Minnesota House Panel Backs Measure Promoting Tax-Funded Human Cloning

Bioethics   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Feb 14, 2008   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Minnesota House Panel Backs Measure Promoting Tax-Funded Human Cloning Email this article
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
February 14,
2008

St. Paul, MN (LifeNews.com) — A Minnesota House panel approved a measure on Thursday that concerns pro-life advocates because it would approve and fund human cloning and the killing of human embryos at the University of Minnesota. The panel voted 11-8 for the Kahn–Cohen Cloning Bill that would force taxpayers to fund destructive research.

A leading pro-life group told LifeNews.com that the bill promotes the destruction of human life on a scale never before seen in Minnesota, and also requires university scientists to kill all cloned human beings or face felony charges.

“This is the most shocking and dangerous threat to human life in years,” Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life legislative associate Jenny Hoelscher told LifeNews.com.

“It is difficult for taxpayers to believe that their elected officials are even considering legislation which would require such massive destruction of human life," she added.

SF 100 would allow millions of dollars in taxpayer funds to be used to kill living human embryos. Taxpayer funds would also be available to finance the cloning of human embryos for the sole purpose of destroying them for experimentation.

“The vast majority of Americans are opposed to research that requires human cloning and the killing of human embryos,” Hoelscher explained. “The killing of innocent human life at any stage is unethical, regardless of any supposed benefits, and taxpayers must not be forced to fund it.”

The group said it was concerned that backers of the bill are disguising its support for human cloning by using a more technical term, somatic cell nuclear transplantation, that describes the cloning process.

MCCL told LifeNews.com that backers of the bill are telling lawmakers that SCNT isn’t cloning despite the fact that it describes the actual method used to clone a human being.

“Do not be deceived by embryonic stem cell research or cloning by somatic cell nuclear transplantation,” Hoelscher said. “It is full of empty promises and deadly consequences.”

MCCL officials told the House Public Safety and Civil Justice Committee that the bill ignores more ethical and effective alternatives to human cloning to help find cures for diseases and help patients.

The group emphasized that adult stem cells offer real hope for people suffering from diseases and conditions such as cancer, lupus, Crohn’s, Parkinson’s, cardiovascular diseases, immune disorders and many more.

More than 70 cures and treatments have already been developed from adult stem cell research; in stark contrast, no embryonic stem cell cures or even human clinical trials exist.

Hoelscher emphasized that embryonic stem cell research and human cloning are a waste of taxpayer dollars.

“If these horrors they call ‘research’ were at all promising, biotech firms would pour billions of dollars into them,” she noted. “The biotech industry is seeking to force taxpayers to fund this research precisely because it is illusory, highly speculative and deadly.”

ACTION: Contact your state legislators and urge strong opposition to SF 100, the taxpayer-funded human cloning bill. Go here for contact information.

Related web sites:
Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life – https://www.mccl.org