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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 http://www.gazettenet.com/story.cfm?id_no=11060218 * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn