A battle is heating up between a Republican-led state House panel and the University of Michigan over whether U-M must disclose its number of embryonic stem-cell lines.
It's the latest in a series of disagreements in recent months about everything from university funding to unionization of graduate student research assistants.
This time, Republicans on the subcommittee are upset with what they call U-M's "thumbing of their nose" at requests for information about embryonic stem cells. Several lawmakers said that if they don't get the information -- required under language passed in last year's budget -- they'll look at docking U-M's state aid.
U-M President Mary Sue Coleman said the university doesn't have an exact number of stem cells. She said it's important, instead, to place the work in the context of medical advances stem cells are leading.
Leonard Fleck, an ethics professor at Michigan State University's Center for Ethics and Humanities in the Life Sciences, said he doesn't believe lawmakers should legislate with the budget. He said that will be especially true as a better understanding of human genetics transforms medicine but runs afoul of some religious convictions.
Rep. Kevin Cotter, R-Mt. Pleasant, admitted the issue is about more than stem-cell research.
"It about the power of the Legislature to ask for reports. We're going to stand behind those requirements," he said.
Those involved in stem-cell research say a feud between Republican members of the state House higher education subcommittee and the University of Michigan is more about personal beliefs than state mandates.
The subcommittee is demanding to know the number of embryonic stem-cell lines and four related numbers at U-M. In a private meeting earlier this year, the chairman of the subcommittee told U-M officials they could lose state funding if they don't give those details.
U-M didn't give legislators the numbers, and now several committee members say they want to dock some of its state aid for flaunting the Legislature.
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Battle with GOP lawmakers over stem cells could cost U-M state aid