Ohio Governor, Bob Taft, Overturns Embryonic Stem Cell Research Funding Ban

Ohio Governor Overturns Embryonic Stem Cell Research Funding Ban

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
June 30, 2005

Columbus, OH (LifeNews.com) -- Ohio Governor Bob Taft used his line-item veto power to strike a ban on state funding of embryonic stem cell research from a state spending bill. The ban would have ensured that no funds under Taft's $500 million Third Frontier initiative heading to voters in November could be used for the unproven research.

Taft said the ban was too restrictive and said it went beyond the policies put in place by President George W. Bush.

The president, in August 2001, laid down a policy prohibiting federal funding of any new embryonic stem cell research, but funds could be used to support research on cells already available before that point.

Bush's policy "protects life by limiting publicly funded research to the use of only those embryonic stem cell lines that existed at the time the President determined federal policy," Taft said, according to an AP report. "This veto is in the public interest."

House Speaker Jon Husted indicated it was unlikely that the state legislature would be able to come up with the 60 percent vote necessary to override Taft's veto.

Pro-life organizations had strongly supported the ban.

“We strongly support the ... amendment prohibiting the use of state grant funds for research that involves the destruction of human embryos to obtain their stem cells,” Mark Lally, legislative director of Ohio Right to Life, told LifeNews.com.

“Since ‘adult’ stem cells have produced over 50 clinical treatments while embryonic stem cells have produced none, the [legislature] has wisely decided to invest in the only type of stem cell research that is both ethical and a demonstrated success,” Lally added.

Rep. Mike Gilb, the Republican lawmakers who inserted the ban into the budget, said it's necessary because he worries embryonic stem cell research will lead to human cloning.

"There has not been the demonstrated progress in embryonic research like there has been with nonembryonic stem cells," Gilb added.

Initial trials using embryonic stem cells have proven disastrous. In one case, for instance, Parkinson's patients who were injected with embryonic stem cells ended up growing hair in their brains.

Adult stem cell research has proven to be far more promising, offering treatments for everything from heart disease to breast cancer.

Related web sites:
Ohio Right to Life - http://www.ohiolife.org

1 posted on 06/30/2005 7:14:29 PM PDT by Coleus

Yep, Taft is a REAL Republican, huh?

2 posted on 06/30/2005 7:17:13 PM PDT by Slump Tester (John Kerry - When even your best still isn't good enough)

To: Slump Tester

Bush is by far the most conservative Republican leader since Reagan, and in my opinion more conservative than Reagan. But no one could ever be conservative enough for some of the uberconservatives on FR.

3 posted on 06/30/2005 7:21:29 PM PDT by bayourod (Unless we get 40% of the Hispanic vote in 2008, President Hillary will take all your guns away.)

Taft damn sure never was or ever will be a conservative.

He's the biggest idiot we've ever had in our statehouse, and has assured that our next gov. will be a rat. (And a rat won't be any different than he was.)

4 posted on 06/30/2005 7:31:13 PM PDT by Slump Tester (John Kerry - When even your best still isn't good enough)

That's one of the more idiotic comments I've read on FR. Bob Taft has supported several tax increases, big spending increases, harassment of gun owners, and now he vetoes legislation prohibiting state funds to be used for embryonic stem cell research.

This isn't about how conservative George Bush is. This is about Bob Tax's horrible record as Governor.

5 posted on 06/30/2005 7:33:05 PM PDT by conservative_2001

That statement in no way refutes the fact that Taft is a limp-noodle-RINO-squish Republican who dishonors the Taft name with his daft anti-life veto.

6 posted on 06/30/2005 7:34:43 PM PDT by WOSG (Liberating Iraq - http://freedomstruth.blogspot.com)

When someone, even if it's Taft, does something right it is right to acknowledge it.

I'm not sure why Taft has suddenly had an awakening, but apparently he's introduced expanded school choice AND VETO'd embryonic stem cell research as funded by the state.

My mouth is a little open but he did it. These are conservative positions. This is the first good news out of Ohio since G.W.'s election.

I thank the Governor. Now, about those taxes?

7 posted on 06/30/2005 7:36:28 PM PDT by Soul Seeker

Damn,

I take that back.

I misread the article.

My apologies. Seems the only good thing he's done is school choice. Still, that is something.

8 posted on 06/30/2005 7:38:06 PM PDT by Soul Seeker

Yeah, he's Mr. wonderful alright.

On 9/11, he said it was a day that will live in infamy. The idiot couldn't even come up with anything original.

9 posted on 06/30/2005 7:45:45 PM PDT by Slump Tester (John Kerry - When even your best still isn't good enough)

That I never denied. I'm just saying that we will probably never see as conservative a President in our lifetimes as President Bush. He raises the bar to a new height that will make all other Republicans look disappointing.But Taft doesn't need Bush to look disappointing.

10 posted on 06/30/2005 7:51:25 PM PDT by bayourod (Unless we get 40% of the Hispanic vote in 2008, President Hillary will take all your guns away.)

To: Slump Tester

I believe you are the only one that called him Mr Wonderful on this thread.

I'm not a Taft fan. I withdrew the remark about stem cells as I misread the article. I stand by the comment about school choice deserving some praise. He did something right. I should ignore that? An issue I have a personal interest in put to practice statewide in Ohio and I shouldn't give due when deserved because the name is Taft?

I've been one of Taft's strongest critics, and hold him responsible for half of the battle for the state in 2004. I am among Blackwell's most vocal supporters.

Spare the sarcasm. Or not. Your choice, but it is fairly lame in context.

11 posted on 06/30/2005 7:53:49 PM PDT by Soul Seeker

It's a start. Much better than in other states like NJ

12 posted on 06/30/2005 7:56:58 PM PDT by Coleus ("Woe unto him that call evil good and good evil"-- Isaiah 5:20-21)

Exactly.

I happen to consider Ohio a worrisome state. It's drifting left in voting patterns, and I do believe that is partially on the heads of corrupt and/or Liberal Republicans giving the Party a bad name. I don't blame voters for seeking an alternative, even though Democrats would likely be worse in reaction.

I don't want to lose the state. To avoid that there needs to be a cleanup in Rep Representation & policy in Ohio. School choice is a very positive first step. Lowering taxes would be another, though I doubt Taft will agree to it. I believe Blackwell would be a significant factor in reversing the Left trend if elected Governor.

School choice resonates on both aisles. Ohioan elected officials did the right thing for once. It's a first step.

13 posted on 06/30/2005 8:16:03 PM PDT by Soul Seeker

This month's "Discover" has an interview with a stem cell researcher who can hardly wait to do some really bizarre embryonic stem cell experiments ~ still, he noted something he'd discovered that may be very instructive.

This involved the effect of a single chemical on embryonic cells. If it's present you get bodily organs. If it's not present in a bit of tissue you get nothing but neurons.

In short, he discovered that the embryo is primarily neurons, but other organs are generated when those neurons are stimulated by a specific chemical to do so.

I rather wonder what these plenipotent embryonic stem cells are if they are not neurons?

I also wonder if they "think", or posses a mind.

14 posted on 06/30/2005 8:36:59 PM PDT by muawiyah (q)

I am an American, I am a Conservative and I am a Republican. In that order! RINO taft is an embarrassment to the State of Ohio and to the party of President Reagan!

In regard to funding stem cell research with my tax dollars...ABSOLUTELY NOT!

In regard to his budget and his scandal/s I say this.....HE IS KILLING US HERE IN OHIO! Tax and spend is all this man knows. Moreover, he is going to kill our party in the process!

I will give you two examples, but there are many more!

Raising a pack of cigarettes .70 cents is nothing short of extortion! Moreover, to raise taxes by .2 cents on a gallon of gas is beyond moronic! Does this man not live in the real world?

If the Republican Party and the Republicans in the state of Ohio does NOT want to say Gov. Strickland (d) then we need to demand from our Republican leadership, National, State, and County to tell this embarrassing tax and spend RINO to resign now! We as Buckeyes and voters needs to do the same!

I am really concerned that this will hurt Kenneth Blackwell for Gov. "the true Conservative."

DEMAND HIS RESIGNATION NOW!

Ohio Republican Party 614-228-2481
National RNC 202-862-8790

15 posted on 07/01/2005 4:33:39 AM PDT by CELTICGAEL (Celt) (RINO taft resign now!)

RINO Bob is a damn embarrassment to this state. I do not know anyone, even Republican voters, who likes the guy. People just don't hate the guy, they hate him with a passion.
Bush raising the bar on expectations in not the problem here. RINO Bob makes certain RINO's look like real Republicans.

16 posted on 07/01/2005 7:54:08 PM PDT by Columbus Dawg (May 2, 2006: World's Largest RINO Hunt.....88 counties in Ohio...get 'em!)

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