August 6, 2008

Don't use N.J. funds for stem cell research By Assemblyman MICHAEL J. DOHERTY

LAST NOVEMBER, New Jersey's voters went to the polls and overwhelmingly rejected state funding for stem cell research. In spite of that clear message, Governor Corzine and members of the Legislature continue their efforts to spend your tax dollars for stem cell research.

It is time for Corzine and Trenton politicians to listen to the voters.

New Jersey is broke and cannot afford to expand the size of government. The state must return to its core mission of ensuring public safety, maintaining infrastructure and providing public education, and stay out of the stem cell research business.

Supporters of public funding assert that stem cell research is the "gold rush of the 21st century" and that New Jersey must remain "at the cutting edge of medical advances." If stem cell research offers such great promise, where are all of the Wall Street investors?

Apparently, there is not enough "promise" in stem cell research to merit private investment by Wall Street, and so these proponents now seek a taxpayer-funded subsidy.

These efforts are just another form of corporate welfare that is a bad deal for the taxpayers. Will New Jersey residents share in the financial rewards if their tax dollars fund medical breakthroughs? If the past is any indication, the answer is clearly "No."

TWO TYPES

There are two distinct forms of stem cells: adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells. Adult stem cells are derived from sources such as umbilical cord blood and bone marrow, and may be obtained without exterminating a human embryo.

In contrast, embryonic stem cells may be obtained only by first destroying an existing human embryo. Many residents are extremely disturbed at the thought of their tax dollars being used to destroy a human embryo for the sole purpose of harvesting the cells, and adamantly object to using public funds to facilitate this process.

Supporters of embryonic stem cell research assert that embryonic stem cells are much more versatile than adult stem cells, which will lead to greater medical advances. The facts show otherwise. Research conducted at the University of Minnesota indicates that adult stem cells taken from bone marrow have the ability to proliferate extensively and form virtually any tissue in the body - properties once claimed exclusively for embryonic stem cells.

Likewise, studies conducted on umbilical-cord blood, and placenta, neural, muscle, fat and skin cells have shown great advances in curing diseases and illnesses, including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

Because they can be taken from the patient, then reinjected, adult stem cells have proven to be superior to embryonic stem cells because the problem of immune rejection is eliminated. As a result, adult stem cells have been used on more than 70 occasions to achieve successful, therapeutic results in humans.

In contrast, there has never been a successful use of embryonic stem cells in humans. That's right. The scorecard reads: adult stem cells, 70, embryonic stem cells, 0.

Although I support adult stem cell research, I oppose medical research using embryonic stem cells. I also oppose publicly funded stem cell research of any form. That is why I have opposed all efforts to use public funds to pay for stem cell research.

PROHIBTING EXPENDITURES

It is also why I have sponsored Assembly bill A-669, which prohibits the expenditure of public funds for embryonic stem cell research.

At this time, New Jersey cannot afford to increase state spending by using tax dollars to fund stem cell research. The taxpayers are demanding smaller government and less spending.

Let's hope Trenton is listening. While the debate rages on over whether state government should or should not fund medical research, we should consider the words of Thomas Jefferson, who stated, "To compel a man to furnish funds for the propagation of ideas he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical."