By Lauren Gibbons – Link to article
Two bills passed by the Michigan House Wednesday aim to ban research on cells obtained from abortion procedures, although critics said the premise violates the state constitution.
House Bills 5558 and 5559, sponsored by state Reps. Thomas Albert, R-Lowell, and Bronna Kahle, R-Adrian, taken together would prohibit research on cells obtained from abortion and ban the option to donate remains from abortions to medical research, as well as make using cells from abortions in medical research a five-year felony.
In a floor speech, Albert called the practice “horrific and barbaric” and said the benefits that have come from such research should not outweigh the moral issues, arguing there are alternatives researchers could use.
“Medical research is vital – but research on aborted babies is unacceptable and unnecessary,” Albert said in a statement after the vote. “Research should focus on methods that do not involve the tissue and body parts of aborted fetuses.”
Several House Democrats spoke against the package on the floor, noting that the proposal would restrict scientific research that has led to advancements for the treatment of many diseases.
State Rep. Laurie Pohutsky, D-Livonia, also pointed out that a constitutional amendment passed by voters in 2008 prohibits state laws that restrict or discourage embryonic stem cell research. Although a substituted version of the bill includes language to exempt research allowed by the Constitution, the House-passed bills amount to a “strongly worded Post-it note,” she said.
“If the Constitution explicitly states that something must be permitted, we cannot simply eliminate it by statute,” Pohutsky said.
Both bills passed 55-51 along partisan lines in the House and now head to the Senate for consideration.