LANSING – Adding flame to an already heated issue, Gov. Jennifer Granholm used her weekly radio address Friday to call on the Legislature to repeal the state’s bans on stem cell research.
Noting recent support from boxing legend and southwest Michigan resident Muhammad Ali, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease, Granholm urged residents to sign her online petition calling for action both in the state and federal governments to expand stem cell research. And she specifically urged action on HB 4900 and SB 1345 that would lift the ban on stem cell research in the state while increasing penalties for human cloning.
“Not only would stem cell research potentially save lives and prevent disease, it could also attract millions of dollars of investment in life sciences businesses and jobs to Michigan,” Granholm said in her address.
The issue has potential to heat up after the election, with a package of bills creating umbilical cord blood banks (HB 6291 , HB 6292 , HB 6293 , HB 6294 , HB 6295 ) having passed the House just before the break and discussions of taking up the stem cell bills for hearings when the Legislature returns.
Outside groups have also been actively lobbying on the issue, with the bi-partisan Michigan Citizens for Stem Cell Research and Cures, led by U.S. Sen. Carl Levin (D-Detroit) and U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz (R-Battle Creek), urging action to repeal the restrictions. Right to Life of Michigan and the Michigan Catholic Conference, meanwhile, have vowed to keep the current restrictions in place.
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