Texas Legislature to fund unethical embryonic research?

It appears that the Governor may expand his call to allow HB 153, funding for construction and repairs at universities and colleges. The bill would allow bonds on $3.7 Billion (edited that number from $3.2 Billion I don’t know whether it grew or my memory shrank.) in new construction and repair.

Stem cells may come up in Lege
Lawmakers want to limit research.

By Laylan Copelin
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Thursday, May 11, 2006

The Texas House is poised to debate restricting embryonic stem cell research in some public university buildings.

Rep. Geanie Morrison, R-Victoria, chairwoman of the House Higher Education Committee, has told both sides that she will accept an amendment on the stem-cell issue to legislation she has filed to allow colleges and universities to issue bonds to pay for construction projects.

Unfortunately, there’s a million here and there that are ear-marked for facilities for unethical research that doesn’t qualify for federal funding. Witness the battle last July 25th (requires Real Play for the video) on the same funds and the big fuss on the floor over banning cloning and embryonic stem cell research.

Here’s more from that Austin American Statesman article:

House Bill 153 would authorize Texas universities to fund $3.7 billion in construction at public universities and medical schools.

The amendment would bar biomedical research at those newly constructed sites if federal funding is prohibited for the research. Under rules established by President Bush in 2001, federal money for embryonic stem cell research has been limited to previously established stem cell lines.

Gov. Rick Perry is expected to expand the agenda of the 30-day special session today to allow lawmakers to take up the so-called tuition revenue bonds authorized in Morrison’s bill, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said late Wednesday. That could clear the way for the stem cell debate as soon as today.

Joe Pojman, executive director of Texas Alliance for Life, praised the stem cell amendment.

“It protects state taxpayers from paying for what many of us consider unethical activity,” he said of embryonic stem-cell research. He said research with adult stem cells could continue.

Pojman said the amendment would just bring Texas in line with federal funding guidelines, an argument hotly disputed by the other side.

Judith Haley, president of Texans for Advancement of Medical Research, said the amendment would have far-reaching effects on biomedical research in Texas.

She said the amendment would bar any embryonic stem-cell research, even when financed by private dollars, in those public research facilities.

She said the amendment would put Texas out of step with the rest of the country even as Congress is considering easing funding guidelines on the research.

“It not only disallows research with private funds,” Haley said, “it sets it in stone” through the life of the buildings.

Morrison said she was looking for language that would satisfy both sides, a high bar.

University of Texas officials did not comment on the proposal Wednesday. But when the same issue arose last summer, they said scientists at the UT Health Science Center in Houston were conducting research on human embryonic stem cells but only on federally approved ones. They were hoping to build a $41.1 million facility there to focus on adult and animal stem cell research.

Scientists affiliated with the school previously did a study in which they injected patients’ hearts with adult stem cells to reverse damage and said a new facility would help them maintain a leadership position in the field.

Scientists say adult stem cells show promise in their ability to turn into certain types of tissue. Embryonic stem cells, they say, have even greater potential and might be able to morph into almost anything, including organs.

Opponents say that the uses of embryonic stem cells are unproven and that studying them is unethical because it could promote the destruction of embryos to retrieve stem cells.

If it is not resolved this session, the issue probably will arise again next year.

House Speaker Tom Craddick said he was leaving the issue in Morrison’s hands.

lcopelin@statesman.com; 445-3617