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MASSACHUSETTS: Mass. Senator Renews Stem Cell Fight By JENNIFER PETER - Associated Press Writer AP-NY-04-22-04 1436EDT BOSTON (AP)--Senate President Robert Travaglini renewed his call for stem cell research legislation Thursday, arguing that Massachusetts will lose ground to other states if it does not establish protections for that portion of the biotech industry. ``If we have the opportunity to cure spinal cord injuries, juvenile diabetes, Lou Gehrig's disease, I think we have the capacity to put in place the necessary ethical and moral protections that will obviously govern this type of work,'' the Boston Democrat told a gathering of business leaders at a Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce breakfast. The Senate tried to include a stem cell research provision in an economic stimulus package approved last year, but the House--and its socially conservative leadership--stripped it out of the final version. State law is currently silent on stem cell research, neither authorizing it or outlawing it, although conservative organizations argue that the work--which can involve the use of human embryos _ violates other state statutes. By adopting a law specifically authorizing stem cell research, Travaglini said, the state could fend off efforts by California and New Jersey to ``poach'' companies from Massachusetts. Stem cell research has shown promise to treat a host of diseases, from Alzheimer's and Parkinson's to spinal cord injuries to Lou Gehrig's disease. Because it often involves the destruction of embryos, however, it has become a new frontier in the national debate over reproduction and the beginning of human life. ``This is an enormous thing when you talk about sacrificing human life for research that has not yet proven to be successful,'' said Marie Sturgis, executive director for Massachusetts Citizens for Life. ``To go forward on such flimsy evidence is foolhardy.'' During his speech, Travaglini also predicted the Legislature would take action on affordable housing as part of the budget and would also approve a second economic stimulus package before adjourning for the year in mid-July. Travaglini also took a combative stance toward Republican Gov. Mitt Romney, accusing him of prolonging the debate on gay marriage _ against apparently long odds--while other important issues await his attention. The Senate President also said the governor appears, at times, to be more focused on political campaigning than actually leading. After the House approves its version of the state's $23 billion budget--expected some time next week--it will be Travaglini and the Senate's turn to tackle it. He was not certain whether the economic stimulus package, including increased money for job creation and business loans, would be part of the budget or presented as separate legislation. Travaglini said it would likely not be as comprehensive as a $110 million package approved by the Legislature at the end of last year to boost the state's sagging economy. He predicted a final version of the budget, agreed upon by both House and Senate leaders, would be sent to the governor's desk by June 21. AP-NY-04-22-04 1436EDT SOURCE: The Associated Press / Palm Beach Post, FL http://tinyurl.com/27c4c * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn