MA Senate & House Votes to Engross Cloning & Embryo Research Bill March 30 & 31, 2005

APRIL 6, 2005:  On March 31, the Massachusetts House of Representatives voted 117-37 in favor of a bill [H. 2792] endorsing human cloning and destructive research on human embryos.  The House bill is nearly identical with a bill [S. 2032] passed on March 30 by the Massachusetts Senate by a vote of 35-2 (36-3 counting two paired votes; Senators Lees, Knapik and Moore were the only opponents).

Once the Senate and House resolve differences between the two bills, they will send a final bill to Governor Romney.  The Governor has promised to veto any bill that endorses cloning, known by the scientific name of somatic cell nuclear transfer.  Researchers from Harvard and elsewhere seek the endorsement as they begin to create human embryos solely for the purpose of extracting their embryonic stem cells for experiments, a procedure that kills the embryos.  Our best chance of killing the bill by sustaining a veto is in the House.  We need 54 of the 160 votes to accomplish that.

It is critical to contact your state representative in the House to urge him or her to support the Governor’s veto, expected anytime after the middle of April.  Many legislators who voted for the bill in March have strong pro-life records.  With pressure from the districts, they may be persuaded to regain their pro-life convictions.  Also thank or register your concern with your Senator and Rep. depending on how they voted in March.

A “Y” = a vote in favor of a bill that endorses the cloning and destroying of embryos in the laboratory.  A “N” = a vote to protect human life and dignity by opposing the cloning and embryo research bill.

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