Stem Cell Research

Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, the state’s largest anti-abortion group, says the University of Minnesota is trying to clone human beings and is in violation of the law. The university says its research is legal and that the group is engaging in a “disinformation campaign” designed to halt stem cell research.

The stem cell bill offered at the Minnesota Legislature this year, which would have allowed the University of Minnesota to use state funds to conduct research on embryonic stem cells, was authored by a Democrat and doctor of biophysics, Rep. Phyllis Kahn. It was vetoed by lawyer and evangelical Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

Pawlenty’s veto message [...]

“Thank you Gov. Tim Pawlenty,” read a Minnesota Family Council blog post written as the legislative session closed. “You are truly a pro-family governor.” And they have reason to thank him. He worked very closely with them this session.

The Minnesota Family Council, a group affiliated with the anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered rights group Focus [...]

The Minnesota House on Wednesday passed a bill that would allow the University of Minnesota to use state funds to conduct research using embryonic stem cells. The measure prompted a flurry of amendments by pro-life Republicans designed to derail the bill.

Rep. Matt Dean, R-Dellwood, introduced an amendment that would limit the use of embryos only [...]