MEMORANDUM

 

TO:                    Members of the Missouri House and Senate

FROM:              Pam Fichter, President
                           Steve Rupp, Vice-President
                           Gerard Nieters, Legislative Director

DATE:               September 12, 2011

RE:                     Pro-Life Amendment for MOSIRA

As you move to debate MOSIRA, Missouri Right to Life maintains support for the following language:

Public funds shall not be expended, paid, or granted to or on behalf of an existing or proposed research project that involves abortion services, human cloning, or prohibited human research as defined in section 196.1127.

This language was passed in 2003 by an overwhelming bi-partisan majority of pro-life legislators as part of the Life Sciences Research Trust Fund (LRTF).  It gave clear boundaries to effectively prevent unethical research through the LRTF and should be incorporated into the proposed economic development legislation, specifically MOSIRA.

We urge you to reject alternative language that is unproven and supported by those who advocate research opposed by pro-life Missourians.  

To those who say that human cloning is prevented by Missouri statute 1.217: 
It does not ban human cloning, but bans cloned human embryos from being allowed to reach the "newborn stage of development.”  It would still allow research with our tax dollars for abortion services, human cloning and embryonic stem cell research.

To those who say that the alternative language that bans Missouri Technology Corporation from doing unethical research protects our tax dollars: that language doesn't apply to those businesses and entities which would receive funding through MTC; therefore, that language would still allow research with our tax dollars for abortion services, human cloning and embryonic stem cell research. 

Don't be distracted by false arguments attacking Missouri Right to Life or diversionary tactics of alternative language proposals.   We urge you to be consistent with effective pro-life language already in statute.

We urge you to speak clearly to protect innocent human lives.