More on Texas

More on Texas

I blogged yesterday briefly on an amendment to a construction bill in the Texas legislature that would prohibit embryonic stem cell research in facilities constructed with state money. Today the Houston Chronicle reports that the University of Texas has withdrawn its funding proposal from the bill so that other facilities which do not do such research can still be funded. The bill for construction at universities will now likely pass since there will be no debate about stem cell research attached to it.

Reactions varied. Some people said that it was appropriate to separate the issues, while others are disappointed that no debate will be had and feel that pro-life advocates are controlling science.

UT-Austin is one of the major research universities in the country, and the city of Houston is home to the M.D. Anderson Cancer Research center. Embryonic stem cell research is going to happen in Texas at some point. The debate has been postponed, but it’s coming.