By Jackelyn SeverinSouth Dakotans for Lifesaving Cures will not bring the issue of embryonic stem cell research to voters in 2011. Lawmakers recently rejected a measure dealing with embryonic stem cell treatments. Dave Volk, with South Dakotans for Lifesaving Cures, believes the issue of stem cell research would pass overwhelmingly if it were up to the people of South Dakota. He says his organization, though, does not have enough resources or time to get the issue on the November ballot. Volk says he was surprised lawmakers didn’t pass this year’s revised stem cell legislation allowing South Dakotans to receive treatments developed from embryonic stem cells.
"We hear a lot of these legislators out in Pierre talking about Obama’s health plan and saying well we can’t get the government between the patient and the medical provider and yet the 21 legislators that voted against my bill; that’s exactly what they did."
Volk says South Dakotans for Lifesaving Cures will focus on getting lawmakers elected that will represent the views of South Dakotans.