Mermaids, Centaurs and Sam Brownback

Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) — an ardent anti-abortion activist — is worried that the Obama administration's loosening of restrictions on stem cell research will result in the creation of a new race of bio-engineered "human-animal" hybrid freaks.

Or beautiful mermaids.

The bill — modeled on an inexplicably overlooked effort by Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal — would ban the creation of "part-human, part-animal creatures, which are created in laboratories, and blur the line between species."

The legislation, he says, "is limited in scope" and wouldn't limit the use of some animal parts for human use, including porcine pig valves.

Despite giving no concrete examples of what such hybrids would look like (i.e. Spider-Man), he's got 20 co-sponsors including one Dem, Mary Landrieu (D-La.).

"As our nation suffers through the greatest economic decline in a generation and our country's brightest minds are working tirelessly to reverse course, what does Sen. Brownback propose? Banning mermaids," quipped Chris Harris of Media Matters.

Glenn Thrush is senior staff writer at Politico Magazine.