AUSTIN, January 27, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Republican Governor of Texas, has reiterated his pro-life stand and includes in that his opposition to embryonic stem cell research. Governor Rick Perry said Sunday during the local March for Life in Austin, “As long as I am the governor of this great state, I will oppose any taxpayer dollars being used and spent on research that ends a human life.”
Perry told Texas legislators that the state must implement legislation on stem cells that would prevent Texas from “being left in the dust” by California. California has just enacted legislation that allocated $3 billion for embryonic stem cell research. Perry said that he supports President Bush’s contention that a “balance” can be found between the protection of human life and the advancement of science.
Perry is facing an election campaign next year against Kay Bailey Hutchison. The issue of parental consent was prominent on Sunday’s demonstration in Austin. Perry told the crowd of pro-life marchers, “Five years ago, we passed a bill requiring parental consent for a child to get her ears pierced,” Perry said. “I think it’s time that we applied that rationale and that same rational standard to abortions performed on minors.”