Tilley reaffirms support for embryonic stem cell research

Missouri House Speaker Steve Tilley, R-Perryville, kept his opinions to himself during Friday's debate over restrictive language that some abortion opponents wanted to add to the Missouri Science and Innovation Reinvestment Act. Known as MOSIRA for short, the act calls for tax breaks to encourage job-creation in scientific research.
But most of his 104 Republican colleagues knew where he stood -- which might have played a role in the House's narrow decision to keep out the language and approve the Senate version unchanged. As a result, the MOSIRA bill goes directly to Gov. Jay Nixon's desk.
Tilley -- who now is running for lieutenant governor is 2012 -- has said for several years that he does support embryonic stem-cell research. He reaffirmed that view in an interview after Friday's vote.
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