OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES:

Issues – In contrast to efforts to prohibit abortion, no federal law or court decision blocks the ability of the states to prohibit human cloning or embryonic stem cell research. As a result, the MCC and Campaign Life Missouri have taken the lead in seeking enactment of a comprehensive ban on all human cloning and a prohibition on the use of any state funds, resources, employees or institutions to engage in any unethical life sciences research activity, including human cloning and embryonic stem cell research.

Legislation supported by the MCC to ban human cloning and enact ethical restrictions on life sciences research has been introduced and championed by Senator Matt Bartle (R-Lee’s Summit) and Representative Jim Lemke (R-St. Louis County). Senator Bartle has sought enactment of ethical standards for life sciences research throughout his tenure in the General Assembly. As a result, Senator Bartle has displeased economic development leaders and become a reelection target for cloning ban opponents, according to the Kansas City Star (“Puzzle For Politicians - Stem-cell Issue Forces Republicans to Twist Between Business and Right-to-Life Groups”, October 1, 2004).

Lobbyists for the life science industry and Washington University in St. Louis have opposed the human cloning ban and support state funding for life sciences research. When it appeared that ethical restrictions might be enacted by the Missouri legislature they have convinced lawmakers and even tricked other pro-life organizations into accepting less effective restrictions. Life sciences research projects often occur in multiple research institutions that may be located in multiple states. Therefore an effective ban must do more than prohibit explicit appropriations of money for unethical life science research, it must also make sure no state institutions and state employees are allowed to engage in such research.

Participants in human cloning/embryonic stem cell debate in Missouri – The MCC has found its efforts blocked by research, business and educational interests which either have significant investments in, or which stand to make significant profits from, life sciences research. Among these opponents are the following:

Washington University – WU was a participant in the Human Genome Project, begun in 1990 and coordinated by the Department of Energy and the National Institutes of Health, which identified all the approximately 30,000 genes in human DNA.WU continues to be a major player in the human life sciences research field. It openly opposes the MCC’s efforts to ban all human cloning and to prohibit embryonic stem cell research. Dr. Steven L. Teitelbaum, a professor of pathology at WU’s School of Medicine, frequently appears in the state capitol to lobby legislators and testify against the proposed cloning ban. His public testimony dodges the humanity of the human embryos sacrificed as sources of stem cells while claiming potential benefits to be obtained from embryonic stem cell research, but he uses human embryological terms as his testifies. But the research community even at WU is divided on the issue. Dr. Richard A. Chole, a professor and head of otolaryngology at WU School of Medicine, appeared during the 2003 session of Missouri’s General Assembly, testifying in favor of the cloning ban. However, he made it clear that his testimony reflected his personal position and not that of WU.

The Missouri Biotechnology Association (MOBIO) – MOBIO is a trade association for the development and growth of the Missouri biotechnology and biomedical industry. It is made up of research entities, law firms and business groups, including the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association (RCGA). Associations like MOBIO allow their member organizations to avoid publicly taking positions on controversial issues like cloning and stem cell research while providing an avenue for their voices to be heard. Although MOBIO has at times been willing to discuss ethical limitations on state funded life sciences research, it has worked against the cloning ban in the state capitol, claiming that enactment of the ban would result in an exodus of life sciences research entities from Missouri. MOBIO claims to oppose cloning to create a new human being (reproductive cloning), but opposes a ban on human cloning of embryos to be destroyed for embryonic stem cell research. During the 2004 election season, it surveyed candidates for state office regarding their position regarding the proposed ban on human cloning, but never publicly released the results.

Stowers Institute for Medical Research – The Stowers Institute, located in Kansas City, was formed in 1994 to conduct research into gene-based diseases. It is a vocal and leading opponent of the MCC’s proposed ban on human cloning. Stowers Institute and its principals are major sources of political contributions to those who oppose a ban on human cloning or limitations on embryonic stem cell research. It was reported in the July 19, 2004 Columbia Missourian that James Stowers, cofounder of the Stowers Institute, hosted a fundraiser for a leading legislative opponent of the proposed cloning ban that raised about $20,000 for that candidate’s election.

The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and The Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City – Under the guise of opposing legislation that restricts life science research, the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce (GKCCC) opposes the proposed cloning ban. The GKCCC conducted a survey of candidates for state office, asking them in its first question regarding their support for the cloning ban and embryonic stem cell research, and for state funding for these activities. The results of this survey can be found at the GKCCC website: http://www.kcchamber.com/Government/MissouriCandidateResult.asp

The Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City (KC-EDC), a private corporation that is Kansas City’s primary economic development organization, opposes attempts to criminalize embryonic stem-cell research. It was reported in the September 18, 2004 Kansas City Star (“Stem Cell Research Supported”) that the KC-EDC voted on September 17 to vigorously oppose ongoing efforts to criminalize embryonic stem cell research after a briefing by William B. Neaves, president and chief executive of the Stowers Institute. The same article also reported that Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes, a board member of the KC-EDC, urged the board to support the Stowers Institute, and also criticized opponents of stem cell research. The article also reported that Warren Erdman, a KC-EDC board member who is former chief of staff to Missouri Senator Christopher Bond and is currently Central regional campaign chairman for the Bush/Cheney 2004 reelection campaign, had worked with Stowers Institute officials to lobby Missouri lawmakers about the importance of stem cell research. Erdman said a political action committee that reports to the EDC board has interviewed candidates to determine their position on the issue.

The MCC will continue its efforts to enact a comprehensive ban on all human cloning and embryonic stem cell research during the 2005 legislative session. We face major obstacles from powerful and well-funded political and commercial interests that do not want to see a comprehensive ban on human cloning and embryonic stem cell research enacted. It is difficult for historically pro-life legislators to hold to their beliefs in the face of powerful commercial interests. Only a strong and sustained outpouring of citizen support for banning cloning and embryonic stem cell research will ensure success and the protection of human life. We will reach our goal of banning these unethical life sciences research practices when and only if we hold accountable those who disregard human life in the laboratory and corporate boardroom.