NJ to weigh $450M for stem cell work |
|
|
|
Published
:
Fri, 22 Jun 2007 16:48
|
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - New Jersey voters will decide this November whether to approve borrowing $450 million to pay for 10 years of stem cell research under legislation approved Thursday by the Legislature.The Assembly voted 50-27 and the Senate 31-3 to approve the bill, which is expected to be signed into law by Gov. Jon S. Corzine.'The potential yield on this investment -- in terms of lives saved, hope restored and economies revitalized -- is unlimited,' said Senate President Richard J. Codey, a Democrat. 'With the support of our residents in November, this public investment will be nearly unparalleled in the United States.'Scientists say stem cell research may be key to finding treatments for a variety of maladies, including paralysis, diabetes and Parkinson's disease.The vote comes a day after President Bush vetoed a bill that would have eased constraints on federally funded embryonic stem cell research. Abortion foes oppose embryonic research because it destroys human embryos.Marie Tasy, New Jersey Right to Life executive director, called the plan a 'boondoggle referendum which will place a moral and fiscal burden on New Jersey taxpayers.' She urged lawmakers to support funding only for research that doesn't involve embryos.The funding would go toward advancing medical treatments and attracting leading scientists and research companies to the state. New Jersey has already approved spending $270 million to build stem cell research facilities.Several states are competing in stem cell research. California approved spending $3 billion on stem cell research, Connecticut has a $100 million program, Illinois spent $10 million and Maryland awarded $15 million in grants.Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
|
|
|
|
Print this Story
N.J. stem cell center advances 