TRAEGER

For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.
Matthew 6 :21

In my April 21, 2008, Metro Voice article, "Cloners use MO courts to their advantage," I wrote that the proponents of human cloning research in the state "have again used the court system to stop efforts to ban human cloning ...the will of the people of Missouri, the majority of whom do not support human embryonic cloning, is mocked by ambitious politicians and judicial charades."

On Friday, May 2, 2008, the Missouri Court of Appeals ruled. However, the delay tactics used by supporters of Robin Carnahan's ballot language before the court ruled made it quite impossible for proponents of the proposal to secure the 150,000 signatures needed to qualify for the November ballot. The Court ruled that Carnahan's language was mostly acceptable with the exception of changing one word. The court substituted the word "change" for "repeal." The Court said that for Carnahan to say in the summary ballot language that this amendment would "repeal" the ban on human cloning was "insufficient and unfair."

Furthermore, on May 2nd, in a statement to LifeNews.com, Dr. Lori Buffa, chair of Cures Without Cloning said, "While there is some satisfaction from today's decision, the deadline to submit the approximately 150,000 signatures necessary to place the measure on the November 2008 ballot is Sunday. Clearly, it has been the intent of Robin Carnahan and those who support human cloning in our state to abuse the initiative process and prohibit us from placing a true ban on human cloning on the ballot. Hopefully, by this time next year our vast organization of trained volunteer circulators will be collecting signatures for the 2010 election cycle."

A May 2, 2008, Press Release from Cures Without Cloning stated:

"The Missouri Cures Without Cloning Initiative Campaign (CWC) won a partial legal victory today when the Missouri Court of Appeals ruled that part of Secretary of State Robin Carnahan's ballot summary was ‘insufficient and unfair.' In the opinion, Judge Hardwick stated, ‘Upon review of the Plaintiffs' initiative proposal, we find no language to suggest that it would repeal the ban on human cloning...The Secretary's introductory language does not fairly summarize any goal or effect of the initiative proposal and is inadequate to give clear notice of its purpose.'

While this was a big victory for CWC's efforts to present Missouri voters with a clean vote to ban human cloning in Missouri, we are disappointed the court upheld the unsubstantiated prediction that this amendment would limit patients' access to stem cell cures and treatments. There is no basis for this assertion. We are evaluating our options regarding appeal to the Missouri Supreme Court and pursuing relief from the Secretary of State for violation of our constitutional rights."

An interesting parenthesis to the embryonic human cloning amendment story relates to the expansion inactivity of the Kansas City area Stowers Institute, which operates a 600,000 square foot life sciences research center opened in the year 2000. Plans for expansion were being explored last summer but even with this latest pro-cloning victory delaying the ballot measure banning the somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) human cloning process, Laurie Roberts, a spokeswoman for the institute said this court ruling will not change Stowers decision not to expand their research facility at this time. It seems the Stowers Institute is finding it tough to hire first-rate embryonic stem cell research personnel for the institute when the political climate of the state of Missouri is so uncertain.

According to the Roberts' May 5, 2008, interview in the Kansas City Business Journal, "...the Stowers Institute is happy with the recent court ruling because of its effect on the limited amount of embryonic stem cell research already going on at the institute." Laurie Roberts further told the Kansas City Business Journal, "Those who oppose embryonic stem cell research have made it clear they will attempt another ballot initiative in 2010. We have a fiduciary responsibility to be assured that the political environment in Missouri is science-friendly before we invest in a second campus."

Maybe the Stowers Institute people are really afraid that the group Cures Without Cloning is making considerable headway with Missouri voters telling them the truth about embryonic stem cell research and with statements such as the following from Dr. Lori Buffa.

Dr. Buffa said, "Missouri Cures Without Cloning is committed to banning human cloning and taxpayer funding of human cloning in Missouri. Our broad coalition continues to build support as we have gained thousands of supporters from all areas of the state. Momentum is on the side of our growing movement as Missourians become aware of the human cloning loophole in our constitution. As we continue to share the truth about human cloning in Missouri, more and more of our fellow citizens will join us in supporting a true ban on human cloning in 2010."

Hopefully, as more and more people realize that there are no successful cures emanating from the embryonic stem cell transfer process, as were promised by promoters, they will force a ban on the SCNT process in human cure research.