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$200M: Would build facilities in New Brunswick and Camden. Stem-cell research plan gains Senate panel's OK
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 03/7/06
BY GREGORY J. VOLPE
GANNETT STATE BUREAU
TRENTON — The debate over New Jersey government's role in stem-cell research resumed Monday with a Senate panel approving a measure to borrow $200 million for two research facilities.
After hours of testimony from scientists, those touched by disease and advocates for and against the research, who portrayed embryonic stem-cell research either as the key to curing an array of diseases or as a license to clone and kill embryos, the panel approved the measure 8 to 4, with three abstaining.
The measure allocates $150 million for a stem-cell research institute in New Brunswick and $50 million for a biomedical research center in Camden. The money would come from borrowing against future cigarette tax revenue.
Supporters focused on the research's potential for finding cures for diseases like diabetes, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's as well as the economic growth those cures could foster in a state that has lost its edge in high-tech and pharmaceutical jobs.
"This science is critical," said Kathleen Scotto, senior associate dean for research at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School-UMDNJ. "There is no question in my mind that new cures will be developed."
Tricia Riccio, the mother of Carl Riccio, a paralyzed wrestler who was featured in a campaign ad about stem-cell research for Gov. Corzine in last year's campaign, made an emotional plea.
"I want my son to walk again," Tricia Riccio said. "I want my son to have his life again.
But opponents, who say embryonic stem-cell research is unethical and that adult stem-cell research has proved itself more reliable, said a state facing a budget crisis shouldn't borrow this much money without voter approval.
"We're broke," said John Tomicki, executive director of the League of American Families, who reiterated his call to sponsor a forum with legislators and scientists on both sides of the debate. "But if we're going to move ahead with this, we should put it up for a vote by the public."
Dawn Parkot, who has cerebral palsy and several other ailments, said cures shouldn't come from unborn children.
"We don't have any right to let an unborn baby or child die in order to give a disabled person even an excellent likelihood to get better, let alone fulfill the marginal promise that open-ended stem-cell research offers," Parkot said.
Republicans averted the ethical debate on stem-cell research by focusing on the financial aspects. The minority cast all four no votes and one of the abstentions, while Sen. William Gormley, R-Atlantic, crossed party lines to vote for the measure.
Proponents' figures differ
An intraparty dispute on the issue may be forming with two of the Legislature's biggest stem-cell advocates, Senate President Richard J. Codey and Assemblyman Neil Cohen, D-Union.
In December, the two reached a compromise on the amount of research funding and facilities the state should provide, agreeing to propose allocating $145 million for two facilities and ask voters to approve $350 million in research funding over seven years.
Cohen, perplexed why Codey would renege on the agreement they had, said he plans next week to introduce the compromise measure on facilities and his original research-funding proposal — $500 million over 10 years.
"I don't know what has changed in 30 days where all of a sudden it costs another $50 million," Cohen said. "My concept has been we need to make New Jersey a statewide research lab."
Codey expects the bill may change before it's sent to Corzine for approval.
"He said he's open to compromise," said his spokeswoman, Jennifer Sciortino, who couldn't say why Codey didn't stick with last session's bill. "He expects before this bill heads to the governor there will be other pieces of the puzzle that will be added."
Gregory J. Volpe: gvolpe@gannett.com
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