Bill in Mich. Senate could revise stem cell research
By: Marissa Cumbers
Legislation being voted on in the Michigan Senate Health Policy Committee today could create tighter regulations on embryonic stem cell research down the road.
The legislation — Proposal 2 — was passed in November 2008 and eased restrictions on embryonic stem cell research, but a package of six bills in the Michigan Senate could revise the constitutional amendment.
The amendment created by Proposal 2 allows the donation of embryos left over from fertility treatments or embryos “not suitable for implementation.”
State Sen. Tom George, R-Kalamazoo, said terms in the amendment such as “suitable” need to be more strictly defined.
“Specifics were left out. It’s the nature of legislation we’re discussing, but it isn’t possible to undo the rule of the voters,” George said.
The package would create reporting requirements for using embryonic stem cells, define the language in the amendment and establish penalties when regulations are violated, George said.
State Sen. Gretchen Whitmer, D-East Lansing, said this package of bills disregards voter approval of Proposal 2 and would “impede life-saving stem cell research.
“It has tremendous potential to save lives and help patients suffering from a range of diseases and injuries that we have no cure for today,” she said at a press conference Tuesday. “Instead of listening to the voters, the Senate has thrown up a politically motivated roadblock that will only prolong the suffering of patients and their families.”
Whitmer said the guidelines and regulations under Proposal 2 are strict already and she plans to urge her colleagues to “support patients and remove these unnecessary obstacles.”
Discussions about the six-bill package were held in October and researchers expressed concerns about the bills, which have since been revised, George said.
If the bill passes in committee, it will move to the full Michigan Senate for a vote.
Some students were concerned that revising what the voters passed would impede progress.
“It’s something that we need in medicine to progress further in society,” studio art sophomore Jennifer Bresler said. “I don’t think the state should be able to decide those kind of moral issues. It should be up to voters.”
Economics senior Bryan Britten said it’s the government’s responsibility to regulate legislation.
“Stem cell research has a lot of options (to) fix a lot of things,” he said. “As far as regulation, I feel the government has a role to play in a lot of things just so long as the regulation doesn’t go too far.”