LANSING ? Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm can support embryonic stem cell research, but not using her official gubernatorial website, the Thomas More Law Center said in a federal lawsuit announced Friday. While the governor has not said she agrees, she has taken down the link that spawned the lawsuit, officials said Friday.
The suit asks the court to order Granholm to remove links from her website to a petition supporting legislation to legalize embryonic stem cell research in the state. The Ann Arbor-based Christian group argues Granholm is violating the First Amendment rights of residents opposed to the research by using their tax dollars to support it.
“Granholm’s use of government resources to favor citizens who agree with her views on public policy violates First Amendment and equal protection rights,” said Patrick Gillen, lead attorney on the case. “It is a dangerous precedent which, if unchallenged, would enable public officials to drown out the voice of dissenters.”
Granholm has not said whether she agrees with Gillen’s position on the site, but she did take down the link to the petition, said press secretary Liz Boyd.
“We’ll review the lawsuit, but the governor’s not going to end her fight to end stem cell research ban,” said Boyd.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the Lansing Guild of the Catholic Medical Association, Flint-Area Right To Life, and Right To Life – Lifespan, all groups opposing stem cell research.
“Governor Granholm’s decision to use public funds to discriminate against citizens who disagree with her on the issue of stem cell research violates our clients’ constitutional rights of speech, association, equal protection, and petitioning,” said Richard Thompson, president of the Thomas More Law Center. “Her support of embryonic stem cell research demonstrates a callous disregard for human life.”
But the issue is not her voicing her own opinion. Rather, it is her asking for input only from those who agree with her. “It’s primarily a discrimination issue,” said Mallary Hernly, spokesperson for the law center. “She made this petition available only to people who agree with her on the issue. There’s not a forum on this website for everyone else.”
She said the group would not object to a forum that allows people from both sides to voice their opinions.
The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Richard Enslen, but no hearings have been scheduled.
This story was provided by Gongwer News Service. To subscribe, click on Gongwer.Com
The suit asks the court to order Granholm to remove links from her website to a petition supporting legislation to legalize stem cell research in the state. The Ann Arbor-based Christian group argues Granholm is violating the First Amendment rights of residents opposed to the research by using their tax dollars to support it.
“Granholm’s use of government resources to favor citizens who agree with her views on public policy violates First Amendment and equal protection rights,” said Patrick Gillen, lead attorney on the case. “It is a dangerous precedent which, if unchallenged, would enable public officials to drown out the voice of dissenters.”
Granholm has not said whether she agrees with Gillen’s position on the site, but she did take down the link to the petition, said press secretary Liz Boyd.
“We’ll review the lawsuit, but the governor’s not going to end her fight to end stem cell research ban,” said Boyd.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the Lansing Guild of the Catholic Medical Association, Flint-Area Right To Life, and Right To Life – Lifespan, all groups opposing stem cell research.
“Governor Granholm’s decision to use public funds to discriminate against citizens who disagree with her on the issue of stem cell research violates our clients’ constitutional rights of speech, association, equal protection, and petitioning,” said Richard Thompson, president of the Thomas More Law Center. “Her support of embryonic stem cell research demonstrates a callous disregard for human life.”
But the issue is not her voicing her own opinion. Rather, it is her asking for input only from those who agree with her. “It’s primarily a discrimination issue,” said Mallary Hernly, spokesperson for the law center. “She made this petition available only to people who agree with her on the issue. There’s not a forum on this website for everyone else.”
She said the group would not object to a forum that allows people from both sides to voice their opinions.
The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Richard Enslen, but no hearings have been scheduled.
This story was provided by Gongwer News Service. To subscribe, click on Gongwer.Com
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