Legislative Effort to Truly Ban Human Cloning Is Well Under Way

This just in from Jaci Winship at Missourians Against Human Cloning:

HJR 11, to truly ban human cloning and return the control over public monies to our elected representatives, has been assigned to the Health Care Policy Committee. The committee will hear testimony regarding the bill on Tuesday, February 6, 2007 at noon. We have posted a list of the committee members on our web site. Please take a few minutes this week and contact these representatives. Let them know you support HJR11.

The HJR sponsored by Rep. Jim Lembke has 47 co-sponsors including Speaker Pro-Tem Carl Bearden. The Senate version, SJR20, sponsored by Sen. Matt Bartle has eight co-sponsors. The media has attempted to characterize Sen. Bartle and Rep. Lembke as extremists trying to "undo the will of the people". Nothing could be further from the truth. The majority of Missourians oppose human cloning research and they strongly oppose funding this research with their tax dollars. We need to continue to spread the truth about amendment 2 by writing letters to the newspapers, hosting presentations and word of mouth. All of us working together are more effective than all the advertising the pro-cloners can buy.

Note: SJR20 has been assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee but no hearing date has been set.

The much publicized debate on the sale of MOHELA assets clearly indicates what a debacle Amendment 2 is. The tricky lawyers who wrote this legal nightmare knew exactly what the convoluted language of paragraphs 5 and 7 would do to the legislative process. We need to use the MOHELA debate to spotlight the legal nightmare created by amendment 2 and to focus attention on the importance of constitutionally reestablishing the financial authority of the legislature.

This may seem like a quiet time but there is still much to do! I cannot stress enough how important it is to contact your elected representative and senator to express clearly, respectfully and thoughtfully your convictions regarding embryonic stem cell research and human cloning. Which leads me again encourage you to attend the Anti-cloning Rally and Lobby Day on March 7th.

Bus information is available on our web site. A flyer and bulletin inserts that may be downloaded and printed will be available soon. Please contact our office by email or phone at 636-536-9877.

What's Next
We are often asked about starting an initiative petition signature drive. Be assured that if the legislative effort to place an anti-cloning amendment on the ballot fails, we will be ready to implement the initiative petition effort. We will keep you posted!

Note: A contact list for all the current legislators is available at the Missouri Legislator Lookup.

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