GOP-run MI Senate starting to eff with the state's recently passed stem cell referendum

http://freep.com/article/20100311/NEWS15/100311053/1320/Budget-plan-requires-reports-of-stem-cell-use

POSTED: 3:09 P.M. MARCH 11, 2010
Budget plan will require university reports of stem cell use
BY CHRIS CHRISTOFF
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER


A Senate budget plan to trim 3% from state universities during the next fiscal year, reducing state funding by $48 million, would require those that conduct embryonic stem cell research to report to the state by Dec. 1 how many human embryo stem cells they’ve received, created, stored and used for research.

The provision is mean to keep the public informed about the use of embryonic stem cells, said Sen. Tom George, R-Portage, who inserted the provision in the budget bill approved by the Senate subcommittee on higher education funding.

Democratic Sen. Liz Brater, D-Ann Arbor, said the reporting provision appeared not to be burdensome, but opposed it because she said it should have more debate.

Voters in 2008 approved a constitutional amendment that allows embryonic stem cell research, which abortion opponents tried to defeat.

-snip-

But Sheri Mark, head of the coalition that led the stem cell research ballot issue campaign, said the stem cell reporting requirement doesn’t belong in a budget bill, but rather should be debated separately.

Mark called this “a very sneaky backdoor way” for embryonic stem cell research opponents to hinder the intent of the 2008 constitutional amendment.

-snip-

more...