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SUPPORTERS of ESCR Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research, Campaign to Defend the Constitution, Biotechnology Industry Organization WHO DOES THE COALITION REPRESENT? About 100 member groups, including patient advocacy groups, scientific organizations and research universities LOBBYING MUSCLE The coalition said its budget is between $200,000 and $250,000 annually. Exact figures are difficult to track because of the number of groups and imprecise reporting requirements. However, last year supporters spent about $31 million to support a ballot measure that protected embryonic stem cell research in Missouri. ALLIES ON CAPITOL HILL Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) PITCH Lifting the funding restrictions on embryonic stem cell research may lead to cures for diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. The legislation would not lift the ban on using taxpayers' money to pay for embryonic research. TACTICS .Always speaking as a unified voice of scientists, doctors and patients .Having scientists and patients brief legislators and staff .Holding press conferences OPPONENTS of ESCR Family Research Council, Focus on the Family, Hands Off Our Ovaries, Bioethics Defense Fund WHO DO THE GROUPS REPRESENT? Mostly conservative, anti-abortion and women's advocacy groups LOBBYING MUSCLE None of the groups questioned disclosed the amount spent on lobbying. Exact figures are difficult to track because of the number of groups and imprecise reporting requirements. However, last year opponents spent about $4 million to defeat a ballot measure that protected embryonic stem cell research in Missouri. ALLIES ON CAPITOL HILL Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) PITCH Much of embryonic stem cell research destroys live embryos and should not be funded with taxpayers' money. Gathering embryonic stem cells can require living embryos, and such a demand means human embryonic cloning is not far off. Commercialized cloning, critics say, would lead to unprecedented egg harvesting and the exploitation of women. TACTICS .Holding briefings, press conferences and personal meetings on the Hill .Lobbying by patients who have been treated successfully with adult stem cells ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn