Politics & Government
Sen. Latz Argues Against Restrictions on Stem Cell Research
The Hopkins legislator says a new bill would greatly hamper scientific efforts in Minnesota.
Hopkins Sen. Ron Latz (DFL-District 44), of St. Louis Park, argued against a new bill on Wednesday that would make human cloning a crime in Minnesota.
Latz said he was specifically worried that the proposal, which is wrapped up in the state's health and human services omnibus package, would effectively put a halt to therapeutic stem cell research—something the legislator said is vitally important.
"If it was your own 3-year-old daughter whose life would be saved," Latz said, "because doctors could create tissue identical to her heart tissue ... wouldn't that give you pause?"
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The legislator then voiced his support of an amendment to the bill offered by Sen. John Marty (DFL-District 54) that would prevent such research from being a crime.
Proponents of the bill say it would still allow research to occur, but just in a more ethical manner.
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