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Claiming Fetal Research Benefits Are 'A Lie,' Arizona Senate Votes To Outlaw

Calling claims that fetal research helps cure diseases a lie, state senators voted Wednesday to outlaw scientific research on aborted fetuses.

SB 1474 would bring to a halt virtually all work done on tissue from fetuses that are the result of elective abortions. The measure also would make it a state crime not only to sell fetal tissue-- something already illegal under federal law-- but to give it away or transfer it, which is now permitted.

Senate Minority Leader Katie Hobbs said the ban makes no sense.

"Legal fetal tissue research has profound potential to advance human health and prevent immeasurable suffering. Fetal tissue research saves lives. This research has profound potential to advance clinical knowledge and treatment options for life-threatening and chronic diseases," she said.

Sen. Debbie Lesko disputed those claims. "The truth is, is that no one with Parkinson's or Alzheimer's has been cured from using aborted fetal tissue research. Yet this is the kind of misleading information that Planned Parenthood has been giving women to convince them to sign off on this, on having their aborted babies' body parts trafficked in the name of research."

Separately, the Senate voted to permanently disqualify any organization that offers elective abortion from being part of the State Employees Charitable Campaign, which allows state workers to have donations to such groups deducted automatically from their paychecks.