Missouri voters will have a chance to keep narrow right-wing Christian fear-mongering from restricting the state’s access to stem cell research and cures that are legal on a federal level.
This week the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures submitted to the Secretary of State far more than enough signatures needed to place the Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative on the November statewide ballot.
“Our coalition of patient and medical groups proposed the Stem Cell Initiative so voters could decide for themselves if they want Missourians to have equal access to any stem cell research and cures allowed under federal law,” said Donn Rubin, chairman of the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures. “Over the past several months, 288,991 Missouri citizens signed petitions to allow a public vote on this important measure, which is nearly twice as many signatures as required. We also more than met the signature requirements in seven Congressional Districts, one more district than is needed to qualify.”
Talent fed some red meat to his reactionary Christian base by speaking out against the initiative this week, though he seemed to pick his words carefully, mindful that the issue could hurt him with many voters.
Medical researchers believe that stem cell research could lead to new treatments or cures for many diseases, including diabetes, Parkinson’s, MS, cancer, heart disease, ALS, sickle cell disease and spinal cord injury. However, some Missouri politicians have repeatedly tried to pass state laws that would ban and criminalize stem cell research in Missouri – and actually prohibit Missouri patients from having access to any future stem cell cures.