More reasons to leave Wisconsin

As Wisconsin considers whether to pass a constitutional amendment outlawing domestic partnerships, this story speaks for itself:

UW researcher leaves over partner benefits

MADISON - A promising University of Wisconsin-Madison researcher who has won millions of dollars in grants says he is leaving the school, citing its lack of health insurance benefits for his domestic partner.

Rob Carpick, associate professor of engineering, said he will depart for the University of Pennsylvania, which offers domestic partner benefits, at the end of the year. He's taking with him a research portfolio that has won $3.4 million in grants from the National Science Foundation, branches of the U.S. military and private companies since 2000.

"After six and one-half years of working very hard, I found it's problematic to work in an environment where you are not treated equally," Carpick, 37, said in an interview with the Associated Press. "Fortunately, there are other entities that are more enlightened than the state of Wisconsin on this issue and the University of Pennsylvania is one of them."

Should we celebrate? Two fewer gays in the state? Stem cell researchers will also be packing their bags soon, if hardliners in the legislature have their way. There are a lot of reasons we're pushing people out of Wisconsin that have nothing to do with the state's tax ranking.

UPDATE: George Roberts's comment notes, there is quite a hoo-ha about this issue in the comments to a Dennis York post.