RIVER FALLS, Wis. - A state legislator wants to pay homage to Wisconsin's dairy industry by declaring one of its key organisms as the official state microbe.
Assembly Democrat Gary Hebl of Sun Prairie has introduced a bill to honor the Lacto-coccus lactis. It's a natural bacterium which ferments milk sugars into lactic acid - a vital step for making cheese.
Hebl says it would also recognize the state's growth in bio-technology and micro-biology research.
Meanwhile, Assembly Democrat Leon Young and Senate Democrat Spencer Coggs, both of Milwaukee, have introduced a bill to name Harley-Davidson as the official state motorcycle. They said it was requested by the family of Staff Sergeant Jeremy Vrooman, who died in Iraq last year.
The microbe and the Harley would join 26 other official state symbols. Both bills have been referred to committees.
