Ohio Governor Vetoes Stimulus Package Provision Prohibiting Use Of Funds For Stem Cell Research

Main Category: Stem Cell Research
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 17 Jun 2008 - 8:00 PDT

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Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland (D) on Thursday signed an economic stimulus package (HB 554) into law but line-item vetoed a provision that would have prohibited $100 million in state biomedical funds from being used for research on human cloning, the Columbus Dispatch reports (Siegel, Columbus Dispatch, 6/12). The bill defined cloning as the creation of a "human zygote, human blastocyst or human embryo by any means other than the fertilization of a human egg by a human sperm" (HB 554 text, 6/16).

In his veto message, Strickland said that although he opposes human cloning, the legislative language would have "severely limit[ed] scientists' ability to conduct potentially lifesaving stem cell research" (Hershey, Dayton Daily News, 6/13).

"The governor agrees that a ban on human reproductive cloning is appropriate," Dailey said, adding, "But this language goes far beyond that and would in fact limit stem cell research." Dailey said that the provision would have "limit[ed] economic growth in one of the most rapidly growing of all technology-based industries in Ohio and reduce [the state's] ability to attract top scientific researchers." Sen. Stephen Buehrer (R) said the provision would have protected life, was "narrowly tailored and would not have hindered the promising biomedical research" (Columbus Dispatch, 6/12).

The prohibition was included in a $1.57 billion funding package intended to improve the state's economy through investments in the biomedical industry and other industries (Dayton Daily News, 6/13). The Senate added the stem cell research provision to the stimulus measure last month (AP/Fox 28, 6/13).

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