News

Jul 9, 2008

It appears Michigan voters will likely vote in November on whether they should be forced to pay for embryonic stem cell research. Backers of the unproven research turned in 570,000 signatures on Monday to qualify the proposal and now the secretary of state will start the validation process.

If state officials validate more than 380,000 signatures, Michigan voters will determine whether public funds should support the destruction of human life to advance an unproven science.

They have until August 23 to finish their work.

Larry Owen, chairman of the Stem Cell Research Ballot Question Committee Board, told the Oakland Press he is pleased with the number of signatures his group submitted.

"We set a record for number of signatures," he claimed. "We are very confident we are where we need to be."

Dave Doyle is the spokesman for MI-CAUSE, Michigan Citizens Against Unrestricted Science and Experimentation, the coalition of groups united against the idea.

"This proposal will allow for completely unregulated and unrestricted science on human embryos," he says and adds that it paves the way for funding human cloning.

"The proposal says we'll follow the law," Doyle told the newspaper, "but if the laws change, cloning will be available."

In May, pro-life advocates received a boost when the Michigan State Medical Society changed its position and ended five years of supporting taxpayer funding for embryonic stem cell research.

The group will take a neutral position on the ballot initiative.

The Medical Society has supported funding the unproven research since 2003 but decided to take a neutral stance on the potential ballot battle. Instead of weighing in on the vote, the group will educate doctors with research studies and information on the ethical considerations involved.

Donald Condit, a Grand Rapids physician, said he wanted the doctors' group to oppose the ballot proposal but said he's happy it will stay neutral.

"It maintains harmony among the Michigan State Medical Society where people of good will disagree on this issue," Condit said. "I would have preferred a stronger stance, but I'm very happy the consensus preserves the diversity among Michigan physicians."

In January, Right to Life of Michigan launched a new stem cell research educational campaign designed to counteract lawmakers who support the proposal.

The educational television ads "give a voice for those who are suffering from injury and disease," the group told LifeNews.com in a statement.

The four-week, state-wide television campaign provided personal testimonies from Jim Yates, whose spinal cord was damaged after falling from a horse, and Kathleen Hulst, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

Both share their opposition to embryonic stem cell research and human cloning by providing a personal perspective on the contentious debate.

"We have heard from the doctors, researchers and politicians in Michigan who want to pursue embryonic stem cell research and human cloning for their own gains," RLM president Barb Listing told LifeNews.com.

Research using stem cells obtained from adults and umbilical cord blood has been used to help thousands of people with various ailments.

At least 70 different diseases or ailments have been treated or helped by the use of adult stem cells including Parkinson's, spinal cord injuries, various forms of leukemia, heart damage and various forms of cancer.

However, embryonic stem cell research has been unsuccessful in animals in part because the cells create tumors after injection and they are rejected by the immune system.