Blunt responds to UM scientist invitation
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich asked Missouri scientists, including UMKC researchers, to consider moving to Illinois institutions.
Published Sept. 13, 2005
Gov. Matt Blunt on Monday responded to a letter sent by Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich inviting Missouri scientists to move to his state.
The letter was sent in August to 30 scientists researching stem cells in Missouri.
"One of my top priorities as governor is to grow our economy and no sector of our economy is as ripe for growth as the life sciences," Blunt wrote in a letter to life sciences companies in Missouri. "Accordingly, I am wholly committed to ensuring that Missouri maintains an environment that not only fosters but also attracts responsible and innovative scientific research."
Although the letter makes no direct reference to stem cell research, Blunt wrote that he has "consistently opposed the prohibition and criminalization of somatic cell nuclear transfers," or therapeutic cloning, the process used to create stem cells.
Phone calls to UMKC School of Medicine faculty, research scientists and the school's dean were not returned Monday. UMKC School of Medicine spokeswoman Michelle Hopkins said she was unaware of the letter.
Blagojevich's office would not provide a list of the letter's recipients. A call to the office of the coordinator of records at MU's School of Medicine was not returned Monday.
Officials at the MU College of Veterinary Medicine and the School of Nursing said they were not aware of the letter.
Earlier this year, legislation proposed by Sen. Matt Bartle, R-Lee's Summit, sought to stop stem cell research in Missouri by banning "therapeutic cloning," which Blunt said he supported in his letter to Missouri scientists.
The Senate did not approve the legislation.
Blagojevich's office referred questions about the letter's intent to a news release from the same day the letter was sent.
Blagojevich's letter referenced the belief that stem cell research could lead to cures and treatments for chronic illnesses.
"Here in Illinois we're advancing medical science by providing resources that will help stem cell researchers continue their groundbreaking work," Blagojevich wrote in the Aug. 29 letter.
The governor's invitation to Missouri scientists comes after Blagojevich and Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes announced in July Illinois' $10 million investment toward stem cell research. Blagojevich also issued an executive order to the Illinois Department of Public Health ordering the creation of the Illinois Regenerative Medicine Institute, which would award grants to medical research facilities for the development of regenerative medicine, according to the news release.
In creating the motion, Illinois joined California, Connecticut and New Jersey as the only states in the nation that currently fund stem cell research.