This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Oct. 24, 2011 - Missouri Right to Life, the state's largest anti-abortion group, has sharply criticized Gov. Jay Nixon and the Missouri General Assembly for the creation of the new Missouri Science Innovation and Reinvestment Act, commonly known as MOSIRA.
Right to Life state president Pam Fichter contends that the new law, which sets up tax incentives to attract firms involved in scientific research, also will encourage some forms of research -- notably, embryonic stem-cell research -- that abortion critics oppose.
Abortion opponents have blocked MOSIRA legislation for years. However, the General Assembly did pass the measure during the special session; Republican leaders say there are adequate restrictions already in place to prevent the type of research that Right to Life opposes.
Fichter doesn't buy it.
In a statement, she said that Right to Life is "profoundly disappointed in the action'' of Nixon and legislators.
"MOSIRA sets up a fund, channeled through the state budget, to be administered by the pro-cloning Missouri Technology Corporation, to provide state money and/or tax incentives for new technology businesses, including businesses engaged in human life sciences research," she said.
"Missouri Right to Life sought to add language to this legislation that would effectively prevent any MOSIRA funds from being used for unethical research. Sadly, neither the Missouri Legislature nor Governor Nixon valued the concerns of pro-life Missourians who have always opposed public funding for human cloning or embryonic stem cell research."
