Des Moines, IA (LifeNews.com) -- The Iowa state Senate has approved a bill that would promote human cloning for research purposes. Backers of the bill say it would help promote embryonic stem cell research, which requires the destruction of human life.

"It's the beginning of human cloning," said Senate Minority Leader Mary Lundby during the debate. "This is the first step on a slippery slope."

Sen. David Hartsuch, a doctor, also opposed the bill.

"A decent respect for human life and dignity requires that we continue to ban this clone and kill mentality," Hartsuch said.

The Senate approved the measure on a 26-24 vote and it now heads to the House under a new bill number HF 287.

Should the House approve it, Gov. Chet Culver, a Democrat, has said he would sign the measure and pro-life advocates say that will effectively overturn the state's ban on all forms of human cloning.

"What is happening in Iowa is very serious," Iowa Right to Life Committee director Kim Lehman said in a statement given to LifeNews.com. "We urge everyone to continue speaking out in opposition to human cloning. The fight isn't over."

Twenty-six Democrats voted for the bill while 20 Republicans and four Democrats voted no.

Republicans tried to amend the bill to keep the human cloning ban as it stands now, prohibiting both cloning for research and reproductive purposes, but the Senate defeated that 28-22.

Related web sites:
Iowa Right to Life - http://www.irlc.org
Iowa Legislature - http://www.legis.state.ia.us