Nebraska Pro-Life Groups Want University Board to Revisit Stem Cell Research
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
November 12, 2009
Lincoln, NE (LifeNews.com) — Nebraska Right to Life and other state pro-life groups are asking the University of Nebraska Board of Regents to revisit its current policy on embryonic stem cell research. The current policy follows the Obama administration’s policy of forcing taxpayers to pay for the destruction of human life.
A resolution addressing the issue will be taken up by the Regents at their November 20th meeting in Lincoln.
In advance of the meeting, three state senators who worked out a compromise on public funding of cloning and embryonic stem cell research sent a letter to Nebraska Right to Life on Tuesday.
The letter from Speaker Mike Flood, Senator Steve Lathrop and Senator Brad Ashford confirms that LB 606 did not settle the issue of embryonic stem cell policy as far as the NU Board of Regents is concerned.
"Thank you for your November 9, 2009 e-mail regarding LB 606 (2008) and the related ‘agreement.’ As you know, the agreement at issue lists several parties involved in the LB 606 negotiations, including the Nebraska Catholic Conference, Nebraska Right to Life, Nebraskans for Research and the University of Nebraska," the letter says.
"Relevant to your question, the agreement states that ‘those involved in the process acknowledge that LB 606 represents a resolution of the public policy considerations attendant with embryonic stem cell research,’" it added.
The lawmakers said that language might lead state residents to think that the issue is settled for all parties and at all levels of government.
"In truth, the negotiation of LB 606 included no discussion relative to the Nebraska Board of Regents," the said. "As we read the terms of the agreement, no party is prohibited from lobbying the Board of Regents."
Nebraska Right to Life director Julie Schmit-Albin told LifeNews.com today
"Our opponents have been touting the ‘agreement’ with LB 606 as the definitive statement on unethical research policy in the state," she said.
"The three senators most involved in the compromise behind LB 606 confirm what we have been saying all along, that LB 606 did not settle the policy of the Board of Regents which is a separate governing entity," Schmit-Albin continued.
"This coupled with documentation provided that Nebraska Research PAC was heavily involved in at least one Regent’s race in 2008, should put to rest the notion that LB 606 resolved the matter for the Regents," she said.
Related web sites:
Nebraska Right to Life – https://www.nerighttolife.org
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