Democrats delay life science board appointment

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Some Senate Democrats on Thursday prevented, at least for a while, the confirmation to a life sciences research board of a Republican lawmaker opposed to human embryonic stem-cell research.

Gov. Matt Blunt nominated Rep. Bob Onder, R-Lake St. Louis, a physician who has been an assistant professor of clinical medicine at Washington University.

Onder also is on the board of Missourians Against Human Cloning, an organization that opposes embryonic stem-cell research and fought a ballot measure to protect such research. Missouri voters narrowly approved the amendment last year to ensure that research can happen here.

Supporters of embryonic stem-cell research say it's wrong to put a research opponent on a board that doles out research money. Blunt has said he supports embryonic stem-cell research and earlier this week attended a biotechnology conference in Boston.

"This is the first public move by the governor to signal the direction he wants to take life science research in the state," said Sen. Chuck Graham, D-Columbia. "He's running away from trying to cure cancer. We're going to have really healthy plants, really healthy pigs and really sick people."

The state budget intentionally excludes human medical research from spending of the life sciences research fund because of the stem-cell research argument.

The budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 includes $13.5 million for "life sciences" research grants, all directed to animal and plant science projects.

Research supporters unsuccessfully tried to allow some of the money to go to human medical research, if the life science oversight board chose to spend it that way.

The Senate must confirm the governor's appointees to state boards and commissions.

The Senate debated the appointment for about five hours Thursday before setting the issue aside without reaching a vote, and it was unclear when the appointment would be considered again. Lawmakers adjourn May 18, but the governor can appoint people while the Legislature is out of session to serve on an interim basis.