FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2006
CONTACT: SEAN SPENCE
614-208-2608, seanspence@earthlink.net

MONTEE CALLS ON THOMAS TO SUPPORT STEM CELL AMENDMENT

ST. JOSEPH, MO – Today, State Auditor candidate Susan Montee (D – St. Joseph) called on her potential Republican opponent Sandra Thomas (R – Platteville) to join her in supporting Missouri’s proposed constitutional amendment to prevent the General Assembly from curtailing treatment or research for embryonic stem cells allowed under federal law. The initiative, which will be on the November ballot, would also prohibit human cloning.

Thomas is the only one of the three major party state auditor candidates who has not expressed a public position on the stem cell amendment.

“Allowing responsible stem cell research in Missouri is primarily about saving and improving lives, but it is also an economic issue,” Montee said. “If Missouri wants to keep and attract scientific research jobs and grant money, then state law should be in line with federal law.

“The State Auditor is the top advocate for the state’s economic health and should state a position on issues that affect it,” Montee said. “I call on my Republican opponents to join me in supporting the stem cell research amendment in November.”

Two Republican candidates for State Auditor emerged from Tuesday’s primary election, which will be settled in the coming weeks with a recount.

Susan Montee – Certified Public Accountant, attorney and elected county auditor – is the Democratic nominee for Missouri State Auditor.

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