LANSING – The Michigan House Judiciary Committee may soon be taking up legislation that would allow Michigan residents using in vitro fertilization the choice of whether they want to donate their unused embryos for stem cell research.
The legislative package (HB 4616 , HB 4617 and HB 4618 ) also would make human cloning a 15-year felony.
Rep. Paul Condino (D-Southfield), a supporter of embryonic stem cell research and chair of the committee, said he would like to hold a hearing on the issue soon but he also has to speak with House Majority Floor Leader Steve Tobocman (D-Detroit) to see whether a vote on the bills would come on the floor as well.
Condino said as the 2008 election gets closer it’s important for supporters of the research to know whether they need to mobilize fundraising efforts for a possible ballot initiative and having House members review the issue is a key component to that process.
Right to Life of Michigan and other groups have been vehemently opposed to the use of embryos for research, arguing that proponents of embryonic research ignore that treatments have caused tumors.
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