Radio Update Report 6:30pm (Audio)
Air Date:02/03/2010
Lawmakers voted down a bill that would allow South Dakotans to participate in embryonic stem cell treatment if approved by the FDA. Proponents of Senate bill 74 say it’s okay to disagree with becoming part of the treatment but its not fair to prohibit other South Dakotans from participating. Opponents argue that because there is no current treatment approved by the FDA, passing the bill is unnecessary. Representative Kathy Miles is an opponent of the bill. She says more focus should be put on adult stem cells.
“Lets put our efforts where the research shows that there’s success rates,” Miles says. “And there’s oodles of research out there with cures with using adult stem cells. We don’t need this bill.”
Senate bill 74 failed with a 12 to 21 vote. "
Lawmakers looked at changing criteria for the state’s opportunity scholarship program. One of those proposed changes would allow technical courses to be taken in lieu of world language classes. Burke Superintendent Eric Pearson says this could benefit students.
“For example if you have a student that is interested in taking a path in engineering or architecture it would make sense for that student to be enrolled in a high school computer drafting course,” Pearson says. “If they don’t have room in their schedules to fit that in because they’re trying to qualify for the opportunity scholarship, I think that actually limits opportunity.”
The bill was sent to the house floor for more debate.
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