[Stem Cell News] Thursday August 04, 2005
[I think this is older news but it's dated today]
Governor vetoes legislature’s ban on stem cell research
Danny Bubp
State Rep.
COLUMBUS – Last week's budget, which was passed by the Ohio House of Representatives 53-46, was signed into law however the governor used his veto pen to strike several important line items. Although I voted no on the budget, I am extremely disappointed with some of the line items vetoed by the governor.
Foremost among these items is Mr. Taft's decision to strike the general assembly's ban on the use of Third Frontier dollars for embryonic stem cell research. This line item would have prevented Third Frontier funding from being used to support any research using embryonic stem cells.
Ohio's current policy, which mirrors President Bush's restrictions on the use of embryonic stem cells in federally funded research, protects life by limiting publicly funded research to the use of only those embryonic stem cell lines that existed at the time the president determined federal policy. Regular readers of this column know full well my pro-life views and anti-abortion beliefs. I oppose the governor's plan to use taxpayer dollars to fund embryonic stem cell research.
The ban that the legislature had placed in the budget prevented Third Frontier from funding any research involving human embryonic stem cells. In addition, the governor's veto greatly concerns me because the House will be asked to vote Aug. 2 to place his $500 million Third Frontier bond issue for high-tech research development on the Nov. 2 ballot. In fact, the governor wants to join the Third Frontier bond issue with Issue 2 which provides for extensive infrastructure and road repairs in Ohio.
This veto by Governor Taft will affect the House vote to be held Aug 2. If you are interested in this issue, please contact me to let me know your thoughts on this matter.
I trust that everyone had a terrific July 4th weekend. Is it only me or does it seem as though our summer is flying by? In fact, one of our local weather forecasters recently observed how the days are getting shorter already! I do not even want to hear that! I love warm weather and I do not want to think about what lies ahead next winter. I hope you are enjoying a happy and safe summer.
You can contact me to discuss this or any other state-related matter by calling (614) 644-6034, e-mail at district88 @ohr.state.oh.us or write to me, State Representative Danny Bubp at 77 S. High St., 11th Floor, Columbus, OH 43215.
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