Be opening this January in Virginia?
I spoke to Gene Trani today and he pointed me to a fascinating debate that has been taking place in Nebraska.
Last week, the Board of Regents at the University of Nebraska defeated an effort to apply the Bush administrations limitations on embryonic stem cell research (to existing lines only) to the university system. The proposal would have been restrictive than what the Obama administration permits and what is currently allowed under Nebraska law.
It was defeated by a 4 to 4 tie vote that keep the existing regulations in place.
Opponents of the more restrictive policies noted that embyonic stem cell research holds great potential for the treatement of a number of untractable illnesses.
Supporters of the more restrictive policies suggest that the destruction of an embryo is morally objectionable and that advances in adult stem cell research have, in any case, vitiated the need to utilize embyonic stem cells.
Politically, the debate pitted electorally powerful pro-life forces against influential spokespersons and alumni for the University of Nebraska system who argueed that it would a terrible message to the rest of the nation about the state.
So here’s the question.
Will pro-life forces in Virginia who strenuously object to the stem cell policies of the Obama administration bring Nebraska-inspired legislative initiatives to the General Assembly this January?
And will this be part of the legislative agenda of any of the three pro-life candidates elected to statewide office a few weeks ago?
Love the blog and thought the VA Gov campaign analysis was excellent.
One other item that was missing from your stem cell post which adds a different element to the opposition is that adult stem cells are holding more promise than embryonic ones.
I hope we get some breakthrough in the legislation and thereby increasing the limitations of embroynic stem cell and adult stem cell research.