Reis Frustrated by Governors Executive Orders

July 14 , 2005

Olney…. After working to block several forms of embryonic stem cell research legislation during the recent legislative session, State Representative David Reis (R-Ste. Marie) said he was very disturbed by Governor Rod Blagojevich’s executive order this week granting $10 million for stem cell research. “The governor’s executive order caught us all off-guard and made a mockery of the legislative process” said Reis.

“Most importantly, it’s the moral aspect of it” said Reis. “I think embryonic stem cell research is wrong. You’re killing an embryo with that procedure. I am in favor of adult stem cell, blood cord, umbilical cord research; those have all proven to provide curable means for diseases. But no disease or ailment has ever been cured through the use of embryonic stem cells.”

“The governor’s actions, moreover, avoided the legislative process,” said Reis. A Chicago Tribune editorial called the governor’s move “The $10 million photo op” saying “his actions here are incredibly devious and they give legislators ample new reason not to trust anything he says or does.” Reis added, “As the saying goes in the capitol, ‘You don’t take yourself too seriously here in Springfield…but you take the process very seriously.’ And this executive order skirted the process.”

The 108th District Representative said the executive order also demonstrates a pattern how this chief executive governs. “He can’t maneuver his bills through the legislature because of member’s moral objections, so he does it by executive order” said Reis. “We saw it with the morning after pill, we got it with the $2.5 million worth of flu shots, and now we get it with embryonic stem cell research.”

“These grants would not have gotten past the General Assembly. The legislature is elected to represent the will of the people and the will of the people is against this type of research” said Reis. “In this case, sacrificing the life of one should not take precedence over saving the life of another.”