Chancellor of UW-Madison defends university's fetal research

More follow-up on the issue of aborted fetal tissue used in research. Backstory here.

Rep. Andre Jacque has an excellent op-ed in today's Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Respect for human dignity is essential in the authorization and conduct of scientific research, a point underscored by numerous and horrific past failures to establish or follow such protocols. Yet as a University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate with substantial coursework in the biological sciences, I heard the declaration from more than one of my professors that the ethical questions surrounding pushing the boundaries of scientific inquiry should be "set aside and dealt with later" if there was "great potential" for medical breakthroughs.

Imagine what atrocities can be justified by such a philosophy! We can do better. I have introduced Assembly Bill 214 to establish reasonable standards for human tissue research and to prohibit the sale or use of aborted fetal body parts for experimentation or other purposes.

The whole op-ed is outstanding. Read the entirety here. Wish I had written that myself!

The chancellor of UW-Madison sent the below letter attacking Rep. Jacque's bill to all legislators. Spin, spin, spin. The letter is a testament to the degree of intellectual rationalization and modernism in our society as a whole. See the line, "Nothing we are doing is illegal.".............. Which is the whole point of the legislation! Everything Hitler did was legal, too, remember that?

UW Fetal Research

We've hit the big time now...

The BC quoted in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Wisconsin Right to Life sent an email to supporters Tuesday telling them a so-called personhood amendment to the state constitution is "wrong for Wisconsin."

An amendment to grant personhood to unborn children would be risky and would not provide "permanent protection" for unborn children, says the email, which links to a video that lists other reasons to oppose such an amendment.

The Badger Catholic Blogger says Wisconsin Right to Life sent a letter to state lawmakers last month saying Rep. Andre Jacque (R-Bellevue) is considering proposing such an amendment and that the organization would oppose it [and actively lobby against personhood... should be interesting, falling in step with Planned Parenthood and NARAL].

Stauch pro-life WI GOP Assembly freshman gets shaft in redistricting maps

As Republicans who run the Legislature rush to redraw maps of legislative districts, a GOP freshman in the Assembly is trying to tweak leaders' plans so he is not drawn into a colleague's district.

Rep. André Jacque (R-Bellevue) is asking Senate Republicans to change the maps so he is not pulled into the district of Rep. John Klenke (R-Green Bay), who like Jacque was elected to the Assembly for the first time in November. In an email to Senate Republicans sent Monday, Jacque called his proposal an improvement over the one drawn by legislative leaders.

Jacque's proposal would change the maps for him, Klenke and Rep. Garey Bies (R-Sister Bay). Details of his proposal have not yet been released, but it has little traction in the Senate.

"I ask for your consideration of this amendment in advance of caucus deliberations (Tuesday) and Wednesday, and greatly appreciate the expressions of support that I have received as discussions of this subject have progressed," Jacque said in his email.

Jacque, Klenke and Bies did not immediately return calls Tuesday morning.

Leaders are hoping to avoid changes to the proposed maps as they head into votes today in the Senate and Wednesday in the Assembly. If they allow changes to some of the district maps, other rank-and-file members would likely seek changes. Eleven pairs of lawmakers have been drawn into the same districts.

"I think everybody would find something with their district they would like to change," said Sen. Rich Zipperer (R-Pewaukee). Zipperer is chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which approved the maps last week and forwarded them to the Senate.

"I'm not supporting making that change," Zipperer said. "The map isn't drawn for one individual person or one individual representative."

 MJS

Interesting that a 100% pro-life freshman legislator - already responsible for the resolution commending pregnancy help centers and a proposed legislation banning UW from doing fetal body parts research - would be redistricted....  Oh, and he is rumored to also be considering introducing Personhood in Wisconsin...   hmmmmm