Massachusetts State Senate Backs Stem Cells Work

[Murray Charters <mcharters@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Massachusetts State Senate Backs Stem Cells Work

Thursday, November 06, 2003 -- BOSTON (AP) - The state Senate on Wednesday 
backed a plan promoting research using stem
cells gathered in part from embryos discarded from fertility clinics.

Supporters said the measure, part of a $115 million economic stimulus package, 
will help put Massachusetts on the
cutting edge of biotechnology research by encouraging companies involved in 
stem cell research to locate or remain in
the state.

''It is critical to us to be able to allow stem cell research to continue,'' 
said Sen. Harriette Chandler, D-Worcester.
''If we don't, we will lose those companies, we will lose that tax base and we 
will lose our opportunity to be a leader
is this field.''

The Senate stem cell proposal sparked a brief, but emotional debate on the 
floor of the Senate.

Critics said the plan is morally questionable and unnecessary. Anti-abortion 
advocates oppose the bill because it can
involve the destruction of embryos.

''Basically we are talking about using human life for research material,'' said 
Sen. Marian Walsh, D-Boston.

Sen. Robert Hedlund, R-Weymouth, tried to block the initiative by offering an 
amendment that would have deleted the
plan from the stimulus package. The amendment was defeated by a 37-3 margin, 
meaning the stem cell plan remains in the
larger bill, which has yet to be approved.

Hedlund argued the proposal was also poorly written. One section forbids 
financial inducements for donations of stem
cells while another section allows compensation, he said.

Still another section requires consent before stem cells could be donated, he 
said.

''How could consent every be obtained from a one-week old embryo?'' Hedlund 
said.

Backers of the measure argued that stem cells, because they can develop into 
any body part, hold out hope for
treatments for a variety of conditions, including Parkinson's disease, 
Alzheimer's disease and spinal cord injuries.

The sponsor of the plan, Sen. Cynthia Creem, D-Newton, said her 41-year-old 
cousin is battling Parkinson's disease.

''He begged me to see that this bill goes through,'' she said. ''He probably 
will not benefit from this bill, but he
hopes that future generations will benefit.''

Without the plan, Creem said, Massachusetts may see an exodus of scientists and 
companies involved in stem cell
research. She said the state should follow in the footsteps of California, 
which passed a first-in-the-nation law last
year encouraging stem cell research.

Critics said the law is unnecessary.

''In Massachusetts we have stem cell research happening every single day. It's 
not regulated. It's not unlawful,''
Walsh said. ''No one's ever said we should ban it.''

In 2001, President Bush severely restricted federal funding for human embryonic 
stem cell research to a select number
of existing cell lines. He has called for a ban on human cloning - both 
reproductive cloning to make babies and the
cloning of embryos solely to cull stem cells for medical research.

The proposal would have to be approved by the House and signed by Gov. Mitt 
Romney before becoming law.

A spokeswoman for Gov. Mitt Romney said he supports stem cell research.

SOURCE: Daily Hampshire Gazette, MA


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