Last week the Wisconsin state assembly scheduled a vote on a bill that would effectively ban fetal tissue research by making it a felony, but apparently Governor Scott Walker's job creation program has subsidized fetal tissue research
From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Madison— The State of Wisconsin has provided $750,000 in loans — and nearly $2 million more in tax credits for investors — to benefit a Madison biotech firm using tissue derived from aborted fetuses, practices that are being closely scrutinized by conservative lawmakers and GOP Gov. Scott Walker.
In the case of FluGen Inc. and potentially other biotech companies in Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation — created by Walker — is subsidizing work that could be criminalized under a new ban being considered by lawmakers and the governor.
As you may recall, Walker's job creation program -- the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation -- came under heavy scrutiny several months ago after it was revealed that the program does not keep track of how many jobs it has actually created or even attempt to keep track. And in some cases, the program subsidized companies that outsourced jobs to foreign countries.
The state assembly has reportedly carved out an exemption that would allow FluGen to continue their research using tissue obtain from an aborted fetus in the Netherlands, but the bill would still make it a felony to perform research on tissue obtained from aborted fetuses; an apparent contradiction.
If anyone is aware of another source of fetal tissue that does not come from fetuses, you may want to alert the biotech industry in Wisconsin and the state assembly.
To be clear, FluGen received subsidies from the job creation program while Walker served as the chairman of the program.
Walker is now an outspoken critic of not just Planned Parenthood but also fetal tissue research as a field of study.