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The inclusion of an anti-cloning amendment into the Minnesota Senate higher education committee's omnibus bill, approved this evening, has DFLers suggesting the Republicans pulled a fast one.

The amendment essentially prohibits the use of state and federal funds for "human cloning," and is a paired-down version of what came up in the Senate this week. (

You can read about similar Minnesota bills here.)

The main point debated this evening: what "human cloning" means and what the author, Sen. Michelle Fischbach (R-Paynesville), is trying to do with her amendment.

The big question: Is Fischbach trying to ban "reproductive cloning" (the cloning of fully formed human beings, which much of the public and scientific community opposes) or "therapeutic cloning" as well (the cloning of tissue for use in the treatment of diseases, which many scientists support)?

It's a key question. Democrats on the committee, along with one U of M scientist who testified earlier this week, worried that banning therapeutic cloning would damage the state's research reputation, resulting in lost prestige, revenue and jobs.

This evening, despite repeated questioning, Fischbach wouldn't say which form of cloning she was targeting -- only that she was against "human cloning."

That led at least one DFLer to suggest she was hiding her true intent -- the banning of all cloning. By using the overly broad expression "human cloning" in the amendment, they said, she would confuse the public, which tends to associate "human cloning" with reproductive cloning.

The only person present to testify at the session was a member of the Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL), whose executive director is Fischbach's husband. She spoke in favor of the amendment.

That prompted DFLers to complain that the Republicans had pulled a fast one -- by adding the amendment at the last minute to prevent opposition testimony, adding it to what was essentially a finance bill, and using confusing, overly broad terminology.

Sen. Ron Latz (DFL-St. Louis Park) told the committee:

Fischbach said it was standard procedure to insert last-minute amendments -- as DFLers did later that evening -- and that the public has already had multiple hearings at which they could testify:

No real surprises with the rest of the bill and its funding decisions, which are essentially the same 

as what was reported in the budget breakdown

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities

 a 14.41 percent hit, the Office of Higher Ed administration a 10.33  percent hit and the State Grant Program a 2.58 percent increase.)

The bill's other points (many of which I've written about) include:

It took a lashing by Democrats on the committee.

Sen. Kathy Sheran (DFL-Mankato) knocked the bill as another attempt to have the middle- and lower classes shoulder the tax burden while leaving wealthiest residents.

Education News

On Campus Blog

Alex Friedrich

Author

The inclusion of an anti-cloning amendment into the Minnesota Senate higher education committee’s omnibus bill, approved this evening, has DFLers suggesting the Republicans pulled a fast one. The amendment essentially prohibits the use of state and federal funds for “human cloning,” and is a paired-down version of what came up in the Senate this week.…

Anti-cloning amendment in Senate higher-ed omnibus bill

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