By Dave Andrusko

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Yesterday we talked about the decline in the number of abortions in Minnesota. Today we pick up on that happy theme with news that a report issued by the Department of Health Services shows that abortion has declined in Wisconsin for the fifth straight year. That number of abortions is the lowest since the state started keeping records 35 years ago.

In 2003 there were more than 10,000 abortions in Wisconsin. By 2007 there 8,267 abortions. Last year there were 8,229 abortions.

The abortion ratio, the number of abortions per 100 live births, remained at 11. "The abortion ratio is a key indicator because it reveals how many pregnant women abort or have their babies," said Barb Lyons, Wisconsin RTL executive director.

"Wisconsin's abortion ratio is 11 compared to the national ratio of 24. This makes Wisconsin a national leader in numbers of women who have their babies."

Although the decline from 2007 to 2008 seems at first glance modest, Lyons points out that the 14 % drop from 2006 to 2007 was fueled by the closing of two abortion clinics for seven months. "Those two clinics, in Appleton and Milwaukee, were open for the entire year of 2008" and still the number of abortions dropped.

"Fueling the decline are the young people known as the millenials (ages 17-29), Lyons explained. "Numerous studies by groups who favor and oppose abortion indicate that the millenials are far more pro-life than their predecessors in Generation X."

Since the millenials are now of the age when most abortions are performed (ages 18-34), "we can expect to see further abortion declines as the millenials assert their values to allow a child to reach his/her potential," Lyons said.

Part Two -- The Proven Results of Adult Stem Cells