| Republican Steve Ogden either made a huge mistake or is intentionally trying to torpedo the budget.
As the Senate finance committee went through the normal business of "discussing" riders to the budget, Ogden added one that would prevent state money from being used to pay for embryonic stem-cell or having any state money affiliated with stem-cell research.
Texans for the Advancement of Medical Research (TAMR) quickly responded to Ogden's ill conceived rider.
"The effect of that rider would be to forbid responsible medical research using embryonic stem cells derived from fertilized eggs destined to be discarded by IVF clinics. The rider would also ban embryonic stem cell research allowed by Pres Bush's executive order at public universities and other institutions in Texas," said TAMR President Joe Brown.
"This measure would undermine the hope embryonic stem cell research gives to so many families struggling with serious medical conditions," Brown said. "It would also discourage researchers from locating to Texas and essentially force others already conducting embryonic stem cell research here either to stop or to leave the state."
Brown noted that the ban could even undermine the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute. Texas voters in November 2007 authorized the institute to issue $3 billion in general obligation bonds over ten years for cancer research and prevention.
"By placing a prohibition on what research can be conducted in state facilities or using state monies, Texas is placing the great potential of the newly formed Cancer Institute in jeopardy," Brown said. "Research on cancer and other serious diseases depends largely on the biological
TAMR and President Barack Obama both outlined why this research is essential. Ogden's rider on the state budget bill by the Senate Finance Committee on Monday would undermine critical medical research into treatments for serious diseases such as cancer, Parkinson's disease and diabetes.
President Obama made a similar statement in last night's news conference.
What we have said is that for embryos that are typically about to be discarded, for us to be able to use those in order to find cures for Parkinson's or for Alzheimer's or, you know, all sorts of other debilitating diseases -- juvenile diabetes -- that it is the right thing to do. And that's not just my opinion; that is the opinion of a number of people who are also against abortion.
The Senate Finance Committee voted 6-5 to add the rider to the budget and the votes are still unclear. In addition, the Senate Finance Committee has not yet voted on the full budget bill.
As Senator Kirk Watson explains the situation.
Given the lack of discussion, it's unclear whether the committee intended to institute such a sweeping ban. But the wording of this action plainly forbids state money from being used "in conjunction with or to support" this vital pursuit. That means it would effectively bar some of Texas' top researchers from the state's universities and laboratories, where most of this work in the state is currently taking place.
A study by Dr. Bernard Weinstein and Dr. Terry Clower, both of the University of North Texas, found that embryonic stem cell research "is a critical component of the life sciences and the study of diseases" in the state, which in turn are essential industries for the Texas economy. Failing to keep pace with the world in this area, the study found, could cost Texas more than 100,000 jobs alone by 2014.
Patricia Kilday on the Burka Blog wrote this may simply derail the budget.
Steve Ogden may have lost support of Senate Democrats for SB 1 with his surprise rider prohibiting state funds to be used in stem cell research, or as the rider states: "in conjunction with or to support research that involves the destruction of a human embryo."
The rider was added Monday with little debate, on a 6-5 vote, with several members absent from the committee.
Judith Zaffirini tells us that "there are some members so upset there has been discussion of blocking the appropriations bill if this rider remains in it."
Zaffirini believes that such an important statement of public policy deserves a full hearing so the Legislature could hear from scientists whose research would be impacted.
While of course Paul Burka disagrees, it is hard to see Democrats and moderate Republicans looking to derail the recently approved Cancer Research Institute or destroy the life science research being done in Texas. More importantly, how can any elected official look a person and the face and say their family with a serious diseases such as cancer, Parkinson's disease or diabetes is unimportant at the state legislature.
Kirk Watson stated his intentional simply.
This provision must be removed from the budget, and there will be opportunities to do so in coming months. I will work with my colleagues to reverse this decision so we can debate this issue in the Senate, where it belongs.
Democrats and Republicans should work together in the Senate Finance Committee to remove this ill thought out rider or they should vote against the budget and work out their differences in a special session. When people's lives are at stake, there is no reason to rush. This is a rider that requires patients and diplomacy, but it also requires resolve and fortitude. Ogden's rider may not have intended to create such sweeping changes, and in a session were the only thing either chamber must pass is a budget, why put it at risk for ideological reasons? |
