Leif
12-16-2005, 10:44 AM
http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/living/health/13418311.htm
Posted on Fri, Dec. 16, 2005
Senate passes plan to let public vote on stem cells
The research proposal is expected to be a harder sell in the Assembly.
By Kaitlin Gurney
Inquirer Trenton Bureau
TRENTON - The state Senate easily passed legislation yesterday that would place a $350 million bond plan for stem-cell research on the ballot in November.
But the bill's fate during the lame-duck session is uncertain in the Assembly, where leaders have expressed hesitation about a topic that has divided them in the past.
Stem-cell advocates and bill sponsors cheered the Senate's 28-8 vote, then immediately turned their focus to lobbying the Assembly.
"We're really going to have to work on the Assembly," said Tricia Riccio of Warren County, who became an outspoken advocate for stem-cell research after her son, Carl Jr., was paralyzed during a high school wrestling match. "I want this today, not tomorrow, because it's that much sooner that my son will walk again."
Proponents say stem cells may someday be used to grow replacement organs and tissues and lead to cures for debilitating diseases. Foes say using embryonic stem cells, which are formed in the first days of pregnancy and would be included in the research, is tantamount to abortion.
Acting Gov. Richard J. Codey, who called for an investment in stem-cell research in his State of the State address in January, said he was heartened by the number of lawmakers who supported the legislation. In 2003, both legislative houses voted by narrow margins to make New Jersey the second state, after California, to authorize stem-cell research.
"Clearly, legislators have gotten feedback. People are saying, 'We want this to move ahead,' " Codey said after yesterday's vote.
Assembly Speaker Albio Sires (D., Hudson) said his members had not forgotten "how difficult it was to get 41 votes last time," when the 2003 law passed by just one vote.
"Some people are concerned that we may be rushing this," he said Wednesday. "If we do this, we want to do it right."
If passed, the bond plan would devote $350 million in research grants over seven years to scientists whose applications have been approved by an ethics panel. The legislation calls for the state to receive a portion of the royalties from profitable research.
Companion legislation that would provide money to build a free-standing Stem Cell Institute of New Jersey in New Brunswick was passed by the Senate in June, but also awaits Assembly action.
Codey reached a compromise this month with another legislative advocate for stem-cell research, Assemblyman Neil Cohen (D., Union), that boosted funding for both initiatives.
Codey had originally proposed issuing $230 million in bonds and using $150 million in bond money left over from the state's share of the national cigarette settlement for the stem-cell building. The compromise decreased the institute's funding to $95 million, but added $50 million research buildings for Newark and Camden.
Cohen has said he has little influence over whether Assembly leaders post the legislation for a vote.
Antiabortion activists said they were depending on the Assembly to block the proposals.
"We hope cooler heads will prevail in the General Assembly," said Marie Tasy, executive director of the group New Jersey Right to Life. "The Legislature should not be rushing bills through in a lame-duck session to satisfy the blind crusade of an unelected acting governor."
But Sen. Barbara Buono (D., Middlesex), who sponsored the Senate legislation with Codey, said she had not given up hope. Assembly leaders should not be playing political games with important proposals, she warned.
"It will be tragic if this dies on the Assembly floor," she said.
Posted on Fri, Dec. 16, 2005
Senate passes plan to let public vote on stem cells
The research proposal is expected to be a harder sell in the Assembly.
By Kaitlin Gurney
Inquirer Trenton Bureau
TRENTON - The state Senate easily passed legislation yesterday that would place a $350 million bond plan for stem-cell research on the ballot in November.
But the bill's fate during the lame-duck session is uncertain in the Assembly, where leaders have expressed hesitation about a topic that has divided them in the past.
Stem-cell advocates and bill sponsors cheered the Senate's 28-8 vote, then immediately turned their focus to lobbying the Assembly.
"We're really going to have to work on the Assembly," said Tricia Riccio of Warren County, who became an outspoken advocate for stem-cell research after her son, Carl Jr., was paralyzed during a high school wrestling match. "I want this today, not tomorrow, because it's that much sooner that my son will walk again."
Proponents say stem cells may someday be used to grow replacement organs and tissues and lead to cures for debilitating diseases. Foes say using embryonic stem cells, which are formed in the first days of pregnancy and would be included in the research, is tantamount to abortion.
Acting Gov. Richard J. Codey, who called for an investment in stem-cell research in his State of the State address in January, said he was heartened by the number of lawmakers who supported the legislation. In 2003, both legislative houses voted by narrow margins to make New Jersey the second state, after California, to authorize stem-cell research.
"Clearly, legislators have gotten feedback. People are saying, 'We want this to move ahead,' " Codey said after yesterday's vote.
Assembly Speaker Albio Sires (D., Hudson) said his members had not forgotten "how difficult it was to get 41 votes last time," when the 2003 law passed by just one vote.
"Some people are concerned that we may be rushing this," he said Wednesday. "If we do this, we want to do it right."
If passed, the bond plan would devote $350 million in research grants over seven years to scientists whose applications have been approved by an ethics panel. The legislation calls for the state to receive a portion of the royalties from profitable research.
Companion legislation that would provide money to build a free-standing Stem Cell Institute of New Jersey in New Brunswick was passed by the Senate in June, but also awaits Assembly action.
Codey reached a compromise this month with another legislative advocate for stem-cell research, Assemblyman Neil Cohen (D., Union), that boosted funding for both initiatives.
Codey had originally proposed issuing $230 million in bonds and using $150 million in bond money left over from the state's share of the national cigarette settlement for the stem-cell building. The compromise decreased the institute's funding to $95 million, but added $50 million research buildings for Newark and Camden.
Cohen has said he has little influence over whether Assembly leaders post the legislation for a vote.
Antiabortion activists said they were depending on the Assembly to block the proposals.
"We hope cooler heads will prevail in the General Assembly," said Marie Tasy, executive director of the group New Jersey Right to Life. "The Legislature should not be rushing bills through in a lame-duck session to satisfy the blind crusade of an unelected acting governor."
But Sen. Barbara Buono (D., Middlesex), who sponsored the Senate legislation with Codey, said she had not given up hope. Assembly leaders should not be playing political games with important proposals, she warned.
"It will be tragic if this dies on the Assembly floor," she said.