Live Link: The Country today

It soon will be decision time for legislators on the controversial issue of whether to allow raw milk sales in Wisconsin.The last day of the current legislative session is April 22, although the legislative calendar indicates lawmakers could be in session for “limited business” May 4-6.Regardless of whether the legislative session ends April 22 or May 6, the clock is ticking.

Bills that aren’t approved by May 6 will die a quiet death. They would have to be reintroduced in January 2011 after a new governor and legislators are elected.

Jeff Buhrandt, an aide to state Sen. Pat Kreitlow, D-Chippewa Falls, a key sponsor of the Senate version of the bill, said proponents aren’t sure when or if the legislation will be voted on in the final days of the legislative session.

“We’re still kind of working through that,” Buhrandt said. “We’re continuing to push. But I can’t say definitely whether we will have a vote before the session ends.”

Gov. Jim Doyle said he would have to see what the bill contains before deciding whether to sign it.

Meanwhile, a Raw Milk Working Group recently met for the first time to try to come up with a consensus on whether and how raw milk should be legalized in Wisconsin. The working group includes raw milk advocates, farmers, milk plant officials, university specialists and others.

If approved as written with the latest amendment, the raw milk bill would sunset on Dec. 31, 2011. Legislative sponsors say this would give officials time to come up with a long-term solution, perhaps incorporating the input from the Raw Milk Working Group. More