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Friday, July 22, 2005 10:15 PM CDT
Taxpayer-funded embryonic research sparks growing outcry
By HERB MEEKER, Staff Writer
MATTOON -- Corinne Thomley of Mattoon is part of a rising movement against one aspect of stem cell research she considers unethical and a waste of taxpayers' money.
On July 12, Gov. Rod Blagojevich ordered $10 million in tax dollars be used for stem cell research on adult, umbilical cord blood and embryonic stem cells. The governor's executive order bypassed the Illinois General Assembly, which has failed to approve stem cell research legislation twice over the past year due to the opposition to use of embryonic stem cells.
Including embryonic cells from fertilized eggs has pro-life advocates angered over the governor's action. Not only is this research unethical, but this type of stem cell research is so new and unproven that it might be decades before investment could, if ever, provide the benefits promised in medical miracles.
"This an issue of life and ethics. And the governor should not waste the taxpayers' money on research that might not produce results for generations," said Thomley, who heads Lutherans for Life of Illinois.
Stem cells are cells that can develop into different cell types in the body. Stem cells grown in the lab can be "engineered" for use in transplants or treatment of diseases, such as cancer, arthritis, Alzheimers, or diabetes. These cells might be used to repair damaged spinal cords.
Thomley said biomedical advances have been achieved with "adult" stem cells more than embryonic cells. "Much of the private research funding is concentrated on adult stem cell research. It is showing much more promise now," Thomley said.
But a senior adviser of Gov. Blagojevich said the executive order was meant to consider all fields of stem cell research while considering some ethical aspects as well.
"We see embryonic research as one of the most promising fields," said Shelia Nix of the governor's staff. "If we can help cure juvenile diabetes or help a person paralyzed in an accident walk again then we want to do everything we can to make that possible. Enbryonic research gives the most hope. Many scientists and researchers say the future in this field will come from it."
Nix said 20 children suffering from juveniles diabetes were present when Governor Blagojevich signed the executive order in a Chicago medical research center. "It was good to see up close the children who could benefit from this research," she added.
Nix noted the limits of the governor's program on cloning or other ethical abuses of biomedical research. The executive order prohibits funding for research "involving the reproductive cloning of a human being, fetuses from induced abortions or to create embryos. . ."
Thomley said those limits are paper thin because embryonic research can use the same procedures of cloning. "And they will still destroy the embryo."
Thomley hopes lawmakers enter the debate by rescinding the governor's executive order.
"I don't see the legislators standing still for this," she said.
Right now, some lawmakers are discussing what they might do, but it might not be until the fall veto session that any action can be taken on Blagojevich's order. He said any legal injunction by individuals or groups could be made through the legal system, independent of the General Assembly.
"Some are asking whether what he did is legal," said State Sen. Dale Righter, R-Mattoon. "It was definitely an end around the General Assembly because we had said no to that type of research."
But Righter is realistic that it might be hard to reverse the executive order.
"I am not aware of any authority he lacks here," noting the legislature voted on the budget and that gave the governor authority on the funding.
Righter said he has received phone calls and correspondence from individuals and associations calling for action to end funding for embryonic research.
"Let's put money on adult and cord blood stem cell research. That is where the success has already been made," the lawmaker said.
Contact Herb Meeker at hmeeker@jg-tc.com or 238-6869.
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Fxiccxypxc wrote on May 10, 2007 11:31 AM: