 |
 |
Nina Brown didn't get her say until 2AM in the morning after waiting 10 hours: Bill for stem-cell limits gets early OK Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau Chronicle coverage of the Texas Legislature AUSTIN - A committee vote to bar state funding for embryonic stem cell research is being condemned by research advocates as a "sneak attack." House State Affairs Committee Chairman David Swinford, R-Dumas, defended Friday's vote, saying it came after people had their say in a meeting that began Thursday and lasted through the night. At the debate's center is House Bill 225 by Rep. Bill Paxton, R-McKinney, to prohibit state money from being used for biomedical research if the use of federal funds on the research was prohibited as of this past Jan. 1. Advocates of embryonic stem cell research said that would tie Texas' hands if Congress or a future presidential administration lifts current U.S. restrictions on federal funding for such research. Stem cell research advocates said Monday that the legislation wasn't discussed at the hearing until at least 1:30 a.m. "This vote was a sneak attack on patients and families," said Kathy Miller, president of the Texas Freedom Network, which monitors church-state issues. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn