The future of stem cell research in Wisconsin, as well as the rest of the nation, could hinge on the presidential election. That's the message from the 2008 World Stem Cell Summit being held in Madison. Governor Doyle believes fight over the research in Wisconsin ended with his re-election in 2006. The Democrat says "the battle in political terms is really over in this state." But the battle still looms at the federal level. Doyle hopes the next president needs to side with science over personal ideologies.
"This isn't a group of mad, evil scientists in a lab who are operating completely outside of ethical and moral rules."
The Governor calls the researchers decisions "balanced and well considered."
John McCain has supported lifting President Bush's ban on using federal money to create new stem cell lines from surplus embryos. Barack Obama has a similar position, Doyle says McCain has "waffled" a bit on his stance.
Doyle says the bioscience industry employs more than 34,000 people in Wisconsin and contributes almost $9 billion to the state's economy.
(Contributed by Jason Fischer-WIBA)
