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HCS HB 2007 appropriates $25 million to the Life Science Research Board. The "restrictions" in this legislation are inadequate and ineffective in light of the language of Art. III, sec. 38(d) (Amendment 2) of the Missouri Constitution which specifically prohibits such restrictions.
The objectionable language of HCS HB 2007 states that "These funds shall be used exclusively on animal science, plant science, medical devices, biomaterials and composite research, nanotechnology related to drug development and delivery, clinical imaging, and information technology related to human health."
The Missouri Constitution says: "To ensure that no governmental body or official arbitrarily restricts funds . . . as a means of inhibiting lawful stem cell research or stem cell therapies and cures, no state or local government body or official shall eliminate, reduce, deny or withhold any public funds provided or to be provided to a person that . . . lawfully conducts stem cell research. . . " It further states that "No state or local law . . . shall . . . restrict, obstruct, or discourage any stem cell research or stem cell therapies or cures that are permitted by this section . . . or . . . create disincentives for any person to engage in . . . such research. . . "
Amendment 2 makes void any legislative restrictions on the use of these funds for unethical research, and therefore Missouri Right to Life opposes HCS HB 2007.
Missouri Right to Life suggested that funding research in plant and animal sciences be routed through other agencies, such as the Department of Agriculture. This would take the control of the funding away from the Life Science Research Board. The Missouri House of Representatives declined to do this.
If you need more details prior to calling your legislator see the memos that MRL distributed to the legislators.
Please let MRL know if any responses you receive from legislators.