MOHELA Sale Still Funds Destructive and Unethical Life Science Projects

In an effort to revive support for SB 389 that would allow the sale of assets of the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority (MOHELA), Governor Matt Blunt has unveiled a new list of projects that he claims does not include funding for construction of life science laboratories. In fact, the plan retains $15 million in funding for the Missouri Technology Corporation “to attract and retain high-tech companies and commercialize research conducted at universities." This funding allows unethical and destructive life science experiments to proceed on innocent human life.

The Missouri Technology Corporation (MTC) is chaired by Donn Rubin, who was the official coalition chairman of the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures that spent over $30 million to pass constitutional Amendment 2, adopted by Missouri voters in 2006.  Many of the board members of the MTC, as well as their affiliated organizations, were heavily involved in support of Amendment 2.  Also, the MTC's affiliated organization, the Research Alliance of Missouri (RAM), includes as a member the Stowers Institute for Medical Research in Kansas City, whose founders, James and Virginia Stowers, were major supporters and financiers of Amendment 2. During the campaign on Amendment 2, the Stowers Institute said it would only go forward with its proposed expansion plans in Missouri if Amendment 2 was approved by the voters. 

Under the new plan, the MTC would be given $15 million so it could attract and retain high-tech companies that engage in human cloning and embryonic stem cell research that are protected by Amendment 2. As a result the MTC could commercialize drugs or therapies derived from human cloning and embryonic stem cell research occurring at Missouri's universities. The November 6, 2006 report on the sale of MOHELA assets by Liscarnan Solutions, LLC, noted that: "Resources will be made available to the Missouri Technology Corporation for the purpose of promoting economic development in the area of life sciences and research." 

The claim by the MOHELA deal supporters that the new plan includes no life sciences funding is simply not true. The new MOHELA plan to be put before the legislature includes funding for human stem cell research, regardless of the claims by the MOHELA deal supporters. The Missouri Catholic Conference will continue to oppose  this  devious use of state resources by those who seek to conduct human cloning experiments and research that destroys human life, and calls on the General Assembly to defeat the MOHELA deal and all state funding for unethical human experimentation.

This in no way removes the Missouri Catholic Conference’s objections to SB 389 relating to access to affordable higher education. The MOHELA transaction involves sale of over $2 billion of MOHELA assets in order to net approximately $350 million of sale proceeds. MOHELA’s mission is to provide affordable low-interest loans to college students. Part of MOHELA’s historic mission is to provide access to higher education to a wide sector of Missouri citizens. Disbursal of MOHELA assets for purposes other than subsidizing college tuition hinders the ability of MOHELA to fulfill its historic statutory mission. Claims that MOHELA’s bond rating would be unaffected by this transaction are irrelevant – MOHELA will remain solvent, just smaller. However, because of this reduction of the MOHELA asset portfolio, the ability of the agency to extend loans, and the ability of MOHELA to subsidize student interest rates, is necessarily reduced – MOHELA no longer has the same volume of assets to make loans or subsidize interest rates. Reducing MOHELA’s ability to extend loans has a direct, detrimental effect on Missouri families with college students.

The debate over the MOHELA sale is a politically charged issue, and many lawmakers want to back the proposals of the governor and the public colleges and universities. However, public officials should not turn a blind eye to the causes of protecting human life and ensuring access to higher education to those who cannot otherwise afford its costs.

ACTION REQUESTED:

Action on the MOHELA sale is expected to happen quickly this week in the Missouri Senate. Strong constituent action is needed NOW to ensure Senators act not on political expediency but pro-life convictions. Here is what you can do:

• Contact your State Senator immediately
  • See hyper-linked Senate roster at the end of this Action-gram.
    
    
• Report back to the MCC on what your Senator is saying.
  • Contact MCC at 1-800-456-1679 or mocatholic@mocatholic.org.

THE MESSAGE:

Tell your State Senator that the new MOHELA sale proposal continues to fund human cloning and destructive embryonic stem cell experiments. Explain that the new proposal provides $15 million for the Missouri Technology Corporation (MTC). MTC’s mission is to attract and retain high tech companies that will engage in human cloning and embryonic stem cell experiments. Tell your Senator to oppose the MOHELA sale and to protect innocent human life.

SENATE ROSTER:

For your convenience, Senator names are hyper-linked to you can immediately email them. Contacts to Senators are needed immediately!!!