Republican Attack on Life-Saving Medical Research Passes Senate

Senate Democratic Leader Gretchen Whitmer today introduced an amendment to the Higher Education budget that would remove language attacking the University of Michigan for performing cutting edge medical research using stem cells. Whitmer said it was disgraceful to be allowing special interest politics take precedent over highlighting the advances made at our research institutions.

“When voters passed Proposition 2 in 2008, more than 2.5 million Michiganders spoke out and told politicians to keep their hands off the cutting edge stem cell research being done at our public universities,” said Whitmer. “Rather than embrace this research and propel them forward, Republicans have instead chosen to pander to special interest fanatics who seek to handcuff researchers and regress us to the dark ages.”

Whitmer called on Governor Snyder to reject this backward thinking language should it remain in the budget when it makes it to his desk.

“Stem cell research has been heralded as the most promising medical advancement ever. We should be celebrating the work done by the University of Michigan, not condemning it,” added Whitmer. “It's time for the Governor to show that he's actually the tough nerd he claimed to be by telling his fellow Republicans that these anti-science attacks have no place in Michigan politics.”