State senators in Missouri who oppose research on embryonic stem cells cut Gov. Matt Blunt’s college-construction budget by a third on Wednesday, eliminating funds for six buildings that they said might house future stem-cell research, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. In a 6-to-4 vote along party lines, Republicans in the Senate Education Committee sliced $113-million in funds for health-sciences centers, research facilities, and business-development projects that had mostly been planned for University of Missouri campuses.

The senators also added language that would cut off funds for the remaining projects if any of them conducted research on stem-cell lines that could not draw federal support under the Bush administration’s strict policy on funds for the controversial research.

Missouri has remained deeply divided over stem cells since the November elections, when voters narrowly approved a constitutional amendment to allow the research. Supporters of stem-cell research say it holds the promise of treatments for many intractable diseases; critics say it is tantamount to murder because the embryos from which stem cells are removed are destroyed in the process. Governor Blunt, a Republican, said he was disappointed that his plan had been cut but applauded the senators for moving the remaining projects forward.