LANSING – The Michigan House Judiciary Committee discussed legislation allowing individuals using in vitro fertilization the option of donating their unused embryos for stem cell research while also increasing the penalties for human cloning, but most of those who testified over the course of nearly five hours voiced their opposition to or support for the research component itself.

There was no vote taken on HB 4616 , HB 4617 and HB 4618 Wednesday, but Chair Rep. Paul Condino (D-Southfield) said he plans on voting the bills out of committee when the Legislature returns the week after Thanksgiving. Apparently the House will put the bills up for a vote, but when is uncertain, as is whether there are enough votes to get it through the full chamber. Condino said if there aren’t enough votes, that will be a sign to embryonic stem cell research supporters to move ahead with their petition drive and fundraising to get the measure on the November 2008 ballot.

Rep. Andy Meisner (D-Ferndale), one of the bill sponsors, said the restrictions in Michigan law put the state out of step with national and international trends toward promoting the life sciences and embryonic stem cell research and if residents want to donate their unused three- to five-day-old embryos to science, they should have the right to do that. Meisner said the clump of 50 to 150 cells is not a baby or a fetus at that point and is treated as medical waste if the individual does not use it.

“I believe there is a moral imperative we pursue this research,” he said. “This is not meant to be a jab at anybody’s faith or feelings but to say let’s move forward.”

In responding to a question by Rep. Tonya Schuitmaker (R-Lawton) about state universities already performing this research, Mr. Meisner said institutions like the University of Michigan are studying lines derived from a federal program, but many of those lines were contaminated by mouse DNA and the available lines are dwindling. Adult stem cell research is also being conducted, he said.

Edsel Ford II, great grandson of Henry Ford, testified in support of the bills because his youngest son Albert has Type 1 Diabetes and with no known cure, embryonic stem cell research provides hope for one. He also said that from a business standpoint, having restrictive laws in place puts an “unnecessary hurdle” and essentially tells business in this area to go elsewhere.

Rep. John Stakoe (R-Highland) said to Ford that scientific researchers are speculative as to what embryonic stem cell research has to offer in terms of treatment, noting that tumors have been found in animals used for testing. But Ford said he has traveled to labs around the world and the researchers he talked to are optimistic about what the research could offer people suffering from all types of illnesses.

Rep. Kevin Elsenheimer (R-Bellaire) said while the bill doesn’t allow a financial incentive for parents to donate their unused embryos for research, he questioned the fact companies would still be making money by obtaining this resource and using it for research. Meisner said he did hope the advancement of the science would produce more companies and jobs in the state.

Former U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz testified in support of the bills, saying the next president of the United States will sign legislation funding this research and if Michigan isn’t ready to receive those funds, “We’ll be out of it. Other states have stepped in and other states will step in.”

He said adult stem cell research has produced some treatments but not as much as opponents of embryonic stem cell research say, but adult lines don’t have the same capabilities as embryonic lines to morph into different tissues or organs as needed by a patient.

Representatives for U.S. Sen. Carl Levin (D-Detroit) and Governor Jennifer Granholm also threw their support behind the package.

Former Rep. Kirk Profit also testified in support of the bills, saying when former Governor John Engler put an emphasis on life sciences, he knew the Legislature would revisit the issue as the industry is ever changing.

Laura Jackson, an 18-year-old who broke her neck during cheerleading and is now a quadriplegic, said after undergoing a stem cell treatment in China she has more mobility and can breathe on her own longer, but she is looking forward to what will happen next in terms of embryonic stem cell research to improve her quality of life.

And Sue Burstein Kahn with ALS of Michigan testified that while researchers may not know a treatment will be derived from embryonic stem cells, it’s wrong to say they should just stop trying when people with ALS are waiting for cures or going overseas to get treatment that is not well researched or overseen.

But William Passinault, a general surgeon from Grand Rapids, said one scientific article has cautioned against putting too much hope into medical advancements from the research and that dollars should be put toward what we know works – adult stem cell and umbilical cord research and treatments – that doesn’t create an embryo for destruction. Meisner said the same article also talked about not stifling areas of research and Rep. Marc Corriveau (D-Northville) questioned why Passinault, as a doctor, would want to prevent people from being helped. Passinault said doctors should treat symptoms at the end of life, but that can be done with adult stem cells.

Marshall resident Stacey Geason said there should be more public awareness of embryo adoption programs as an alternative to simply classifying unused embryos as medical waste. She and her husband David adopted two embryos, which are now youngsters Frank and Lucy.

“There’s not a shortage of people wanting to give them homes but there is a shortage of attention and awareness,” she said.

Meisner argued his legislation wouldn’t preclude those adoption programs from continuing, and that the two issues are not mutually exclusive, but Geason said Meisner said in his earlier testimony the embryos are either used or medical waste and the lawmaker was backtracking to say the adoption program is a good thing. Meisner said he was trying to convey that some parents would want the option of donating their embryos to medical research instead of letting other people adopt them, and that all sides should be able to do what they want.

Ann Stevenson, a woman with Multiple Sclerosis, said she would reject any treatment derived from human embryos because killing an embryo was too high of price to pay to make her better.

“I feel pretty defenseless; the only way I have to defend my self is with my voice,” she said, and as the unborn have no voice, the two should stick together. “A person is a person no matter how small, even if they only fit on the head of the pin.”

Stevenson said instead of classifying unused embryos as medical waste there should be more effort in finding adoptive families.

Meisner said while Stevenson may not want a treatment derived from embryonic stem cell research, others might, and questioned whether people should have that choice. But Stevenson said she feared that any new treatment would become the standardized care and health insurance wouldn’t pay for other treatments.

“Then I may lose my choice,” she said.

Mary Hamilton, a zoologist, also testified in opposition to the bills, saying companies stand to profit from pressuring women into harvesting more eggs through drug infusions to get enough embryos for research and that the only way to diversify the lines would be to force poor women who are not Caucasian into doing the procedure. She said current law already allows Michigan women to donate their unused embryos to other states.

But Landon Krantz from the Student Society for Stem Cell Research at UM said students wanting to go into this field are being forced to look outside of Michigan for