| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"johac" |
| Date: |
22 Nov 2006 01:49:53 AM |
| Object: |
The Not-So-Silent Stem Cell Majority |
The GOP may regret Bush's veto.
---
The Not-So-Silent Stem Cell Majority
The states are reflecting the publics stance on embryonic stem cell
research
By Sam Berger
November 21, 2006
The tremendous support for embryonic stem cell research in the states
should serve as a wake up call to the national government. In the true
spirit of federalism, states have acted as laboratories of democracy,
demonstrating in test after test the extensive support for the research
among a broad swath of Americans.
Opponents of embryonic stem cells research have slowed efforts to
support scientific advancements at the national level, but states are
actively responding to the peoples cries for cures. Although state
efforts cannot replace federal funding, regulation, and research
coordination, action on the part of states has helped to move the
science forward while the national government lags behind public
consensus. The national government should heed the example set in the
states and modernize our stem cell policy to pursue life-saving cures
and strengthen American competitiveness more aggressively.
State support for stem cell research was strong in the run-up to the
2006 election. Gov. John Baldacci (D-ME) announced a new initiative to
increase biomedical research funding in Maine, both private and public,
to $1 billion annually by 2010, explicitly mentioning increasing funding
for stem cell research. Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM) announced a plan to
spend $10 million over three years on stem cell research, including
building new research facilities for adult and embryonic stem cell
research. And gubernatorial candidate Eliot Spitzer promised to spend $1
billion over 10 years on stem cell research if elected in New York.
These supporters of embryonic stem cell research were well rewarded in
the 2006 elections. Research proponents were extremely successful in
national races, and were even more successful at the state level. Govs.
Baldacci and Richardson were both reelected after their calls for
increased stem cell research funding. Gov. Jim Doyle (D-WI), who made
support for the research a cornerstone of his first term and of his
candidacy, handily won reelection. Gov. Spitzer (D-NY) was elected in
New York, and governors who support the research were also elected in
Massachusetts, Maryland, Illinois, and Kansas.
Support for embryonic stem cell research also stretched beyond
traditionally liberal states. Research supporters Chet Culver, Ted
Strickland, and Jennifer Granholm won governors races in Iowa, Ohio, and
Michigan respectively, with all three calling on their states to loosen
onerous restrictions on the research. Also, the election of Gov. Charles
Crist (R-FL), an embryonic stem cell proponent, as well as the
reelection of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA) and Gov. Jodi Rell
(R-CT) demonstrated once again the bipartisan nature of the support for
this work.
Most notably, Missouri, which has long been considered a bellwether
state for the nation, passed a constitutional amendment to protect
embryonic stem cell research. The amendment will ensure that the science
proceeds in the state, and that Missouri can continue its efforts to
become a biomedical research hub.
Observing the success of the amendment, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D-KS) is
considering a similarly worded amendment in her state in order to
protect the research. Recent polling has shown that over 65 percent of
Kansans support stem cell research, and almost 80 percent believed that
any stem cell research, therapies or cures that are permitted by federal
law should be allowed in Kansas. This level of support is reflected in
many other conservative states; a recent poll in Georgia showed that 67
percent of registered voters in Georgia support the research as well.
Now the time has come for the federal government to follow suit, and
fund research using newer stem cell lines. While states have been
admirable in their support for embryonic stem cell research using new
stem cell lines, a less restrictive national policy is crucial to
speeding the race towards life-saving cures.
States have devoted a large amount of money to the research, but their
funding is dwarfed by the federal governments resources. Through 2006,
90 percent of the funding for stem cell research had come from the
federal government, but remains restricted to research using older stem
cell lines. Worse yet, federally purchased labs and equipment cannot be
used for research on stem cell lines that are ineligible for federal
funding, forcing states to waste money separating state and federally
funded equipment and staff, purchasing redundant equipment, and building
new laboratories.
Separate state initiatives will also lead to a patchwork quilt of
regulation, with different standards and practices slowing research and
leading to redundancy. More expansive federal funding and regulation is
needed to provide uniform standards and effective research coordination.
The national government would do well to heed the example set by the
states on supporting embryonic stem cell research. Efforts in the states
to adequately fund and protect the research have been met with
tremendous support among diverse constituencies across the country. The
laboratories of the states have been as effective demonstrating the
public support for this research as scientific laboratories have been in
proving its tremendous medical potential. In the recent election, the
silent majority of stem cell supporters made their voice heard loud and
clear. Congress and the president would do well to listen.
---
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2006/11/not_so_silent_stem_cell_ma
jority.html
--
John Hachmann aa #1782
"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities"
-Voltaire
Contact - Throw a .net over the .com
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