Wisconsin's legislature considers a shield law

Posted on July 14, 2009 by Richard Renner

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Wisconsin is one of 14 states that does not have any "shield law" to protect journalists and their confidential sources.  A new bill in the state's legislature could change that.  Last Saturday, the Wisconsin State Journal published an editorial endorsing the bill.

The editorial endorses the Whistleblower Protection Act, introduced by Rep. Joe Parisi, D-Madison, and Sen. Pat Kreitlow, D-Chippewa Falls.  It would guarantee whistleblowers that journalists could not be compelled to reveal their identities or turn over the information if the case went to court. The Journal recognizes that this policy would benefit not only whistleblowers who would feel safer about coming forward, but also the public at large who would be more likely to discover misconduct.
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Wisconsin Whistleblower Case Highlights Lack of Employee Protections

Posted on April 14, 2009 by Marshall Chriswell

The Madison Wisconsin Capitol Times has this story today about Tom Nanstead, an electric company whistleblower who was terminated in 2005 after reporting that his employer routinely overbilled its customers for their utilities. Now, four years later, it has been determined by the Wisconsin Public Service Commission, that Xcel energy did indeed overbill their customers, but Mr. Nanstead has found no legal recourse that can return him to work or provide him with compensation. This well-written story highlights the need for a national whistleblower protection  law, and especially the trouble faced by private-sector whistleblowers.

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