David Volk pushing for 2010 ballot initiative to lift SD ban on embryonic stem cell experimentation

HT: Dakota War College

Bob Mercer at Pure Pierre Politics reports this:

Former State Treasurer David Volk of Sioux Falls recently filed the organizational paperwork for a ballot measure committee known as South Dakotans for Lifesaving Cures. He lists himself as the committee chair and committee treasurer.  The official description of the committee’s purpose states, “To pass an initiative that strengthens the prohibition against human cloning and establish ethical guidelines for other medical research conducted in South Dakota.”

On the form’s line for identifying the ballot measure being supported or opposed, Volk simply entered: “TBD” (as in, to be determined). An initiated measure on the topic has received review from the Legislative Research Council, but it is not yet circulating for signatures and the text isn’t publicly available.

An attempt by state Sen. Ben Nesselhuf, D-Vermillion, to loosen South Dakota’s restrictions on stem cell activities was defeated during the 2009 session of the Legislature. The legislation was SB 195.

Volk was reached Friday afternoon as he prepared to depart for a major stem-cell research conference in Baltimore, Maryland. “We are still working on the actual initiative (language),” he said. “It’s essentially amending out the restrictive language on stem cell research and stem cell activities.” He said he intends to meet in the near future with state Attorney General Marty Jackley. State law requires that the attorney general write the public explanation of an initiated measure.

“We’re going to bypass the Legislature and go right to the ballot in 2010,” Volk said. “This way, it won’t be amended and we can have it the way we want it written.”

If I was there I'd have asked the follow up question… WHO IS "WE"? 

The first two comments on this at Dakota War College say it all..

Why don’t they just call it the “chopping-up-children act” and be done with it? Comment by Dakota Kid

hmmmm….and Volk is associated with the Knudson campaign…and Knudson supports stem cell research. Comment by Anonymous

And I'd add that the trail surely goes from Volk to Knudson to SANFORD. You've got to follow the money. This has nothing to do with a desire to find "lifesaving cures".  There have been NO - that is ZERO - NO cures or benefits uncovered in ANY embryonic stem cell research EVER!

Embryonic stem cells mutate and destroy life. And, of course, a life, a separate and distinct human life is destroyed to get them. On the other hand, adult stem cells have PROVEN miraculous. I've found this scoreboard helpful underscore the futility here.

Volk describes himself as a "staunchly pro-life republican" but just because you tell yourself and others something doesn't mean it's true. He has no pro-life record that I can find but his opposition to pro-life initiatives is easy to document. Here's why he did not support the bill to ban abortion in South Dakota in 2006;

"People are saying, are you telling me if my granddaughter was raped she'd have to go to term?" says David Volk, a former state treasurer and secretary of commerce and regulation who considers himself a staunchly "pro-life" Republican. He is opposed to the ban. "It's the wrong case at the wrong time." In addition to seeing it as too extreme, Mr. Volk objects to the money that will be needed for the state to defend the bill in court - especially since he thinks it has no chance of overturning Roe v. Wade.

Sounds like he was reading the Planned Parenthood talking points to the reporter.

"AS THEY WOULD BE TODAY"

I read a two year old interview on line here where Volk talks about his memoir book, Draftee, about his time in Vietnam and the loss of life there.  He responds here to the question– what made the book so difficult to write:

I suppose recalling those long ago young men who lost their lives. I do see them as they would be today, getting ready to retire, first grandchildren, etc. War is horrible waste.

Too bad Volk can't see embryonic human life "as they would be today" - perhaps playing in the school yard, getting married, or even one day having grandchildren.  I want to ask… Mr. Volk, you speak of the horrible waste of war.  WHAT is horribly wasted in war?  Human life? Yes, it's horrible when human life is taken before it has opportunity to reach it's full potential and come to it's natural end? The loss of human life IS the horrible waste, and it is horrible however it occurs, via war or via a mode of life termination guised as scientific experimentation.

The interview linked above also noted the blog South Dakota Straight Talk once referred to him as “one of South Dakota’s savviest political animals.” He denies the charge. However, in this case, it's quite evident he's trying to sneak this past us. Masking this as a committee focused on "cloning" ballot initiative is hardly forthright.

I notice also he's writing wonderful children's books - The Mystery of the Tree Rings. That title is about the story a 762 year old tree in the Black Hills has to tell. I had the thought though, at what point did that tree become a tree? It's not really a mystery is it? Do you suppose he'll write a sequel soon about human developmental stages to teach kids that it's possible to be biologically human but not a full-fledged "person"? Maybe a children's book on destroying seeds and chopping down little trees will be his sequel (and his legacy?). 

Volk Photo: googled "David Volk, Sioux Falls, Facebook"