Stem cell vote stirs local debate

The director of Life Sciences at MU sees opportunity in federal legislation opposed by Congressman Kenny Hulshof of Columbia.

Hulshof, who represents the 9th District in the U.S. House of Representatives, was among 194 House members who voted against the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act that would provide federal funding for stem cell research. Hulshof could not be reached to discuss his vote, but a spokesman said the congressman opposes the bill on moral grounds.

Michael Roberts, director of Life Sciences at MU, relayed his reasons for supporting the legislation to Hulshof’s spokesmen.

“Although I understand Congressman Hulshof, I’m disappointed with his vote,” Roberts said. The act, which passed 238-194 in the House on May 24, would provide federal funding for research on human embryonic stem cells created through in-vitro fertilization for reproductive purposes. Embryos that were no longer needed by couples would be donated for scientific research.

Stem cell research is seen by some scientists as a key initiative in finding cures for juvenile diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s and spinal cord injuries.

Hulshof spokesman Scott Baker said the Republican congressman “consulted many sources, both in science and others (fields) and has come to the conclusion that the destruction of an embryo is not a morally neutral event.”

Roberts, on the other hand, said he offered distinct reasons why Hulshof should support the bill.

Hundreds of thousands of embryos are frozen or discarded every year, Roberts said. Roberts is urging people to move beyond religious beliefs that create “distaste” for using embryos for research. He said the scientific destruction of embryos can be reconciled with religious concerns. Embryonic stem cells are seen by scientists as superior to adult stem cells in their capacity to convert into many different types of cells, Roberts said.

Roberts also said that “any attempt to ban promising areas of stem cell research by our legislative delegation makes Missouri appear scientifically ‘backward’ and discourages companies and many trained scientists from moving to Missouri.”

Baker said that Hulshof is a devout Roman Catholic. The Roman Catholic Church is opposed to stem cell research because it maintains that, from the moment of conception, human life possesses inviolable rights, according to the Vatican Web site.

David Fleming, director of the Center for Health Ethics at the University of Missouri School of Medicine, is not a stem cell researcher but said he is active in the debate about the morality of the issue. He said Hulshof’s moral concerns and Roberts’ utilitarian perspective create “probably an irreconcilable debate because there is such a polarity of beliefs.”

Roberts does not think that Hulshof’s previous vote in favor of using human umbilical cord blood stem cells to perform scientific research is enough.

“The vote on the umbilical cord issue is a pretty easy one. It’s a no-brainer in the sense that the cells are easy to obtain and there are really no ethical questions. What is the question is if (adult stem cells) can do the job,” Roberts said.

Hulshof also heard from individuals and groups, such as Missouri Right to Life, which urged Hulshof to vote against the bill.

Pam Fichter, president of Missouri Right to Life, said she had made Hulshof aware of her group’s opposition to the bill. She called the issue an important pro-life decision, “even more important than Roe v. Wade.”

Fitcher, like Hulshof, represents people who do not believe the research should be federally funded.

Baker, Hulshof’s spokesman, said, “Congressman Hulshof doesn’t believe that this should be publicly funded because a significant portion of the population does not agree with the morality of the research.”

The act had strong bi-partisan backing in the House, with 50 Republicans voting to approve federal funding. Rep. JoAnn Emerson of Missouri was among the Republicans who were supportive.

The bill has yet to be voted on in the Senate. On May 25, Rep. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa., together with a bipartisan coalition, urged Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist to take up a bill identical to the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. That bill is sponsored by three Democrats and three Republicans. Missouri Senators Kit Bond and Jim Talent are not currently sponsors of the bill.