Massachusetts Gov. Romney Vetoes Embryonic Stem Cell Research Bill

Bioethics   |   Steven Ertelt   |   May 27, 2005   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Massachusetts Gov. Romney Vetoes Embryonic Stem Cell Research Bill Email this article
Printer friendly page

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
May 27, 2005

Boston, MA (LifeNews.com) — Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney vetoed a bill Friday that would promote unproven embryonic stem cell research in the Bay State. Romney turned back the legislation even though he knows the state legislature has the votes to override the veto.

Romney said at a news conference that he was unable to sign the bill because it promoted human cloning to create human embryos with the sole intention of destroying them for research.

The Republican governor said he could not "in good conscience allow this bill to become law," in a letter to lawmakers.

The state legislature is expected to take up a veto override vote next week. Last month, the Senate passed a similar version of the measure, 35-2, and the House passed a similar version, 117-37.

Though the measure sailed through the Senate, some lawmakers who support it have concerns.

State Sen. Cynthia Creem, a Democrat, said during debate that she worried the sale of eggs collected from women for use in human cloning techniques would lead to the exploitation of poor women who need the money they receive as a result.

State Rep. Brad Hill, an opponent of the bill, agrees and told the Associated Press, "We wanted to take a little bit slower. We don’t want to see women abusing their bodies."

Pro-life groups oppose the bill because it would allow scientists to clone human embryos and destroy them to obtain their stem cells for research. It would also remove the requirement that research first obtain permission for studies involving embryonic stem cells.

The bill gives the Massachusetts Department of Public Health some regulatory control, as long as it does not undermine the premise of the bill.

The legislature must be notified 60 days before a regulation takes effect and lawmakers can suggest changes to it.

Related web sites:
Massachusetts State Legislature – https://www.mass.gov/legis/legis.htm