GOP proposal would criminalize Wisconsin’s cutting edge biomedical advances.

LA CROSSE, WI – Republican lawmakers and anti-choice special interest groups are renewing their push to ban medical research in Wisconsin. Led by Sen. Terry Moulton (R-Chippewa Falls) and Rep. Joel Kleefisch (R-Oconomowoc), LRB 1754 would ban lifesaving medical research and impose criminal penalties on biomedical researchers.

“This bill is a twisted effort to push a misguided special interest agenda," said Senate Democratic Leader Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse) in a statement Friday. "Anyone who knows a family member or loved one affected by cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease wants hope that one day we can find cures for these devastating illnesses. LRB 1754 would crush that hope for Wisconsin families and patients by blocking the cutting edge research that could one day lead to a breakthrough cure."

“Lifesaving medical research in Wisconsin already follows the highest level of ethical standards and federal laws regarding tissue donation," continues Shilling. "Bioscience accounts for over 100,000 private sector jobs in Wisconsin and has an economic impact of $27 billion a year. Rather than blocking lifesaving research and outsourcing Wisconsin jobs, we should be building on our state’s strong reputation as a leader in cutting edge bioscience and medical breakthroughs.”

A similar attempt by Republican politicians to ban medical research last session garnered widespread opposition from the Medical College of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Medical Society, the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, BioForward and Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce.