Minn. House Passes Bill Clarifying That State Funds Can Be Used For Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Main Category: Stem Cell Research
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 12 May 2008 - 21:00 PDT

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The Minnesota House on Wednesday voted 71-62 to pass a bill (SF 100) that would clarify that state funding can be used for human embryonic stem cell research, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports. According to bill sponsor Rep. Phyllis Kahn (D), the state does not specifically ban using state funding for embryonic stem cell research, but the University of Minnesota has applied federal restrictions to funds it receives from the state because of a lack of clear guidance (Olson, St. Paul Pioneer Press, 5/7).

Federal funding for embryonic stem cell research is allowed only for research using embryonic stem cell lines created on or before Aug. 9, 2001, under a policy announced by President Bush on that date. Bush twice has vetoed bills that would have allowed federal funding for research using stem cells derived from human embryos originally created for fertility treatments and willingly donated by patients (Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 5/8).

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) would veto the Minnesota measure, according to his spokesperson Brian McClung (Lohn, AP/Bemidji Pioneer, 5/8). In a letter sent to state lawmakers in February, Pawlenty outlined his opposition to the bill and emphasized that using state funding for adult stem cell research would create "ample opportunity to work toward lifesaving cures without crossing moral and ethical boundaries" (St. Paul Pioneer Press, 5/7). Kahn said that the measure would allow state funding only for research using embryos originally created for fertility treatments and donated by couples who would otherwise discard them. "Not one embryo that is destined for life would ever be used for embryonic stem cell research," Kahn said.

Before passing the measure, the House voted 69-65 to reject an amendment that would have allowed state funding to be used only for research that does not involve the destruction of human embryos (AP/Bemidji Pioneer, 5/8). The House version of the legislation was amended from a version that passed the Senate last year, so House and Senate leaders will have to resolve any differences before the bill can be sent to Pawlenty (St. Paul Pioneer Press, 5/7).

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