Fiscal Note
No appropriation required.
Title
Supporting UW-Madison stem cell research efforts and therapeutic cloning research options by informing Wisconsin Legislature and Governor Doyle of opposition to Assembly Bill 499 and SB 243, and supporting amendments to ban reproductive cloning.
Body
WHEREAS the world's first human embryonic stem cell lines were created at UW-Madison in 1998, and the patents are held by the private, nonprofit Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) located in Madison, WI, and;
WHEREAS more than 30 research groups at UW-Madison are working with human embryonic stem cells, with work ranging from study of brain cells to treat Parkinson's and ALS to studies of heart cells and insulin-producing cells of the pancreas, and;
WHEREAS legislation that protects valuable non-reproductive uses of cloning technology while also guarding against its dangerous use to make a baby is largely consistent with the recommendations of the National Bioethics Advisory Commission and with the recommendations in the National Academy of Sciences' two reports on stem cell research and reproductive cloning, and;
WHEREAS AB 499 and SB 243 would prohibit and criminalize the use of cloning techniques to both create another human being as well as to research and develop treatments for diseases and conditions like cancer, diabetes, spinal cord injury, burn victims and others, and;
WHEREAS restrictive legislation in the area of stem cell research will likely create a perception that the city and state is generally hostile to science, and;
WHEREAS the legislation would waste an investment that spans years of work of Madison residents at who attend and work at the UW-Madison and several companies in Madison, such as University Research Park start-up companies, and;
WHEREAS therapeutic cloning offers the promise of creating stem cells for research leading to cures or effective treatment for life-destroying illnesses and contains the promise of creating new models for drug testing, also saving lives, and;
WHEREAS restricting legitimate, regulated research will tell businesses, angel investors and venture capitalists that Madison is a risky place to invest money, and;
WHEREAS the WARF, Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, University Research Park, Wisconsin Technology Council, Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce, Wisconsin State Journal, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Wisconsin Biotechnology and Medical Devices Association, and countless other individuals and organizations have gone on record against to Assembly Bill 499 and SB 243, and;
WHEREAS others states, including California, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts have criminalize any effort to initiate a pregnancy with an embryo created by somatic cell nuclear transfer (e.g., reproductive cloning),
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that we urge the Wisconsin Legislature and Governor Doyle to support an amendment that allows therapeutic cloning to be an option for Madison's scientists as they search for an understanding of new treatments for some of our society's devastating diseases and physical conditions while preventing the use of cloning to make another human being, and;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the Common Council directs the city's lobbyist to forward this resolution to the Wisconsin Legislature and Governor Doyle.