VARIOUS PROJECTS.NEW CASES IN 2013 INCLUDE:JOHNSON V. OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT:THE PATIENT PROTECTION AND AFFORDABLE CARE ACT ("ACA") WAS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN A WAY THAT WOULD REQUIRE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND THEIR STAFFS TO PURCHASE INSURANCE FROM THE "EXCHANGES" ESTABLISHED UNDER THE ACA. FURTHERMORE, THEY WERE NOT TO RECEIVE AN EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION FROM THE GOVERNMENT.HOWEVER, PRESIDENT OBAMA'S ADMINISTRATION CHANGED THE RULES IN AN ILLEGAL MANNER. THE OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT REWROTE THE RULES SO THAT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND THEIR STAFFS COULD RECEIVE AN EMPLOYER SUBSIDY FOR PURCHASING INSURANCE ON THE EXCHANGE, AND FURTHERMORE REQUIRED THEM TO PURCHASE INSURANCE THROUGH THE D.C. "SHOP" EXCHANGE, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE EXCLUSIVELY FOR SMALL EMPLOYERS. ORDINARY CITIZENS CANNOT RECEIVE TAX-FREE SUBSIDIES FROM THEIR EMPLOYERS TO PURCHASE INSURANCE ON EXCHANGES. FEES EARNED IN 2013 BUT NOT COLLECTED UNTIL 2014 WERE $10,770.IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THE ACA IS IMPLEMENTED THE WAY CONGRESS WROTE IT, AND TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST THE PRESIDENT'S UNLAWFUL USURPATION OF LEGISLATIVE POWER, SENATOR RON JOHNSON (R-WI) FILED A FEDERAL LAWSUIT WITH LEGAL ASSISTANCE FROM WILL AND FORMER U.S. SOLICITOR GENERAL PAUL CLEMENT.MARONE V. MATC:THE MILWAUKEE AREA TECHNICAL COLLEGE WAS ONE OF A FEW LOCAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYERS TO TRY AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SO CALLED "WINDOW" OF OPPORTUNITY TO AVOID ACT 10 SUPPOSEDLY CREATED BY DANE COUNTY JUDGE JUAN COLAS'S RULING IN MADISON TEACHERS FINDING PORTIONS OF ACT 10 UNCONSTITUTIONAL. IN FEBRUARY, 2013, MATC REACHED A LABOR AGREEMENT WITH ITS EMPLOYEES' UNIONS CONTAINING NUMEROUS PROVISIONS IN VIOLATION OF ACT 10. ON BEHALF OF AN MATC PROFESSOR, WILL SUED MATC, SEEKING TO HAVE THE CONTRACT DECLARED NULL AND VOID. THE CASE IS CURRENTLY IN BRIEFING.LACROIX V. KENOSHA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT:WHILE THE MADISON TEACHERS CASE WAS BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT, JUDGE COLAS HELD THE WISCONSINEMPLOYMENT RELATIONS COMMISSION IN CONTEMPT AND ORDERED THEM NOT TO ENFORCE ACT 10 AGAINST ANY OTHER MUNICIPAL EMPLOYERS OR UNIONS. SEEKING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CONFUSION CAUSED BY THE CONTEMPT ORDER (WHICH WAS LATER THROWN OUT), THE KENOSHA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION ENTERED INTO HURRIED NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE KENOSHA SCHOOL DISTRICT (THE THIRD LARGEST DISTRICT IN THE STATE), CREATING A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT THAT IGNORES ACT 10'S REQUIREMENTS.ON BEHALF OF A KENOSHA TAXPAYER AND A KENOSHA TEACHER, WE FILED A LAWSUIT SEEKING TO DECLARE THAT CONTRACT VOID. ALTHOUGH THE JUDGE DENIED OUR REQUEST FOR A TEMPORARY INJUNCTION, HE ALSO DENIED THE DISTRICT'S AND UNION'S MOTIONS TO DISMISS AND RULED THAT DESPITE JUDGE COLAS'S RULING IN MADISON TEACHERS, ACT 10 APPLIED TO KENOSHA.RICE V. MILWAUKEE COUNTY BOARD:JOSEPH RICE, A FORMER MILWAUKEE COUNTY BOARD MEMBER, FILED TWO OPEN MEETINGS COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE MILWAUKEE COUNTY BOARD. FIRST, THE BOARD VIOLATED THE OPEN MEETINGS LAW WHEN IT WENT INTO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS AND VOTE ON ENTERING INTO CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS WITH ITS UNIONS IN VIOLATION OF ACT 10. SECOND, THE BOARD VIOLATED THE OPEN MEETINGS LAW WHEN A QUORUM OF SUPERVISORS ATTENDED AND TESTIFIED AT A LEGISLATIVE HEARING ON ASSEMBLY BILL 85, WHICH WOULD LATER BECOME THE LAW DRAMATICALLY REDUCING THE BOARD'S POWERS. THE COURT DISMISSED OUR CASE, AND WE ARE CONSIDERING APPEAL.KRUEGER V. APPLETON AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT:A GROUP OF APPLETON PARENTS SOUGHT TO CREATE AN ALTERNATIVE READING LIST FOR 9TH GRADE ENGLISH, INCLUDING ONLY BOOKS AT THE 9TH GRADE LEVEL WITH NO OBSCENITIES OR SEXUALIZED CONTENT. THE ULTIMATE SELECTION OF THE BOOKS IS THE STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BOARD, BUT IN THIS CASE IT WAS DELEGATED TO A COMMITTEE OF TEACHERS AND STAFF. THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS WERE NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND THE INTERESTED PARENTS WERE NOT ALLOWED TO ATTEND THE MEETINGS. WE FILED A LAWSUIT ALLEGING THAT THE LAW REQUIRES SUCH COMMITTEES TO FOLLOW THE OPEN MEETINGS LAW. THIS CASE HAS A REASONABLE CHANCE OF MAKING IT TO THE SUPREME COURT BECAUSE NO EXISTING CASES ADDRESS THIS FACT PATTERN, WHICH IS REPEATED AROUND THE STATE ON A REGULAR BASIS AS SCHOOL DISTRICTS UPDATE CURRICULA AND READING LISTS.Desc

Prog Srvc Accom Acty2 ProgSrvcAccomActy2Grp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Expense$106,157ExpenseAmt
DescEDUCATION PROJECT:WILL'S EDUCATION PROJECT IS HEADED BY ASSOCIATE COUNSEL AND EDUCATION POLICY DIRECTOR CJ SZAFIR. WILL HAS BEEN INVESTIGATING THE CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THE LARGE NUMBER OF EMPTY MILWAUKEE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BUILDINGS. THESE BUILDINGS, WHICH ARE TECHNICALLY OWNED BY THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE, COST TAXPAYERS OVER A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR IN UPKEEP, AND SEVERAL CHOICE SCHOOLS HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST IN PURCHASING SOME OF THEM, BUT MPS REFUSES. WILL'S INVESTIGATION HAS BROUGHT SEVERAL STORIES TO LIGHT THAT OBTAINED SUBSTANTIAL COVERAGE IN LOCAL MEDIA AND HAVE GENERATED INTEREST IN THE LEGISLATURE TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. WE ALSO HAVE FOUGHT BACK AGAINST MPS'S ATTEMPT TO HIDE CRUCIAL PUBLIC RECORDS SURROUNDING A SHADY DEAL BETWEEN AN AD HOC DEVELOPMENT CONGLOMERATE FORMED TO PURCHASE ONE OF THE BUILDINGS AND LEASE IT BACK TO MPS.WILL HAS ALSO BEEN ACTIVE IN SUPPORT OF SCHOOL CHOICE IN OTHER WAYS. ALONG WITH THE EDUCATION ACTION GROUP, WE RELEASED A REPORT THAT EXPOSED THE DPI'S ADVERSARIAL TREATMENT OF CHOICE SCHOOLS. WE ALSO HAVE PUSHED BACK AGAINST PRESSURE PLACED ON THE DPI BY THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION'S DOJ TO TRY AND FORCE DPI TO INTERFERE WITH THE GOVERNANCE OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS. IN MAY, WE RELEASED A REPORT DEFENDING THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE EXPANSION OF SCHOOL CHOICE.ON BEHALF OF A GROUP OF BROWN COUNTY TAXPAYERS, WILL HAS BEEN INVESTIGATING THE GREEN BAY SCHOOL DISTRICT'S USE OF THE "COMMUNITY SERVICE FUND" A SOURCE OF MONEY ABOVE AND BEYOND REVENUE CAPS THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE USED TO OPEN UP SCHOOL FACILITIES TO THE PUBLIC FOR ACTIVITIES SUCH AS SWIMMING, GYM USE, NIGHT-TIME CLASSES, ETC. INSTEAD, GREEN BAY (AND OTHER DISTRICTS) ARE USING THOSE FUNDS FOR ORDINARY SCHOOL EXPENSES SUCH AS SECURITY OFFICERS, ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF, AND ATHLETIC PROGRAMS. WILL HAS WRITTEN SEVERAL LETTERS TO THE GREEN BAY SCHOOL BOARD CRITICAL OF THE PRACTICE, AND WE HAVE SEEN A REDUCTION IN ITS USE AS A RESULT.Desc
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total Program Service Expenses$493,692TotalProgramServiceExpensesAmt
Described In Section501c3Yes (1)DescribedInSection501c3Ind
Schedule B RequiredYes (1)ScheduleBRequiredInd
Political Campaign Acty0PoliticalCampaignActyInd
Lobbying Activities0LobbyingActivitiesInd
Subject To Proxy Tax0SubjectToProxyTaxInd
Donor Advised Fund0DonorAdvisedFundInd
Conservation Easements0ConservationEasementsInd
Collections Of Art0CollectionsOfArtInd
Credit Counseling0CreditCounselingInd
Temp Or Permanent Endowments0TempOrPermanentEndowmentsInd
Report Land Building EquipmentYes (1)ReportLandBuildingEquipmentInd
Report Investments Other Sec0ReportInvestmentsOtherSecInd
Report Program Related Invst0ReportProgramRelatedInvstInd
Report Other Assets0ReportOtherAssetsInd
Report Other Liabilities0ReportOtherLiabilitiesInd
Include FIN48 FootnoteYes (1)IncludeFIN48FootnoteInd
Independent Audit Fincl StmtYes (1)IndependentAuditFinclStmtInd
Consolidated Audit Fincl Stmt0ConsolidatedAuditFinclStmtInd
School Operating0SchoolOperatingInd
Foreign Office0ForeignOfficeInd
Foreign Activities0ForeignActivitiesInd
More Than5000 K To Org0MoreThan5000KToOrgInd
More Than5000 K To Individuals0MoreThan5000KToIndividualsInd
Professional FundraisingYes (1)ProfessionalFundraisingInd
Fundraising Activities0FundraisingActivitiesInd
Gaming Activities0GamingActivitiesInd
Operate Hospital0OperateHospitalInd
Grants To Organizations0GrantsToOrganizationsInd
Grants To Individuals0GrantsToIndividualsInd
Schedule J RequiredYes (1)ScheduleJRequiredInd
Tax Exempt Bonds0TaxExemptBondsInd
Engaged In Excess Benefit Trans0EngagedInExcessBenefitTransInd
PY Excess Benefit Trans0PYExcessBenefitTransInd
Loan Outstanding0LoanOutstandingInd
Grant To Related Person0GrantToRelatedPersonInd
Business Rln With Org Mem0BusinessRlnWithOrgMemInd
Business Rln With Fam Mem0BusinessRlnWithFamMemInd
Business Rln With Officer Ent0BusinessRlnWithOfficerEntInd
Deductible Non Cash Contri0DeductibleNonCashContriInd
Deductible Art Contribution0DeductibleArtContributionInd
Terminate Operations0TerminateOperationsInd
Partial Liquidation0PartialLiquidationInd
Disregarded Entity0DisregardedEntityInd
Related Entity0RelatedEntityInd
Related Organization Ctrl Ent0RelatedOrganizationCtrlEntInd
Trnsfr Exmpt Non Chrtbl Rltd Org0TrnsfrExmptNonChrtblRltdOrgInd
Activities Conducted Prtshp0ActivitiesConductedPrtshpInd
Schedule O RequiredYes (1)ScheduleORequiredInd
IRP Document0IRPDocumentCnt
IRP Document W2 G0IRPDocumentW2GCnt
Employee7EmployeeCnt
Employment Tax Returns FiledYes (1)EmploymentTaxReturnsFiledInd
Unrelated Bus Incm Over Limit0UnrelatedBusIncmOverLimitInd
Foreign Financial Account0ForeignFinancialAccountInd
Prohibited Tax Shelter Trans0ProhibitedTaxShelterTransInd
Taxable Party Notification0TaxablePartyNotificationInd
Nondeductible Contributions0NondeductibleContributionsInd
Quid Pro Quo Contributions0QuidProQuoContributionsInd
Form8282 Property Disposed Of0Form8282PropertyDisposedOfInd
Rcv Fnds To Pay Prsnl Bnft Cntrct0RcvFndsToPayPrsnlBnftCntrctInd
Pay Premiums Prsnl Bnft Cntrct0PayPremiumsPrsnlBnftCntrctInd
Indoor Tanning Services0IndoorTanningServicesInd
Info In Schedule O Part VIYes (X)InfoInScheduleOPartVIInd
Governing Body Voting Members4GoverningBodyVotingMembersCnt
Independent Voting Member3IndependentVotingMemberCnt
Family Or Business Rln0FamilyOrBusinessRlnInd
Delegation Of Mgmt Duties0DelegationOfMgmtDutiesInd
Change To Org Documents0ChangeToOrgDocumentsInd
Material Diversion Or Misuse0MaterialDiversionOrMisuseInd
Members Or Stockholders0MembersOrStockholdersInd
Election Of Board Members0ElectionOfBoardMembersInd
Decisions Subject To Approva0DecisionsSubjectToApprovaInd
Minutes Of Governing BodyYes (1)MinutesOfGoverningBodyInd
Minutes Of CommitteesYes (1)MinutesOfCommitteesInd
Officer Mailing Address0OfficerMailingAddressInd
Local Chapters0LocalChaptersInd
Form990 Provided To Gvrn BodyYes (1)Form990ProvidedToGvrnBodyInd
Conflict Of Interest PolicyYes (1)ConflictOfInterestPolicyInd
Annual Disclosure Covered PrsnYes (1)AnnualDisclosureCoveredPrsnInd
Regular Monitoring EnfrcYes (1)RegularMonitoringEnfrcInd
Whistleblower PolicyYes (1)WhistleblowerPolicyInd
Document Retention PolicyYes (1)DocumentRetentionPolicyInd
Compensation Process CEOYes (1)CompensationProcessCEOInd
Compensation Process OtherYes (1)CompensationProcessOtherInd
Investment In Joint Venture0InvestmentInJointVentureInd
States Where Copy Of Return Is FldWIStatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
Own WebsiteYes (X)OwnWebsiteInd
Upon RequestYes (X)UponRequestInd

Books In Care Of Detail BooksInCareOfDetail

Business Name BusinessName

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Business Name Line1WISCONSIN INSTITUTE FOR LAW & LIBERTY INCBusinessNameLine1
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Phone4147279455PhoneNum

US Address USAddress

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Address Line11139 E KNAPP STREETAddressLine1
CityMILWAUKEECity
StateWIState
ZIP Code532022828ZIPCode

Form990 Part VII Section A Form990PartVIISectionAGrp (5 entries)

TitleTitleTxtAverage Hours Per WeekAverageHoursPerWeekRtIndividual Trustee Or DirectorIndividualTrusteeOrDirectorIndOfficerOfficerIndHighest Compensated EmployeeHighestCompensatedEmployeeIndReportable Comp From OrgReportableCompFromOrgAmtReportable Comp From Rltd OrgReportableCompFromRltdOrgAmtOther CompensationOtherCompensationAmt
RICHARD M ESENBERG
PRESIDENT AND TREASURER40.00Yes (X)Yes (X)Yes (X)$182,500$0$46,134
JAMES T BARRY III
DIRECTOR1.00Yes (X)$0$0$0
MICHAEL H WHITE
DIRECTOR1.00Yes (X)$0$0$0
CHRISTOPHER WOLFE
DIRECTOR1.00Yes (X)$0$0$0
STACY A STUECK
SECRETARY40.00Yes (X)$63,250$0$20,165
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total Reportable Comp From Org$245,750TotalReportableCompFromOrgAmt
Tot Reportable Comp Rltd Org$0TotReportableCompRltdOrgAmt
Total Other Compensation$66,299TotalOtherCompensationAmt
Indiv Rcvd Greater Than100 K1IndivRcvdGreaterThan100KCnt
Former Ofcr Employees Listed0FormerOfcrEmployeesListedInd
Total Comp Greater Than150 KYes (1)TotalCompGreaterThan150KInd
Compensation From Other Srcs0CompensationFromOtherSrcsInd
Cntrct Rcvd Greater Than100 K0CntrctRcvdGreaterThan100KCnt
All Other Contributions$906,928AllOtherContributionsAmt
Total Contributions$906,928TotalContributionsAmt

Program Service Revenue ProgramServiceRevenueGrp (2 entries)

DescDescBusinessBusinessCdTotal Revenue ColumnTotalRevenueColumnAmtRelated Or Exempt Func IncomeRelatedOrExemptFuncIncomeAmt
STATUTORY FEES541100$30,032$30,032
REIMBURSED CASE COST541100$1,383$1,383
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total Program Service Revenue$31,415TotalProgramServiceRevenueAmt

Investment Income InvestmentIncomeGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total Revenue Column$204TotalRevenueColumnAmt
Exclusion$204ExclusionAmt

Total Revenue TotalRevenueGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total Revenue Column$938,547TotalRevenueColumnAmt
Related Or Exempt Func Income$31,415RelatedOrExemptFuncIncomeAmt
Unrelated Business Revenue$0UnrelatedBusinessRevenueAmt
Exclusion$204ExclusionAmt

Comp Current Ofcr Directors CompCurrentOfcrDirectorsGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$312,048TotalAmt
Program Services$188,158ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General$101,027ManagementAndGeneralAmt
Fundraising$22,863FundraisingAmt

Other Salaries And Wages OtherSalariesAndWagesGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$178,202TotalAmt
Program Services$178,202ProgramServicesAmt

Pension Plan Contributions PensionPlanContributionsGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$17,732TotalAmt
Program Services$17,732ProgramServicesAmt

Other Employee Benefits OtherEmployeeBenefitsGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$29,138TotalAmt
Program Services$28,054ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General$1,084ManagementAndGeneralAmt

Payroll Taxes PayrollTaxesGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$31,291TotalAmt
Program Services$24,452ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General$5,813ManagementAndGeneralAmt
Fundraising$1,026FundraisingAmt

Fees For Services Accounting FeesForServicesAccountingGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$6,275TotalAmt
Management And General$6,275ManagementAndGeneralAmt

Fees For Services Prof Fundraising FeesForServicesProfFundraising

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$17,503TotalAmt
Fundraising$17,503FundraisingAmt

Fees For Services Other FeesForServicesOtherGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$942TotalAmt
Management And General$942ManagementAndGeneralAmt

Advertising AdvertisingGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$525TotalAmt
Management And General$525ManagementAndGeneralAmt

Office Expenses OfficeExpensesGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$2,256TotalAmt
Program Services$240ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General$2,016ManagementAndGeneralAmt

Information Technology InformationTechnologyGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$1,023TotalAmt
Management And General$1,023ManagementAndGeneralAmt

Occupancy OccupancyGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$25,921TotalAmt
Program Services$22,033ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General$3,518ManagementAndGeneralAmt
Fundraising$370FundraisingAmt

Travel TravelGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$7,156TotalAmt
Program Services$7,156ProgramServicesAmt

Conferences Meetings ConferencesMeetingsGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$782TotalAmt
Program Services$782ProgramServicesAmt

Depreciation Depletion DepreciationDepletionGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$4,287TotalAmt
Program Services$3,705ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General$582ManagementAndGeneralAmt

Insurance InsuranceGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$3,355TotalAmt
Program Services$1,840ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General$1,515ManagementAndGeneralAmt

Other Expenses OtherExpensesGrp (4 entries)

DescDescTotalTotalAmtProgram ServicesProgramServicesAmt
CASE COSTS$8,642$8,642
SUBSCRIPTIONS AND REFER$4,911$4,911
CLIENT DEVELOPMENT$3,706$3,706
CONTINUING EDUCATION$2,541$2,541

All Other Expenses AllOtherExpensesGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$5,370TotalAmt
Program Services$1,538ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General$2,843ManagementAndGeneralAmt
Fundraising$989FundraisingAmt

Total Functional Expenses TotalFunctionalExpensesGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$663,606TotalAmt
Program Services$493,692ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General$127,163ManagementAndGeneralAmt
Fundraising$42,751FundraisingAmt

Cash Non Interest Bearing CashNonInterestBearingGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
EOY$0EOYAmt

Savings And Temp Cash Invst SavingsAndTempCashInvstGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
BOY$171,317BOYAmt
EOY$521,696EOYAmt

Pledges And Grants Receivable PledgesAndGrantsReceivableGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
BOY$179,539BOYAmt
EOY$101,462EOYAmt

Accounts Receivable AccountsReceivableGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
BOY$9,958BOYAmt
EOY$10,770EOYAmt

Prepaid Expenses Defrd Charges PrepaidExpensesDefrdChargesGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
BOY$9,591BOYAmt
EOY$14,659EOYAmt
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Land Bldg Equip Cost Or Other Bss$21,735LandBldgEquipCostOrOtherBssAmt
Land Bldg Equip Accum Deprec$9,789LandBldgEquipAccumDeprecAmt

Land Bldg Equip Basis Net LandBldgEquipBasisNetGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
BOY$16,233BOYAmt
EOY$11,946EOYAmt

Total Assets TotalAssetsGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
BOY$386,638BOYAmt
EOY$660,533EOYAmt

Accounts Payable Accr Expnss AccountsPayableAccrExpnssGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
BOY$1,046BOYAmt
EOY$0EOYAmt

Total Liabilities TotalLiabilitiesGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
BOY$1,046BOYAmt
EOY$0EOYAmt
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Organization Follows SFAS117Yes (X)OrganizationFollowsSFAS117Ind

Unrestricted Net Assets UnrestrictedNetAssetsGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
BOY$156,734BOYAmt
EOY$459,908EOYAmt

Temporarily Rstr Net Assets TemporarilyRstrNetAssetsGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
BOY$228,858BOYAmt
EOY$200,625EOYAmt

Total Net Assets Fund Balance TotalNetAssetsFundBalanceGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
BOY$385,592BOYAmt
EOY$660,533EOYAmt

Tot Liab Net Assets Fund Balance TotLiabNetAssetsFundBalanceGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
BOY$386,638BOYAmt
EOY$660,533EOYAmt
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Reconcilation Revenue Expnss$274,941ReconcilationRevenueExpnssAmt
Other Changes In Net Assets$0OtherChangesInNetAssetsAmt
Method Of Accounting AccrualYes (X)MethodOfAccountingAccrualInd
Accountant Compile Or Review0AccountantCompileOrReviewInd
FS AuditedYes (1)FSAuditedInd

FS Audited Basis FSAuditedBasisGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Separate Basis Fincl StmtYes (X)SeparateBasisFinclStmtInd
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Audit Committee0AuditCommitteeInd
Federal Grant Audit Required0FederalGrantAuditRequiredInd

Schedule A IRS990ScheduleA

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Public Organization170Yes (X)PublicOrganization170Ind

Gifts Grants Contri Rcvd170 GiftsGrantsContriRcvd170Grp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Current Tax Year Minus2 Years$505,000CurrentTaxYearMinus2YearsAmt
Current Tax Year Minus1 Year$653,128CurrentTaxYearMinus1YearAmt
Current Tax Year$906,928CurrentTaxYearAmt
Total$2,065,056TotalAmt

Total Calendar Year170 TotalCalendarYear170Grp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Current Tax Year Minus2 Years$505,000CurrentTaxYearMinus2YearsAmt
Current Tax Year Minus1 Year$653,128CurrentTaxYearMinus1YearAmt
Current Tax Year$906,928CurrentTaxYearAmt
Total$2,065,056TotalAmt
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Substantial Contributors Tot$1,808,051SubstantialContributorsTotAmt
Public Support Total170$257,005PublicSupportTotal170Amt

Gross Investment Income170 GrossInvestmentIncome170Grp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Current Tax Year Minus2 Years$364CurrentTaxYearMinus2YearsAmt
Current Tax Year Minus1 Year$247CurrentTaxYearMinus1YearAmt
Current Tax Year$204CurrentTaxYearAmt
Total$815TotalAmt
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total Support$2,065,871TotalSupportAmt
Gross Receipts Rltd Activities$42,108GrossReceiptsRltdActivitiesAmt
First5 Years170Yes (X)First5Years170Ind

Schedule B IRS990ScheduleB

Contributor Information ContributorInformationGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
ContributorRESTRICTEDContributorNum

Contributor Business Name ContributorBusinessName

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Business Name Line1RESTRICTEDBusinessNameLine1

Contributor US Address ContributorUSAddress

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Address Line1RESTRICTEDAddressLine1
Address Line2RESTRICTEDAddressLine2
CityRESTRICTEDCity
StateRESTRICTEDState
ZIP CodeRESTRICTEDZIPCode
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total ContributionsRESTRICTEDTotalContributionsAmt

Schedule D IRS990ScheduleD

Equipment EquipmentGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Other Cost Or Other Basis$21,735OtherCostOrOtherBasisAmt
Depreciation$9,789DepreciationAmt
Book Value$11,946BookValueAmt
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total Book Value Land Buildings$11,946TotalBookValueLandBuildingsAmt
Footnote TextYes (X)FootnoteTextInd
Total Rev Etc Audited Fincl Stmt$938,547TotalRevEtcAuditedFinclStmtAmt
Revenue Not Reported$0RevenueNotReportedAmt
Revenue Subtotal$938,547RevenueSubtotalAmt
Revenue Not Reported Fincl Stmt$0RevenueNotReportedFinclStmtAmt
Total Revenue Per Form990$938,547TotalRevenuePerForm990Amt
Tot Expns Etc Audited Fincl Stmt$663,606TotExpnsEtcAuditedFinclStmtAmt
Expenses Not Reported$0ExpensesNotReportedAmt
Expenses Subtotal$663,606ExpensesSubtotalAmt
Expenses Not Rpt Fincl Stmt$0ExpensesNotRptFinclStmtAmt
Total Expenses Per Form990$663,606TotalExpensesPerForm990Amt

Supplemental Information Detail SupplementalInformationDetail

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Form And Line ReferencePART X, LINE 2:FormAndLineReferenceDesc
ExplanationWISCONSIN INSTITUTE FOR LAW & LIBERTY DID NOT HAVE UNRECOGNIZED TAX BENEFITS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2013 AND 2012 AND DOES NOT EXPECT THIS TO CHANGE SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE NEXT 12 MONTHS. THE ORGANIZATION WOULD RECOGNIZE ANY INTEREST AND PENALTIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE ORGANIZATION'S TAX POSITIONS AS A COMPONENT OF UNRELATED BUSINESS INCOME TAX EXPENSE ON THE STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES. AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2013 AND 2012, THE ORGANIZATION HAS NOT ACCRUED INTEREST OR PENALTIES RELATED TO UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS.ExplanationTxt

Schedule G IRS990ScheduleG

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Mail SolicitationsYes (X)MailSolicitationsInd
Agrmt Prof Fundraising ActyYes (1)AgrmtProfFundraisingActyInd

Fundraiser Activity Info FundraiserActivityInfoGrp

Organization Business Name OrganizationBusinessName

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Business Name Line1AMERICAN PHILANTHROPIC LLCBusinessNameLine1

US Address USAddress

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Address Line1PO BOX 206AddressLine1
CityPOULSBOCity
StateWAState
ZIP Code98370ZIPCode
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
ActivityCONSULTING SERVICES, PRPARATION OF MATERIALSActivityTxt
Fundraiser Control Of Funds0FundraiserControlOfFundsInd
Gross Receipts$0GrossReceiptsAmt
Retained By Contractor$17,500RetainedByContractorAmt
Net To Organization-$17,500NetToOrganizationAmt
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total Retained By Contractors$17,500TotalRetainedByContractorsAmt
Total Net To Organization-$17,500TotalNetToOrganizationAmt

Supplemental Information Detail SupplementalInformationDetail

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Form And Line ReferenceSCHEDULE G, PART I, LINE 2B, COLUMN (V)FormAndLineReferenceDesc
ExplanationPAYMENTS TO AMERICAN PHILANTHROPIC, LLC WERE LIMITED TO SERVICES RELATED TO CONSULTING ON FUNDRAISING, DEVELOPMENT OF MATERIALS AND OTHER DEVELOPMENT PLANNING. NO SOLICIATION OF CONTRIBUTIONS WAS PERFORMED BY AMERICAN PHILANTHROPIC, LLC.ExplanationTxt

Schedule J IRS990ScheduleJ

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Board Or Committee ApprovalYes (X)BoardOrCommitteeApprovalInd
Severance Payment0SeverancePaymentInd
Supplemental Nonqual Rtr Plan0SupplementalNonqualRtrPlanInd
Equity Based Comp Arrngm0EquityBasedCompArrngmInd
Comp Based On Revenue Of Flng Org0CompBasedOnRevenueOfFlngOrgInd
Comp Bsd On Rev Related Orgs0CompBsdOnRevRelatedOrgsInd
Comp Bsd Net Earns Flng Org0CompBsdNetEarnsFlngOrgInd
Comp Bsd Net Earns Rltd Orgs0CompBsdNetEarnsRltdOrgsInd
Any Non Fixed Payments0AnyNonFixedPaymentsInd
Initial Contract Exception0InitialContractExceptionInd

Rltd Org Officer Trst Key Empl RltdOrgOfficerTrstKeyEmplGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
PersonRICHARD M ESENBERGPersonNm
TitlePRESIDENT AND TREASURERTitleTxt
Base Compensation Filing Org$182,500BaseCompensationFilingOrgAmt
Compensation Based On Rltd Orgs$0CompensationBasedOnRltdOrgsAmt
Bonus Filing Organization$0BonusFilingOrganizationAmount
Bonus Related Organizations$0BonusRelatedOrganizationsAmt
Other Compensation Filing Org$0OtherCompensationFilingOrgAmt
Other Compensation Rltd Orgs$0OtherCompensationRltdOrgsAmt
Deferred Compensation Flng Org$18,250DeferredCompensationFlngOrgAmt
Deferred Comp Rltd Orgs$0DeferredCompRltdOrgsAmt
Nontaxable Benefits Filing Org$27,884NontaxableBenefitsFilingOrgAmt
Nontaxable Benefits Rltd Orgs$0NontaxableBenefitsRltdOrgsAmt
Total Compensation Filing Org$228,634TotalCompensationFilingOrgAmt
Total Compensation Rltd Orgs$0TotalCompensationRltdOrgsAmt
Comp Report Prior990 Filing Org$0CompReportPrior990FilingOrgAmt
Comp Report Prior990 Rltd Orgs$0CompReportPrior990RltdOrgsAmt

Schedule O IRS990ScheduleO

Supplemental Information Detail SupplementalInformationDetail (7 entries)

Form And Line ReferenceFormAndLineReferenceDescExplanationExplanationTxt
FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4A, DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM SERVICE:AGGREGATE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION LIMIT CHALLENGES: MCCUTCHEON V. FEC; YOUNG V. GAB THESE TWO CASES CHALLENGE AGGREGATE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION LIMITS AT THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL. AGGREGATE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION LIMITS PREVENT CITIZENS FROM SUPPORTING CANDIDATES FOR PUBLIC OFFICE IN MULTIPLE RACES BEYOND A CERTAIN POINT. THE LIMITS ARE SO LOW IN WISCONSIN THAT A SINGLE MAXIMUM CONTRIBUTION TO ONE CANDIDATE, FOR EXAMPLE THE GOVERNOR, WOULD PREVENT THE SAME PERSON FROM GIVING AS LITTLE AS $100 TO ANY OTHER CANDIDATE. IN THE CASE CHALLENGING FEDERAL LIMITS, MCCUTCHEON V. FEC, WE FILED AN AMICUS BRIEF WITH THE U.S. SUPREME COURT, URGING THE COURT TO START TREATING ALL EXPRESSIONS OF SUPPORT FOR A CANDIDATE WHETHER VIA MONEY OR INDEPENDENT SPEECH EQUALLY. THE U.S. SUPREME COURT STRUCK DOWN THE AGGREGATE LIMITS AS UNCONSTITUTIONAL IN VIOLATION OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT. THE YOUNG CASE IS STAYED PENDING THE RESOLUTION OF MCCUTCHEON. AFTER THE SUPREME COURT'S DECISION IN MCCUTCHEON, THE STATE AGREED TO A STIPULATION DECLARING WISCONSIN'S AGGREGATE LIMITS VOID. COYNE V. WALKER: 2011 WISCONSIN ACT 21 CHANGED THE LAW RELATING TO STATE AGENCY RULEMAKING IN VARIOUS WAYS THAT LIMIT THE POWER OF STATE AGENCIES TO REGULATE WISCONSIN CITIZENS, INCLUDING THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. RELEVANT TO THIS LAWSUIT, IT ALLOWS THE GOVERNOR TO VETO PROPOSED RULES FROM GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. LAST OCTOBER, THE DANE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT HELD THAT ACT 21, AS APPLIED TO THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, VIOLATED THE WISCONSIN CONSTITUTION, ARTICLE X, SECTION 1, WHICH GRANTS THE SUPERINTENDENT THE DUTY OF SUPERVISION OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. ON BEHALF OF FORMER SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY SCOTT JENSEN AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE JASON FIELDS, WILL FILED AN AMICUS CURIAE BRIEF IN SUPPORT OF ACT 21, ARGUING THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT DOES NOT HAVE INHERENT RULEMAKING AUTHORITY. PROPERTY DISBUTE IN GREEN BAY: WE ARE REPRESENTING A WOMAN IN GREEN BAY WHOSE BEAUTIFUL NATURAL LANDSCAPED YARD WAS DESTROYED BY THE CITY WITHOUT PROPER NOTICE AFTER A NEIGHBOR COMPLAINED THAT IT WAS "UNSIGHTLY," A VAGUE TERM THAT PURPORTEDLY ALLOWS LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO ENTER PRIVATE LAND AND DESTROY PRIVATE PROPERTY. WE ARE PARTNERING WITH A GREEN BAY LAWYER TO INVESTIGATE AND BRING POSSIBLE CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY FOR DEPRIVING HER OF HER PROPERTY WITHOUT DUE PROCESS OF LAW. SEVERAL GROUPS AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE BRINGING SIMILAR CHALLENGES TO LOCAL ORDINANCES AND ACTIONS, AND WE HOPE TO MAKE THIS PART OF A LARGER PICTURE PUSH FOR PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS. FIREFIGHTERS DISPUTE FAIR SHARE PAYMENT AMOUNT: TWO LOCAL FIREFIGHTERS RESIGNED FROM THEIR UNION BUT ARE NEVERTHELESS STILL REQUIRED TO PAY SO-CALLED "FAIR SHARE" DUES. THE FIREFIGHTERS HAVE DISPUTED THE AMOUNT OF DUES DEMANDED BY THE UNION. WE ARE REPRESENTING THE FIREFIGHTERS IN AN ARBITRATION PROCEEDING TO DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF DUES THE FIREFIGHTERS CAN BE REQUIRED TO PAY DESPITE THEIR DESIRE NOT TO BELONG TO THE UNION. PENDING 2013 CASES: CHALLENGES TO ACT 10 BY UNIONS: WEAC V. WALKER; LABORERS LOCAL 236 V. WALKER; MADISON TEACHERS, INC. V. WALKER, WLEA V. WALKER THESE CASES ARE ALL CHALLENGES BY UNIONS TO GOVERNOR WALKER'S COLLECTIVE BARGAINING CHANGES. WILL, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL RIGHT TO WORK LEGAL DEFENSE FOUNDATION, REPRESENTS SEVERAL PUBLIC EMPLOYEES WHO SUPPORT ACT 10 AND HAS FILED SEVERAL AMICI BRIEFS. THE TWO FEDERAL CASES, WEAC AND LABORERS, HAVE RESULTED IN VINDICATION FOR ACT 10, WITH THE SEVENTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS REVERSING THE LOWER COURT AND UPHOLDING THE LAW. ALTHOUGH THE COURTS DENIED OUR REQUEST TO INTERVENE IN THESE CASES AS PARTIES, THEY DID CONSIDER OUR AMICI BRIEFS, AND THE ARGUMENTS WE MADE SHOW UP IN THE REASONING OF THE SEVENTH CIRCUIT. MADISON TEACHERS IS CURRENTLY BEFORE THE WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT, PENDING AN APPEAL OF DANE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE JUAN B. COLAS'S DECISION DECLARING MUCH OF ACT 10 UNCONSTITUTIONAL. WILL WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN CONVINCING THE SUPREME COURT TO REVERSE COLAS' CONTEMPT ORDER, WHICH HAD FORCED THE WISCONSIN EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS COMMISSION TO APPLY HIS RULING STATEWIDE TO ALL MUNICIPAL EMPLOYERS. SINCE THAT TIME, WILL HAS CONVINCED JUDGES IN TWO CIRCUIT COURTS (MILWAUKEE AND KENOSHA) THAT JUDGE COLAS'S OPINION DOES NOT BIND THEM, AND THEY ARE FREE TO REACH THEIR OWN CONCLUSIONS AS TO THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF ACT 10 (THE LACROIX AND MARONE CASES). WLEA WAS FILED SHORTLY AFTER JUDGE COLAS'S DECISION IN MADISON TEACHERS, BY UNIONS HOPING TO COPY THEIR SUCCESS IN MADISON TEACHERS FOR STATE EMPLOYEES. JUDGE MARKSON, DISAGREEING WITH HIS COLLEAGUE JUDGE COLAS, RULED THAT ACT 10 WAS CONSTITUTIONAL. MACIVER V. ERPENBACH: STATE SENATOR JON ERPENBACH HAS REFUSED TO DISCLOSE THE EMAIL ADDRESSES OF GOVERNMENT WORKERS WHO EMAILED HIM ABOUT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. WILL FILED AN OPEN RECORDS LAWSUIT CHALLENGING THAT REFUSAL. WHILE THE CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE RULED IN SENATOR ERPENBACH'S FAVOR, THE COURT OF APPEALS REVERSED, ORDERING ERPENBACH TO TURN OVER THE EMAIL ADDRESSES AND USING VERY STRONG LANGUAGE SUPPORTING THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO LEARN WHO IS SEEKING TO INFLUENCE ELECTED OFFICIALS. CHALLENGES TO VOTER ID: NAACP V. WALKER; LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS V. WALKER; FRANK V. WALKER; LULAC V. DEININGER THESE CASES ARE CHALLENGES TO WISCONSIN'S NEW VOTER ID LAW. THE FIRST TWO CASES ARE STATE CASES THAT RESULTED IN PERMANENT INJUNCTIONS AGAINST THE LAW FROM DANE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT JUDGES AND EACH IS ON APPEAL. ON BEHALF OF A DIVERSE GROUP OF CONCERNED CITIZENS WHO SUPPORT VOTER ID, WILL FILED AMICI BRIEFS SUPPORTING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S REQUEST TO HAVE THE SUPREME COURT TAKE THE CASE UP IMMEDIATELY, BUT THE SUPREME COURT DECLINED. WILL HAS ALSO FILED AN AMICUS BRIEF ON THE MERITS OF THE ISSUE. THE COURT OF APPEALS REVERSED THE LOWER COURT IN LWV, AND THE SUPREME COURT HEARD ORAL ARGUMENTS IN BOTH NAACP AND LWV IN FEBRUARY. THE SECOND TWO CASES ARE FEDERAL CHALLENGES IN THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF WISCONSIN. ONE ARGUES THAT VOTER ID VIOLATES SECTION 2 OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT BECAUSE IT HAS A DISPROPORTIONATE EFFECT ON MINORITIES. THE OTHER ARGUES THAT IT VIOLATES THE EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE AND CONSTITUTES AN UNCONSTITUTIONAL POLL TAX. AFTER A LENGTHY JOINT TRIAL, JUDGE LYNN ADELMAN STRUCK DOWN THE VOTER ID LAW, AND THE STATE HAS APPEALED TO THE SEVENTH CIRCUIT. DOE V. ELMBROOK SCHOOL DISTRICT: THIS CASE CHALLENGED THE ELMBROOK DISTRICT'S DECISION TO HOLD ITS GRADUATION CEREMONY IN A SPACIOUS AND COMFORTABLE CHURCH INSTEAD OF A CRAMPED AND UN-AIRCONDITIONED GYMNASIUM. RICK ESENBERG REPRESENTED ALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM AS AMICUS ON THE SIDE OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. IN SPLIT DECISION, THE COURT OF APPEALS HELD THAT USE TO BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL. A PETITION FOR CERTIORARI HAS BEEN PENDING FOR A VERY LONG TIME (WELL OVER A YEAR).
FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4A, DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM SERVICE:CASES RESOLVED IN 2013: ROSNO V. SCOTT: WHEN JUDGE COLAS HELD WERC IN CONTEMPT FOR ENFORCING ACT 10 AGAINST PARTIES THAT WEREN'T INVOLVED IN THAT DANE COUNTY CASE, WE KNEW A STRONG RESPONSE WAS WARRANTED. IMMEDIATELY, WE COBBLED TOGETHER A GROUP OF FOUR TEACHERS FROM AROUND THE STATE AND FILED A LAWSUIT IN WAUKESHA COUNTY SEEKING AN INJUNCTION THAT WOULD REQUIRE WERC TO HOLD RECERTIFICATION ELECTIONS BEFORE DECEMBER 1. WE INTENDED TO SEEK A RULING FROM THE JUDGE THAT WOULD FORCE WERC TO HOLD RECERTIFICATION ELECTIONS IN OUR TEACHERS' DISTRICTS, TO CREATE A CONFLICT BETWEEN CIRCUIT COURT DECISIONS THAT A HIGHER COURT WOULD HAVE TO RESOLVE. HOWEVER, WHEN THE SUPREME COURT VACATED COLAS'S CONTEMPT ORDER, WERC AGREED TO A STIPULATED JUDGMENT THAT IT WOULD HOLD THE RECERTIFICATION ELECTIONS. OVER 70 UNIONS WERE DECERTIFIED AS A RESULT OF THOSE ELECTIONS. LAUR V. CITY OF MILWAUKEE: A LOCAL STREET PREACHER WAS CITED WITH TRESPASS FOR STANDING ON PUBLIC SIDEWALKS OUTSIDE OF MILLER PARK, GIVING A SERMON, AND HANDING OUT CHRISTIAN LITERATURE. HE WAS NOT AGGRESSIVE, LOUD, OR BLOCKING TRAFFIC. WE SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDED HIM IN MUNICIPAL COURT, CONVINCING THE JUDGE THAT HE HAD A FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO USE THE SIDEWALK AS A "TRADITIONAL PUBLIC FORUM" TO SPREAD HIS MESSAGE. JERUSALEM EMPOWERED AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH V. MILWAUKEE: WILL FILED A LAWSUIT CHALLENGING A DETERMINATION BY THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE THAT A PORTION OF A SMALL MILWAUKEE CHURCH'S 4.4-ACRE LOT WAS "EXCESS" AND THEREFORE TAXABLE. FIRST, WILL CONVINCED THE JUDGE THAT A STATE LAW PREVENTING LANDOWNERS FROM CHALLENGING A PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION DENIAL IN COURT UNLESS THEY PAID THE TAXES FIRST WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL AS IT APPLIED TO JEAMEC, A NON-PROFIT CHURCH WITHOUT THE RESOURCES TO PAY THE UNLAWFUL TAX BILL. WILL ALSO CONVINCED THE JUDGE, WITH HELPFUL TESTIMONY FROM THE CITY'S OWN ASSESSORS THAT THE PROPERTY MET THE REQUIREMENTS TO BE TAX EXEMPT, TO GRANT THE CHURCH A RETROACTIVE TAX EXEMPTION. IBRAHIM V. CITY OF MILWAUKEE: ON BEHALF OF LOCAL TAXI-CAB DRIVERS, THE INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE SUED THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE SEEKING TO OVERTURN AN ORDINANCE CAPPING THE NUMBER OF CAB LICENSES AVAILABLE AT AN ARBITRARY NUMBER. THIS CAP CREATED A MASSIVE BARRIER TO ENTRY FOR ANYBODY WHO WANTED TO START THEIR OWN CAB BUSINESS (AS OPPOSED TO DRIVING FOR SOMEBODY ELSE'S BUSINESS), BECAUSE THE VALUE OF THOSE PERMITS SOARED TO APPROXIMATELY $150,000. JUDGE JANE CARROLL AGREED WITH IJ, STRIKING DOWN THE ORDINANCE AS AN UNCONSTITUTIONAL RESTRICTION OF ECONOMIC LIBERTY. THE CITY APPEALED, AND WILL FILED AN AMICUS BRIEF IN THE COURT OF APPEALS ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER GROUP OF TAXI-CAB DRIVERS. HOWEVER, THE CITY AMENDED ITS ORDINANCE, ADDING AN ADDITIONAL 100 PERMITS, AND THEN DISMISSED ITS OWN APPEAL. WE ARE CURRENTLY REVIEWING WHETHER THE NEW ORDINANCE COMPLIES WITH CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS. WE ARE ALSO CLOSELY WATCHING A NEW LAWSUIT BY PERMIT-HOLDERS SEEKING TO STRIKE DOWN THE ORDINANCE CREATING THE NEW PERMITS. NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR TEACHER QUALITY V. UW BOARD OF REGENTS: VARIOUS UW SCHOOLS OF EDUCATION REFUSED TO RELEASE COPIES OF SYLLABI USED IN THEIR TEACHER TRAINING COURSES. WILL FILED AN OPEN RECORDS LAWSUIT IN CHALLENGING THAT REFUSAL, WHICH LED TO A VERY FAVORABLE SETTLEMENT FOR OUR CLIENTS. THE RECORDS WERE TURNED OVER WITH ONLY MINIMAL RESTRICTIONS ON THEIR USE, AND NCTQ WILL BE ABLE TO USE THE DATA IN THEIR UPCOMING REPORT, TO BE PUBLISHED IN CONJUNCTION WITH U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT, ON THE QUALITY OF TEACHER EDUCATION IN AMERICA. FEES SOUGHT IN 2012 AND PAID DURING 2013 WERE $9,600. RICE V. MILWAUKEE COUNTY BOARD: IN OUR FIRST CASE AND OUR FIRST VICTORY WE PROVED THAT THE MILWAUKEE COUNTY BOARD VIOLATED OPEN MEETINGS LAWS WHEN THEY FAILED TO GIVE PROPER NOTICE THAT THE BOARD WOULD BE ADOPTING A REDISTRICTING PLAN. HOEKSTRA V. CITY OF BAYFIELD: THIS LAWSUIT CHALLENGED ANTI-COMPETITIVE BED & BREAKFAST REGULATIONS IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN. WE SETTLED THE CASE WHEN THE CITY AGREED TO AMEND ITS ORDINANCE TO REMOVE THE OFFENDING PROVISIONS. VANDEN BOOGART V. CHRISTENSEN: THIS CASE WAS A FIRST AMENDMENT CHALLENGE TO THE SIGN ORDINANCE OF A SMALL TOWN NEAR GREEN BAY THAT PLACED A NEAR-BLANKET PROHIBITION ON ALL SIGNS PLACED ON PERSONAL PROPERTY IN RESIDENTIAL AND AGRICULTURAL ZONES. TOWN OFFICIALS USED THE ORDINANCE TO SILENCE THEIR CRITICS WHILE IGNORING VIOLATIONS BY THEIR SUPPORTERS. THE TOWN AMENDED ITS ORDINANCE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY IN RESPONSE TO OUR LAWSUIT, AND WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN OBTAINING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGES AND ATTORNEY FEES AGAINST THE TOWN IN A SETTLEMENT. FEES SOUGHT AND RECOVERED IN 2013 WERE $19,621. BALDWIN-WOODVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT OPEN MEETINGS COMPLAINT: WE FILED AN OPEN MEETINGS COMPLAINT WITH THE ST. CROIX COUNTY DA AND ATTORNEY GENERAL ALLEGING THAT BWSD VIOLATED OPEN MEETINGS LAWS WHEN THEY WENT INTO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS AND VOTE ON AN ACROSS-THE-BOARD CHRISTMAS BONUS FOR ALL DISTRICT EMPLOYEES. WE DECIDED NOT TO BRING A LAWSUIT IN THIS CASE BECAUSE THE GOAL OF BRINGING ATTENTION TO THE MATTER HAD BEEN ACCOMPLISHED; WE HAD NO DESIRE TO TRY AND RECOVER THE CHRISTMAS BONUSES FROM TEACHERS. MILWAUKEE COUNTY BOARD OPEN MEETINGS COMPLAINT: WE FILED AN OPEN MEETINGS COMPLAINT WITH THE MILWAUKEE COUNTY DA AND ATTORNEY GENERAL ALLEGING THAT THE MILWAUKEE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS VIOLATED OPEN MEETINGS LAWS WHEN THEY USED A "WALKING QUORUM" (A SERIES OF MEETINGS BETWEEN MEMBERS DESIGNED TO AGREE ON A COURSE OF ACTION WHILE AVOIDING THE OPEN MEETINGS LAW) TO AGREE TO FIRE COUNTY CORPORATION COUNSEL KIMBERLY WALKER. ALTHOUGH WE DID NOT BRING A LAWSUIT IN THIS CASE, WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN BRINGING ATTENTION TO THE MILWAUKEE COUNTY BOARD'S LAX ATTITUDE TOWARD THE REQUIREMENTS OF OPEN GOVERNMENT. WISCONSIN PROSPERITY NETWORK V. GAB: THIS CASE, AN ORIGINAL ACTION IN THE WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT, CHALLENGED GAB RULES PURPORTING TO REGULATE INDEPENDENT POLITICAL EXPENDITURES OF AS LITTLE AS $25. RICK ESENBERG ARGUED THE CASE TO THE SUPREME COURT. THE CASE WAS DISMISSED AFTER THE COURT SPLIT 3-3, WITH THE LIBERAL JUSTICES WANTING TO HOLD FOR THE GAB AND THE CONSERVATIVE JUSTICES WANTING TO DISMISS THE CASE AS IMPROVIDENTLY GRANTED.
FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11FORM 990 IS REVIEWED BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND BOARD PRESIDENT PRIOR TO FILING WITH THE IRS.
FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12CBOARD MEMBERS AND KEY PERSONNEL COMPLETE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST DISCLOSURE STATEMENT ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. DISCLOSURE OF POSSIBLE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST ARE REVIEWED BY THE ENTIRE BOARD.
FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15COMPENSATION OF THE PRESIDENT AND KEY PERSONNEL IS REVIEWED ANNUALLY BY THE BOARD. COMPARATIVE DATA IS USED TO REVIEW COMPENSATION LEVELS FOR ALL STAFF.
FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 18THE ORGANIZATION'S FORM 990 IS AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION AT THE ORGANIZATION'S LOCATION DURING BUSINESS HOURS. COPIES ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.
FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19ALL GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.

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