UPDATE 12:50 P.M. 7/7/22 - A measure including tuition assistance for Pitt is advancing in Harrisburg. $151 million was on the line in the House with Republican lawmakers objecting to fetal tissue research at the University of Pittsburgh.
Last night's vote was 145-55 to pass a bill with Pitt's appropriation tacked on. It did not include an amendment to withhold money from state-related universities doing fetal tissue research.
Critics say it includes illegal and unethical practices. Though the university states they keep the research tightly regulated with the requirements at both a state and federal level.
Pitt uses the funding to give in-state students tuition discounts which would have dissolved if the bill had not passed. The Senate gets the appropriations bill next.
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There's a hold-up in the state house over funding for the University of Pittsburgh.
As budget negotiations continue, over $150 million in state dollars to Pitt is a sticking point.
It's partly because house republicans added a condition to the funding, that would only release the money if the university stopped fetal tissue research.
Republican State Rep. Eric Nelson of Hempfield says that leaves the choice to the university on what he calls a barbaric practice.
"They would, as a condition, have to agree to not to continue with fetal issue research."
However, Democrats see things differently. State Rep. Dan Frankel calling GOP opposition to fetal tissue research baseless.
"Unable to bully the University of Pittsburgh into ending their life-sustaining research program, the majority party has now made hostages of the thousands of Pennsylvanians who attend the University of Pittsburgh."
Pitt released results of an external investigation earlier this year - stating the university's fetal tissue research is legally compliant.
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