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Author: DUNSTAN McNICHOL; STAR-LEDGER STAFF
A plan to borrow $450 million to fund medical breakthroughs using stem cells won preliminary approval yesterday from the Assembly Budget Committee.
"There is nothing better I can do on Earth as a person or as a legislator," said Assemblyman Neil Cohen (D-Union), sponsor of the measure (A-3186). "I can leave Earth happy knowing something has been done to help someone."
As he spoke to the Assembly Budget Committee, Cohen was flanked by supporters of the bill, including three people in wheelchairs, who hope advances through stem cell technology will lead to cures for spinal damage and degenerative diseases like Lou Gehrig's Disease and Parkinson's.
"Dwelling on what might have been is not healthy, but dreaming and hoping is healthy," Carl Riccio, a Warren native who has been quadrapalegic since a wrestling accident in 2003, said. "I'm still dreaming and hoping because I know tomorrow can be a better day."
Critics of the measure pleaded with lawmakers to amend the bill to target the funds only to research using adult stem cells, not stem cells extracted from human embryos.
The critics, including representatives of the New Jersey Catholic Conference and New Jersey Right to Life, said the destruction of embryos for stem cells violates the sanctity of human life. In addition, they said, studies show the only medical advances achieved through stem cell research to date have been derived from adult stem cells, not the controversial embryonic cells.
"You would be best to invest your funding where you have a greater opportunity for success," said Patrick Brannigan, executive director of the New Jersey Catholic Conference.
Cohen disputed the measures of success presented by the opponents of embryonic stem cell research. He also suggested there are millions of fertilized human embryos that are the byproduct of in-vitro fertilization that will be "put in a landfill or incinerated" if they are not used for stem cell research.
Budget committee members endorsed the $450 million borrowing plan 8-4, setting the stage for final Assembly consideration on Thursday. According to material presented with the legislation, the $450 million will cost the state about $37 million a year in repayment costs once all the authorized bonds have been issued.
If approved by voters in November, the state would be authorized to award up to $45 million a year in grants for stem cell research. In return for the research support, the state would receive a portion of the profits from any medicines or products produced through the research. Action on the research legislation follows last week's approval by the state Economic Development Authority to spend $9.1 million on pre-development expenses for the proposed Stem Cell Institute of New Jersey in downtown New Brunswick.
Copyright 2007 The Star-Ledger. All Rights Reserved.
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