Wisconsin plays defense against California... over stem-cell research.

When California voters authorized spending $3 billion on stem-cell research, that put pressure on Wisconsin, where stem-cell research originated, to preserve its leadership in the field. Now Wisconsin Governor Doyle has responded by proposing to spend $750 million on a biotechnology research institute here at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. It's a matter of economic self-defense, according to the Governor.

"I know the vast majority of the people of Wisconsin understand how important this research is, and they want me to help the scientists that are working so hard to cure juvenile diabetes, and Parkinson's and spinal injuries," Doyle said. "And we also know how important it will be to the future economy of this state."

Not everyone is a member of Doyle's "vast majority":

"When you hear people talk about this and the biotech industry . . . it's all in economic terms," said Susan Armacost, legislative director for Wisconsin Right to Life. "They're willing to destroy human life to build an economic base.



"Is that what we're about in Wisconsin? I don't think so."