LEGISLATIVE ALERT

FEBRUARY 12, 2007

 

Norm Pawlewski

Lobbyist

 

The Senate Human Resources Committee voted to send SF 115 to the Senate floor for debate.  The Democrat controlled Senate is fast-tracking every controversial bill they introduce.  The "cloning" bill which the Democrats have deviously titled, "An act creating the Iowa stem cell research and cures initiative." was filed last Tuesday, February 6th.  It was immediately assigned to a subcommittee of the Human Resources Committee and they held a meeting today at 1:15 pm.  It was passed out of this subcommittee made up of two Democrats, Bolkom and Dotzler and one Republican, Jim Seymour.  It was immediately sent to the full committee at 4:00 pm today, passed out on a vote of 8 Democrats for and 5 Republicans against.  It will be eligible for floor action tomorrow, (Tuesday) February 13th.  It's my understanding that it will be debated sometime tomorrow (Tuesday).  I have little doubt that it will pass, pretty much down party lines. 

 

Following is how the members of the committee voted:

 

For advancing SF 115 to a full Senate vote:  Democrats Ragan, Schmitz, Bolkom, Dotzler, Hatch, Kreiman, Quirmbach and Wood

 

Democrats against:  None

Republicans for:  None

Republicans against:  Seymour, Behn, Boettger, Johnson, Mulder

Republican Senator Gaskill was absent.

 

Senator Jerry Behn did an excellent job of explaining the Republican position and challenging the misinformation and double speak in which Senators Bolkom and Dotzler engaged. 

 

Continue to contact your senators, asking them to retain Iowa's prohibition on human cloning as it is currently in the Iowa Code.  If your senator is a Republican, call or e-mail a Democrat.  Here are a few suggestions:  Sen. John Kibbie, Sen. Gronstal, Sen. Danielson, Sen. Bolkom, Sen. Connolly, Sen. Courtney, Sen. Dotzler, Sen. Hatch and Sen. Ragan.  These senators comprise the Democrat leadership in the Senate.

 

Why are Democrats so intent on redefining and killing these cloned embryos?  Is it because an acceptance that these cloned embryos are human life at the time of their conception would call into question their support of abortion?  Could be.