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Wisconsin Ag News Headlines

Doyle: I'm Not Ready to Sign Raw Milk Bill... Yet

Wisconsin Ag Connection - 05/13/2010

Just one day after two national milk marketing groups blasted the Wisconsin Legislature for putting together the so-called raw milk bill, Governor Jim Doyle says he's not ready to make a decision yet on whether he will sign the measure into law. Speaking to reporters during a bill signing ceremony on a Marathon County dairy farm on Wednesday, Doyle said he has received a lot of information from both sides of the issue over the past several days, and said a final decision will be made next week.

" I'm still doing my homework on this issue and am not ready yet to decide one way or another, " Doyle told Wisconsin Ag Connection. " I know this is a hot topic and people feel strongly about their views. I just have to give this a little more thought before I sign it. "

Dairy Business Association President Jerry Meissner used the occasion to hand deliver a letter from his group outlining their concerns over the bill. He also pleaded with the governor face to face to not move forward on the proposal.

" Wisconsin's dairy industry has come a long way over the past several years, and much of that success is to your credit, " Meissner said to Doyle. " Don't destroy your own legacy by signing this bill into law... especially during your final months in office. "

Specifically, the DBA is concern that people have a greater chance of getting sick from Salmonella or e. Coli outbreaks by consuming unpasteurized dairy products. They also fear that children would be most likely to contract one of these outbreaks, and probably wouldn't have a choice in the matter because their parents would be purchasing the product for them.

On Tuesday, the National Milk Producers Federation and International Dairy Foods Association issued a statement criticizing state lawmakers for drafting the bill, calling them 'irresponsible' for downplaying the food safety risks inherent in raw dairy products. The Wisconsin Farm Bureau has also been vocal about the issue, fearing that a disease outbreak could give the entire dairy industry a bad rap if just one person became ill from drinking unpasteurized milk.

Doyle had previously stated that he will likely signed the bill and thought the final version struck a 'good balance' for those who want to buy the product, while protecting those who do not know the risks.

Governor Doyle is currently wavering over signing SB 434. The opposition forces are working very hard right now against raw milk. Please continue to call, write, email, and fax Governor Doyle's office urging him to sign the bill into law.

The opposition forces are telling Doyle that raw milk is unhealthy, etc. What is needed are your testimonials for the Governor to read over the weekend. Senator Grothman wants the letters to be about why you need raw milk, what are the health benefits you have achieved as a consumer of raw milk, if you started on raw milk through the advice of a health care professional, why raw milk is better, etc.. Senator Grothman would like these in hand by this evening so he can personally deliver them to Governor Doyle.

Senator Glenn Grothman

Room 20 South

State Capitol

P.O. Box 7882

Madison, WI 53707-7882

Voting Address

111 South 6th Avenue

West Bend, WI 53095

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Sen.Grothman@...