Stem Cell Robbery in Missouri?

by diverdonreed

Fri Jul 27, 2007 at 11:49:03 PM PDT

- WHICH WAY, MISSOURI?

The great state of Missouri has been robbed of eight hundred and fifty million dollars.

Who are the thieves? That's up to you to decide.

By my way of thinking, the Republican Party and the Religious Right should divide the guilt. Their political games denied Missouri eight hundred and fifty million dollars, which should have gone to that state's economy and to medical research, the fight against incurable disease.

First, let us judge the magnitude of what was lost.

$850,000,000.00 Big bucks. Thar's enough to pay for a McDonald's double cheeseburger for each of America's three hundred million citizens.

How significant is that? Yesterday, another state, New Jersey began a battle to raise $450 million (over ten years) for stem cell research. Governor Jon S. Corzine signed legislation to allow New Jersey voters to make the decision whether or not to spend $450 million roughly half the amount of money that was lost to Missouri?

And golden California, our glorious Proposition 71, three hundred million a year and Missouri could have had $850 million? That's almost like three extra years of full funding from the number one source in the world.

Jim and Virginia Stowers had planned an enormous expansion of their medical research institute in Missouri, but only if full stem cell research would be allowed.

The way I see it, the Stowers are heroes. These two cancer survivors have dedicated their fortune, the hard work of their lives-- to the battle against chronic illness.

Their motivation? We founded the Institute so our grandchildren may have better options. Jim and Virginia Stowers.

But anti-science Republicans attacked the research at every step. They were trying to criminalize the science which may day allow my paralyzed son Roman to fulfill Christopher Reeve's great prediction, to stand up from (his) wheelchair, and walk away from it forever.

The state of Missouri took notice. Citizens came together in the Missouri Cures Coalition, and fought for a Constitutional Amendment.

Amendment 2 was offered, saying: to ensure that Missouri patients have access to stem cell therapies and cures, that Missouri researchers can conduct stem cell research in the state, and that all such research is conducted safely and ethically, any stem cell research permitted under federal law may be conducted in Missouri, and any stem cell therapies and cures permitted under federal law may be provided to patients in Missouri.

A huge battle was fought.

The Stowers helped provide a budget. Some trash was talked about them for this, implying they were trying to make a dollar by backing the research. That was dumb, even by the standards of the opposition the Stowers are billionaires already, they do not need more money they are actively engaged in giving it away.

Of course, the Religious Right and anti-abortion groups went to work, developing and distributing the most poisonous propaganda imaginable. (I have never understood why anti-abortion groups oppose embryonic stem cell research, since there is no pregnancy involved, and therefore no possibility of either a child or an abortion). Conservative churches ignored the Constitutional separation of church and state, and functioned as headquarters for the anti-research efforts. Week after week, lawn signs were passed out in church, and church bulletins and lectures ranted on and on and on.

President George Bush visited Missouri so often it might have been thought he was changing residence.

But Missouri won anyway, passing Amendment 2.

As The Jurist (University of Pittsburgh School of Law) put it:

What right is more fundamental than a citizen's right to equal treatment under laws that govern access to medical therapies and cures? On November 7, Missourians stated clearly that they do not want to be second-class citizens when it comes to decisions about the health of their families. By passing Amendment 2, Missouri voters ensured that these important decisions will be made by patients, their families, and their health care providers, not by politicians in the state capital.. November 13, 2006

The Stowers Institute could go forward. Happy ending, right?

Unfortunately Religious Right Republicans like Senator Matt Bartle and Representative Jim Lembke are now trying to overturn Amendment 2, trying to block the will of the Show Me state. They tried to work within the State government to get a bill to overthrow the Amendment. When that didn?t succeed, they supported an initiative to do the same.

But I am an outsider, what do I know about Missouri?

Good point. So let's listen to a couple Missourians.

Like Henry J. Waters III, publisher of the Columbia Daily Tribune.

Except for the perverse attitude of Missouri Right to Life, the Catholic Conference and their lapdogs in the Missouri General Assembly, life sciences research and development could be one of the largest and most promising industries in our state.

cultural conservatives are doing all they can in the Missouri legislature to prohibit life sciences research, particularly in the promising area using stem cells...

Amid this poisonous atmosphere, the highly prestigious Stowers Institute for Medical Research announced it will put on hold resources to fund a major expansion Henry J. Waters III, July 3, 2007

The Kansas City Star weighed in.

Missouri politicians like to talk about the state's promise as a bioscience hub. But those same politicians are undermining efforts to advance medical research by pandering to groups opposed to embryonic stem-cell research

The passage of Amendment 2, which protects all forms of medical research allowable under federal law, should have removed the barriers to scientific progress. But too many lawmakers continue to cower before groups such as Missouri Right to Life.

These lawmakers delude themselves by thinking life science can flourish here if the climate remains hostile to promising forms of stem cell research.. May 22, 2007, the Kansas City Star.

How do scientists feel about it?
I couldn't possibly come to a place where I thought the potentially lifesaving research I want to do could become illegal. said Dr. Kevin Eggan.Stem Cell Movement Faces Setbacks, Andale Gross, AP, July 24, 2007

What is the situation right now?
A press release from the Stowers Institute for Medical Research states:

the Institute has transferred approximately $850 million from Missouri non-profit corporations whoosh, there went the money, out of the state.

Is there a chance the money can come back, and Missouri take its rightful place among the great research centers of the world?

We remain steadfastly committed to the search for life-saving cure through research with human embryonic stem cells, said Bill Neaves, President and CEO of the Stowers Institute. Unfortunately. As long as the political climate in Missouri remains unfavorable, outstanding scientists who work with human embryonic stem cells will prefer to work elsewhere, and Missouri will be denied the opportunity to advance what many consider the single most field of biomedical science.

So the Stowers pulled their money out.

However? they also bought 100 acres of land in Kansas City, Missourigetting ready for the day, whenever it comes, when the politicians get out of the way.

The way I see it, the Stowers have faith in us. We should not let them down.

So what do we do?

I can tell you in two words.
We fight.

Yesterday, I gave away twenty-five dollars.

That's two ten dollar bills and a five, twelve double cheeseburgers from McDonald's, or six bridge tolls and a dollar, from an old retired schoolteacher.

I plan to do it again, next month, when I can afford it again.

That particular $25 went to www.Kay4Congress.com an up-and-coming Democratic representative, Kay Barnes, stem cell supporter, 21st district, Missouri, USA.

The way I see it, people like Ms. Barnes are going to help right a terrible wrong that was done to America. Her opponent is against the research we support. So I will do what little bit I can to help her, and every stem cell research supportive leader, from whichever party they may come.

We are all Missourians. What happens in the Show Me state affects everyone. We can and should take part in that great struggle, supporting leaders like Kay Barnes, and Senator Claire McCaskill, and Senator Chuck Graham, and Representative Teresa Schooley stem cell research supporters all, working together for the public good.

Which way, Missouri?

Forward.

P.S. A personal message from Donn Rubin, who led Missouri's Amendment 2 effort:

With Missouri's world class medical research institutions and its growing life sciences industry, last fall's vote demonstrated that our citizens want our state to be at the forefront of advancing medicine and finding new cures. It is disappointing that there remain some politicians and interest groups, in Missouri and around the country that would prefer to go backwards. These are the same people who used every deception in the book last year in their unsuccessful attempt to defeat the Missouri Stem Cell Amendment. But they will fail, and I am confident we will soon get past this unfortunate, divisive chapter that has threatened to slow medical progress.