Speaker Robin Vos (WRN file photo)
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos is optimistic he’ll be able to muster the votes needed to pass a bill banning research on tissue from aborted fetuses. Opponents of the measure – including some Republicans and the state’s largest business lobby – have expressed concerns that the bill will harm biomedical research in Wisconsin.
Vos said the Assembly GOP has been working on that. “We have offered some very good ideas that have almost no impact on the substance of the bill, but address some of the concerns that members have to ensure that we will not see any reduction in research,” Vos said.
Vos (R-Rochester) said earlier this week he doesn’t have the votes to move the bill out of the Assembly. “We still have to work on some details in order to get it through, with hopefully unanimous support from our caucus.” Vos said.
The measure would ban research on tissues, organs and cells from fetuses killed in elective abortions after January 1st of this year, and ban the commercial sale of fetal tissue. That’s already illegal under federal law. The Assembly is next on the floor on October 22.