By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkar/local-wkar-965323.mp3
EAST LANSING, MI –
Governor Rick Snyder says he is opposed to provisions in Republican budget plans that would restrict how money is spent on embryonic stem cell research at public universities. As we hear from Michigan Public Radio's Rick Pluta, GOP lawmakers are renewing efforts to enact additional rules surrounding the voter-approved amendment that allows public finds to be used for the research.
AUDIO:
Voters approve the amendment to the state constitution in 2008. Since then, Democrats have blocked efforts by opponents of embryonic stem cell research to demand reports or enact additional restrictions on it. But now Republicans are in charge in the Legislature.
Governor Snyder is a Republican who supports the amendment and stem cell research. The governor says he wishes GOP lawmakers would leave stem cell research out of the debates on university spending.
"I think we need to focus on higher education, not stem cells," he says. "We passed a constitutional amendment on that topic some time ago and we need to follow through on what our voters said."
The governor has the authority to veto budget line items. The governor and the Legislature are continuing to negotiate on the budget with the goal of having it wrapped up by June 1.