Gov. Tony Evers, D-Wis.

There’s a program called the Wisconsin Supplier Diversity Program in that state, which procures supplies and services for the state and spends more than $250 million a year.

But it’s facing a lawsuit from a taxpayer association, represented by the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, because it makes its decisions based on race.

“White, Middle Eastern, and most Asian small-business owners are ineligible for this program simply because of their race,” WILL has confirmed.

WILL Managing Vice President Dan Lennington stated, “Governor [Tony] Evers doles out government contracts to businesses based on race. He’s spent nearly $1.5 billion on this massive DEI scheme, all on the taxpayers’ dime. This has to end now.”

The program is run by the state’s Department of Administration and awards some minority-owned businesses a 5% bid preference across all state procurement and contracting – including engineering and architectural services, building construction services, state-funded highway construction and more.

The new lawsuit in Waukesha County circuit court follows a recent successful effort by WILL to challenge race-based scholarships previously awarded by the state.

WILL reported the Supplier Diversity Program is also the subject of a federal race-discrimination complaint, which is pending with the Trump administration.

The legal team explained, “Our argument: As stated in the Supplier Diversity Program qualifications, only businesses owned by certain minorities can participate and receive preferential treatment. The Evers administration’s classifications exclude businesses owned by whites, North Africans, and most Asians. According to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, the Constitution ‘requires all individuals to be treated equally without regard to one’s race, ancestry, origin, or ethnicity.'”

The complaint is on behalf of Citizens Defending Liberty, a membership association of Wisconsin taxpayers who want to see their money spent lawfully.

WILL said, “Recently, the Wisconsin Supreme Court confirmed that taxpayers can sue to stop the illegal programs funded with state tax dollars.”

The legal team confirmed it already has represented more than 80 clients from 26 states opposing race-based programs.

Defendants in the lawsuit are Evers and Kathy Blumenfeld, secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Administration.

The filing explains, “Race discrimination is unconstitutional. The Equal Protection Clause ‘requires all individuals to be treated equally without regard to one’s race, ancestry, origin, or ethnicity.’ All state programs with racial classifications are ‘odious’ and all programs ‘concerning one’s race are inherently invidious, regardless of how benign or laudable the law may appear.’ They must satisfy the rigorous multi-factor equal-protection standards outlined in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College. Wisconsin’s supplier program cannot meet any of these exacting standards, let alone all of them. The program should be open to all businesses, regardless of race, and taxpayers should not be forced to fund this odious and invidious race discrimination. This court should declare its racial preferences and goals unconstitutional and enjoin their use.”

The case seeks an injunction against the use of racism in the state program and a declaration that the agenda is unconstitutional.

It also seeks costs and attorney’s fees for the plaintiffs.

Bob Unruh

Bob Unruh joined WND in 2006 after nearly three decades with the Associated Press, as well as several Upper Midwest newspapers, where he covered everything from legislative battles and sports to tornadoes and homicidal survivalists. He is currently a news editor for the WND News Center, and also a photographer whose scenic work has been used commercially. Read more of Bob Unruh's articles here.