PET PET
  • My Account
  • Subscribe
Become a Friend Donate
  • About Us
    • People
    • Press Office
    • Our History
  • Get Involved
    • Become a Friend of PET
    • Volunteer
    • Campaigns
    • Writing Scheme
    • Partnership and Sponsorship
    • Advertise with Us
  • Donate
    • Become a Friend of PET
  • BioNews
    • News
    • Comment
    • Reviews
    • Elsewhere
    • Topics
    • Glossary
    • Newsletters
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Previous Events
  • Engagement
    • Policy and Projects
      • Resources
    • Education
  • Jobs & Opportunities
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
    • People
    • Press Office
    • Our History
  • Get Involved
    • Become a Friend of PET
    • Volunteer
    • Campaigns
    • Writing Scheme
    • Partnership and Sponsorship
    • Advertise with Us
  • Donate
    • Become a Friend of PET
  • BioNews
    • News
    • Comment
    • Reviews
    • Elsewhere
    • Topics
    • Glossary
    • Newsletters
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Previous Events
  • Engagement
    • Policy and Projects
      • Resources
    • Education
  • Jobs & Opportunities
  • Contact Us
  • My Account
  • Subscribe
  • Privacy Statement
  • Advertising Policy
  • Thanks and Acknowledgements
PETBioNewsNewsMassachusetts Attorney General rejects stem cell challenge

BioNews

Massachusetts Attorney General rejects stem cell challenge

Published 21 July 2005 posted in News and appears in BioNews 318

Author

BioNews

Image by Bill Sanderson via the Wellcome Collection, © Wellcome Trust Ltd 1990. Depicts Laocoön and his family (from Greek and Roman mythology) entwined in coils of DNA.
Image by Bill Sanderson via the Wellcome Collection, © Wellcome Trust Ltd 1990. Depicts Laocoön and his family entwined in coils of DNA (based on the figure of Laocoön from Greek and Roman mythology).

Thomas Reilly, the Attorney General of the US state of Massachusetts, has rejected a proposed ballot that was designed to overturn the state's recently-passed law on embryonic stem (ES) cell research. Reilly said he has refused the ballot because the Massachusetts constitution does not allow ballot initiatives on laws that...

Thomas Reilly, the Attorney General of the US state of Massachusetts, has rejected a proposed ballot that was designed to overturn the state's recently-passed law on embryonic stem cell (ES cell) research. Reilly said he has refused the ballot because the Massachusetts constitution does not allow ballot initiatives on laws that are based on religion. He also cited a clause, already built into the law, that allows medical staff to be exempted from handling human embryos, placental tissue or umbilical cord blood if they conscientiously object.


The new law, which was sponsored by Senate President Robert Travaglini, allows embryos to be cloned for medical research purposes, but prohibits human reproductive cloning. It also establishes a stem cell advisory committee to oversee ES cell research in the state and establish safeguards, although it does not provide state funds for researchers. The advisory committee would also advise lawmakers on the issues in ES cell research and, for example, look into issues such as whether women who donate their eggs for ES cell research should be compensated.


The Massachusetts legislature passed the law after overruling a veto by state Governor Mitt Romney. The House of Representatives had passed the bill by 119 votes to 38 in May, it having previously passed through the state Senate by 34 votes to two. Later, both the House and Senate rejected four amendments proposed by Romney, and sent it back to him for his signature. He then vetoed the bill, but the margin of both votes - above a two-thirds majority - meant that the legislature had the chance to overrule his veto. The House voted 112-42 to do so, with the Senate voting 35-2.


Larry Cirignano, leader of the group Catholic Citizenship, which filed the petition asking for the ballot, said that the group was considering an appeal of Reilly's decision in a state court. He said that he disagreed with Reilly's reasons for rejecting the proposal. Other critics of Reilly's decision say that they find it difficult to see the stem cell law as 'religious' in nature, implying that his decision is legally wrong. But Reilly responded that the new law passes a three-tiered test, set by a 1990 case, which determines whether or not a law can be classed as religious.

Sources and References

  • 19/07/2005
    The Boston Globe
    AG blocks petition to repeal stem cell law
  • 18/07/2005
    San Francisco Chronicle
    Mass AG Nixes stem cell ballot initiative

Related Articles

Image by Sílvia Ferreira, Cristina Lopo and Eileen Gentleman via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a single human stem cell embedded within a porous hydrogel matrix (false colour).
CC BY 4.0
Image by Sílvia Ferreira, Cristina Lopo and Eileen Gentleman via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a single human stem cell embedded within a porous hydrogel matrix (false-coloured cryogenic scanning electron micrograph).
News
15 August 2005 • 1 minute read

US stem cell research update

by BioNews

Last week, proponents of embryonic stem (ES) cell research announced the creation of Maryland Families for Stem Cell Research, a non-profit group that aims to raise awareness and money for stem cell research in Maryland. Due to the federal restrictions on funding for ES cell research, this group is asking...

Image by Bill Sanderson via the Wellcome Collection, © Wellcome Trust Ltd 1990. Depicts Laocoön and his family (from Greek and Roman mythology) entwined in coils of DNA.
Image by Bill Sanderson via the Wellcome Collection, © Wellcome Trust Ltd 1990. Depicts Laocoön and his family entwined in coils of DNA (based on the figure of Laocoön from Greek and Roman mythology).
News
6 June 2005 • 2 minutes read

Two US states depart from President on ES cell research

by BioNews

The state legislature of Massachusetts, US, has overruled a veto of legislation on human embryonic stem (ES) cell research. The legislation, which was sponsored by Senate President Robert Travaglini, allows embryos to be cloned for medical research purposes, but prohibits human reproductive cloning. The Massachusetts House of Representatives passed the...

Image by Bill Sanderson via the Wellcome Collection, © Wellcome Trust Ltd 1990. Depicts Laocoön and his family (from Greek and Roman mythology) entwined in coils of DNA.
Image by Bill Sanderson via the Wellcome Collection, © Wellcome Trust Ltd 1990. Depicts Laocoön and his family entwined in coils of DNA (based on the figure of Laocoön from Greek and Roman mythology).
News
31 May 2005 • 2 minutes read

Romney vetoes Massachusetts stem cell bill

by BioNews

Mitt Romney, the State Governor of Massachusetts, US, has vetoed a piece of legislation on embryonic stem (ES) cell research that has already been passed twice by state lawmakers. The legislation, which was sponsored by Senate President Robert Travaglini, allows embryos to be cloned for medical research purposes, but prohibits...

Image by Bill Sanderson via the Wellcome Collection, © Wellcome Trust Ltd 1990. Depicts Laocoön and his family (from Greek and Roman mythology) entwined in coils of DNA.
Image by Bill Sanderson via the Wellcome Collection, © Wellcome Trust Ltd 1990. Depicts Laocoön and his family entwined in coils of DNA (based on the figure of Laocoön from Greek and Roman mythology).
News
26 May 2005 • 2 minutes read

US Congress votes in favour of extensions to ES cell research

by BioNews

The US House of Representatives has approved a bill that would overturn President Bush's current policy on human embryonic stem (ES) cell research. Members of the House voted 238-194 in favour of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005, which was sponsored by Michael Castle and Dianne DeGette...

Image by Bill Sanderson via the Wellcome Collection, © Wellcome Trust Ltd 1990. Depicts Laocoön and his family (from Greek and Roman mythology) entwined in coils of DNA.
Image by Bill Sanderson via the Wellcome Collection, © Wellcome Trust Ltd 1990. Depicts Laocoön and his family entwined in coils of DNA (based on the figure of Laocoön from Greek and Roman mythology).
News
23 May 2005 • 2 minutes read

Amendments to Massachusetts stem cell bill rejected

by BioNews

The Massachusetts House of Representatives and Senate have rejected four amendments made to a stem cell bill returned to the legislature by state Governor Mitt Romney. The legislation, which was sponsored by Senate President Robert Travaglini, allows embryos to be cloned for medical research purposes, but prohibits human reproductive cloning...

Image by Bill Sanderson via the Wellcome Collection, © Wellcome Trust Ltd 1990. Depicts Laocoön and his family (from Greek and Roman mythology) entwined in coils of DNA.
Image by Bill Sanderson via the Wellcome Collection, © Wellcome Trust Ltd 1990. Depicts Laocoön and his family entwined in coils of DNA (based on the figure of Laocoön from Greek and Roman mythology).
News
18 April 2005 • 2 minutes read

US stem cell news

by BioNews

The legislature of Washington state has rejected a bill that would have encouraged human embryonic stem (ES) cell research. The bill would have banned human reproductive cloning but would have allowed the cloning of embryos for ES cell research purposes, sometimes known as therapeutic cloning. The state's Senate voted 26...

Image by Bill Sanderson via the Wellcome Collection, © Wellcome Trust Ltd 1990. Depicts Laocoön and his family (from Greek and Roman mythology) entwined in coils of DNA.
Image by Bill Sanderson via the Wellcome Collection, © Wellcome Trust Ltd 1990. Depicts Laocoön and his family entwined in coils of DNA (based on the figure of Laocoön from Greek and Roman mythology).
News
12 January 2005 • 2 minutes read

US states going their own way on ES cell research

by BioNews

The acting governor of the state of New Jersey has said that he plans to spend $380 million on embryonic stem (ES) cell research. Richard Codey told the state Assembly that New Jersey needs to stay in the forefront of the science in this politically sensitive field. Of the total...

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

« US Senators consider ES cell alternatives

Data-Label The UK's Leading Supplier Of Medical Labels & Asset Labels


easyfundraising
amazon

This month in News

  • Popular
  • Recent
20 November 2023 • 3 minutes read

HFEA publishes recommendations for reform of fertility law

13 November 2023 • 2 minutes read

Four BRCA mutation carriers undergo removal of ovaries during C-section 

13 November 2023 • 2 minutes read

Frequent mobile phone use linked to lower sperm count in young men

6 November 2023 • 3 minutes read

Health Council of the Netherlands recommends doubling the 14-day limit on embryo research

30 October 2023 • 2 minutes read

Government to scrap additional IVF screening for same-sex couples

27 November 2023 • 2 minutes read

Research into gene therapy reveals blood cancer risk

27 November 2023 • 2 minutes read

Polish Parliament debates reinstatement of state IVF funding

27 November 2023 • 2 minutes read

Over 100,000 DNA evidence samples must be re-tested in Australia

27 November 2023 • 2 minutes read

Childhood autism associated with infertility in parents

27 November 2023 • 2 minutes read

Unintended consequence of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing discovered

Subscribe to BioNews and other PET updates for free.

Subscribe
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • RSS
Wellcome
Website redevelopment supported by Wellcome.

Website by Impact Media Impact Media

  • Privacy Statement
  • Advertising Policy
  • Thanks and Acknowledgements

© 1992 - 2023 Progress Educational Trust. All rights reserved.

Limited company registered in England and Wales no 07405980 • Registered charity no 1139856

Subscribe to BioNews and other PET updates for free.

Subscribe
PET PET

PET is an independent charity that improves choices for people affected by infertility and genetic conditions.

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • RSS
Wellcome
Website redevelopment supported by Wellcome.

Navigation

  • About Us
  • Get Involved
  • Donate
  • BioNews
  • Events
  • Engagement
  • Jobs & Opportunities
  • Contact Us

BioNews

  • News
  • Comment
  • Reviews
  • Elsewhere
  • Topics
  • Glossary
  • Newsletters

Other

  • My Account
  • Subscribe

Website by Impact Media Impact Media

  • Privacy Statement
  • Advertising Policy
  • Thanks and Acknowledgements

© 1992 - 2023 Progress Educational Trust. All rights reserved.

Limited company registered in England and Wales no 07405980 • Registered charity no 1139856