MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - Those who favor the sale of raw milk in Wisconsin hope to get the last word in to Governor Jim Doyle Tuesday. They’re planning to hold a rally at the State Capitol, after Doyle promised to either sign or veto the raw milk legislation by Thursday.

If he doesn’t act by then, the bill automatically goes into law. But during a visit to Marshfield last Friday, Doyle told WDLB Radio that he will act one way or the other. That way, he can explain himself.

In announcing Tuesday’s rally, apprentice cheesemaker Bill Anderson said the best cheeses in the world are made with high-quality raw milk from pasture-grazed animals. And he believes the dairy industry lobbyists who oppose the raw milk bill, “do not represent the best of interests for the future of the Wisconsin dairy.”

Several farm groups and the State Medical Society held a joint news conference last Friday to urge Doyle to veto the measure. They say that drinking unpasteurized milk raises the risk of E-coli and salmonella poisoning. And one outbreak could ruin the Wisconsin dairy industry’s worldwide reputation for quality.

But raw milk supporters say the product has other health benefits that improve a person’s immune system, among other things. And they believe customers should have the freedom of choice to buy it.