“Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”: Untold story of Wisconsin’s stem cell funding

Did you know that the State of Wisconsin has a “hands off” policy from discussing state funding of embryonic stem cell research? It can be compared to our government’s military policy of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” (DADT) Essentially it says that all Wisconsin citizens who hold a “state funding” policy perspective or orientation in Wisconsin’s stem cell funding debate should maintain a DADT attitude or position.

While of course no such formal policy in fact exists in Wisconsin, it’s a DADT-like solution that our state officials and legislators from both parties have informally adopted, and unfortunately, so has our public media here in Wisconsin. If you have any doubt about this I would like to point your attention to five exhibits of evidence from taken from various media sources following last week’s very controversial federal court decision to block federal funding of embryonic stem cell research.

Exhibit A: 8/25/10 By WSJ science reporter David Wahlberg. While first providing some historical background going back to 1998 for the reader, Wahlberg makes no mention whatever that state funding remains non-existent in Wisconsin. One would think that such information would be very relevant for the reader to know in an article dealing with a research funding crisis affecting thousands of Wisconsin citizens who suffer daily from cell-based chronic illnesses, and for Wisconsin future high tech job market.

Exhibit B: 8/3110 In the WSJ Our Opinion entitled, “Don’t stem promising research,” It refers to “this recurring hurdle… to promising medical research.” It then goes on to weigh the likelihood that Congress will intervene to address this obstruction, but nevertheless has absolutely nothing to say about what other funding alternatives Wisconsin itself has at its disposal to help alleviate this episodic federal financial shortfall. --- such as some form of on-going state legislative funding.

Exhibit C: 9/1/10 WSJ Letter to the Editor, entitled “Why does source of funding matter?” The writer notes that “If the National Institutes of Health cannot invest in such research, it falls to the private sector.” How about our own state government?.

Three other letters to the editor this past week shared their views on this federal funding decision. None however mention any state financing alternatives.

Exhibit D: 9/1-7/10 By The CapTimes reporter, Todd Finkemeyers. His article entitled “Stem cells back in the spotlight, A setback for UW research could boost gov candidate Barrett.”

Unlike the science piece in Exhibit A, this was certainly a political piece and beautifully framed so as not violate Wisconsin’s DADT rule. Finkemeyer quotes Democratic candidate, Tom Barrett: “As governor, I will fight for essential stem cell research, and I will make sure scientists and researchers – not politicians – drive our research and technology agenda.” In this statement Barrett has adopted Gov. Doyle’s code words. Translated it means Barrett is telling the Wisconsin voters that he also will not support “state funding of stem cell research” but will support the use of federal dollars alone for Wisconsin’s stem cell research.

If indeed Barrett truly believes that embryonic stem cell research is essential and our best hope for a cure for thousands of Wisconsin citizens with serious chronic diseases, and that such research will be critical in Wisconsin’s economy far into the future, then why doesn’t he want to consider every means possible to ensure the continuity and financial support necessary to make Wisconsin’s stem cell research program truly one of the best in the world? Especially since the tepid federal support continues to threaten the health and safety of millions of citizens who suffer daily from catastrophic diseases?

I believe that this issue --- state stem cell funding ---is too important to continue a day longer to allow the present DADT rule to continue in Wisconsin’s political commons. This wily subterfuge must be seen for what it is. Cover for political leadership that doesn’t have enough trust and faith in the Wisconsin taxpayer to allow them the opportunity at the polls to decide this issue once and for all. Without such an opportunity for the people to be heard, Wisconsin’s stem cell research program will move further and further into mediocrity.

Ask your political candidates now running for office and your present political leaders why they continue not to lead on an issue so important to so many?


Benedict is a patient advocate who tweets at: twitter.com/stemcellbill