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STEM CELL SURPRISE: Bush, Brownback, and Kansas by diverdonreed Fri Jun 22, 2007 at 04:09:46 AM PDT Wednesday a friend approached me, and in the tone one would use for a death in the family asked how I felt about "the bad news".... I had to stop and think what she meant. "President Bush did not sign the stem cell bill," she clarified, a little surprised I did not immediately understand. As a stem cell research supporter, I might be expected to let loose with a few vivid verbs at the President's latest veto of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. Of course I am disappointed, that legislation was once again denied, delaying cure which might have helped millions of suffering people. But do we curse the weather when it has been raining for six years? Do we blame a rock for not being a tree? diverdonreed's diary :: :: KANSAS SURPRISE: Research Astonishment from the Land of Brownback Mr. Bush has been an endless disappointment as President, and this was just more of the same. Of course, he did not sign the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act-it would have been astonishing news if he had. This is the man who denies global warming until literally about a week ago (and who now leaps into action with a dramatic pronouncement that maybe we should talk about it), who compliments the disastrously inadequate Hurricane Katrina response as "Heck of a job, Brownie!", who fights poverty by cutting the taxes of the rich, who wants power without limits in a democracy based on checks on balances; who turns national surplus into national debt-- and who invades Iraq to find weapons of mass destruction-- which did not exist. That is George Bush. Every time he opens his mouth, I worry. What new disaster will he bring today? But I will not remember Wednesday, June 20th as just another Bush mistake. For me, this will always be the day of the Kansas Surprise. I was running through my handy-dandy state stem cell phone book, my ear was burning from the phone, and my throat was sore from talking so much. My goal is to contact at least one stem cell supporter in ten states every week. If I do that, I can hit all 39 states (the ones with pending stem cell legislation) once a month, and have at least some idea what is going on. So, there I was in the K section, and I got to Kansas (amazing system, huh? I made it up all myself! I have an alphabetized binder... you flick to the tab with the letter K, and open it-bingo-every state that begins with K is right there-I am thinking of patenting it.) Now whenever I hear the word Kansas, two things come to mind: one, that Dorothy loved Kansas in the Wizard of Oz, and secondly, Sam Brownback, my nominee for most resolutely backward politician in the country. He is actually running for President, but fortunately America figured him out. He had a surge for a while there, all the way up to one per cent support among Republicans, but he is not doing quite that well any more. Anyway, the last time I checked on Kansas, there were four anti-stemcell research laws under consideration-the worst imaginable. There was a prohibition of state funding for embryonic stem cell research in Kansas, a prohibition for SCNT, a set of legal "definitions" for stem cell research made up by David Prentice himself, the most anti-science scientist the religious right could pay (Prentice is an employee of the Family Research Council, perhaps the most influential arm of the Religious Right in the Republican party)- unbelievable stuff-- take a look. HB 2255, prohibits state funding for anything connected to SCNT- including hospitals receiving potential cures for patients-- even libraries can't have SCNT-supporting books! HB 2252-would make it a felony to participate in somatic cell nuclear transfer, (including even receiving cures), with penalties of 52 months in prison and $250,000 fine; HB 2254-criminalizes embryonic stem cell research; HB-2098-the definitions bill, inserts damaging and misleading language (by David Prentice, and Bush Council on Bioethics) into law. But why are they doing all this? Why all these laws against stem cell research? I mean, Kansas is Brownback country, right? Except-- maybe not. I had completely missed the buildup of something magnificent. The University of Kansas is planning an expansion of their life sciences department-- requesting $800 million for its biomedicine department-900,000 square feet of new laboratory space-and 244 new scientists. Now I understood why all those anti-science laws were being pushed. The Brownback-ians were working desperately to cripple the new research department: to deny the scientists freedom before the labs opened. Because if the bad laws are rejected, and the college gets its expansion- Kansas becomes a hub of biomedicine: a world center for research. Nowhere in the whole announcement is the word stem cell even mentioned. And maybe they won't touch stem cell research. That is for Kansans to decide. But if they have a magnificent new science department set up, and a couple hundred new scientists eager to serve their country and do Kansas proud? In the fullness of time, Kansas scientists will choose to lead. Sooner or later, they will be doing stem cell research. Or maybe I'm wrong. Here is a background article by Jason Gertzen, of the Kansas City Star. Posted on Tue, Jun. 19, 2007 Push is on for research plan Officials seek support for effort to remake the local economy around the life sciences. By JASON GERTZEN The Kansas City Star "We are working hard to make sure the benefits of our programs extend across the state."--Barbara Atkinson University of Kansas officials asked for help Tuesday with an aggressive $800 million research expansion proposal intended to raise the state's stature as a national bioscience hub. Speaking to state lawmakers, civic leaders, researchers and others attending a morning presentation at the University of Kansas Medical Center, officials presented their plans for hiring 244 new faculty members and building nearly 900,000 square feet of additional lab space at their Kansas City, Kan., campus and in Lawrence. The medical center has devoted more than $105 million to new facilities since 2000 and hired more than 150 new faculty members in the past five years, said Barbara Atkinson, the medical center's executive vice chancellor. These investments have paid dividends in the form of increased research funding, a boost to the regional economy and medical advances. Still, Atkinson said, the medical center ranks 81st nationally with $46 million in grants from the National Institutes of Health, a dominant source of medical research funding. The University of Iowa with its $137 million in national institutes grants and No. 30 ranking offers a compelling example of what a heightened commitment might mean in Kansas, she said. "Iowa is a very good school, it has very good research, and it has put in a lot of investment," Atkinson said. "We can do the same thing." University officials did not include a detailed financing plan along with their proposal for how they would expand existing research programs and establish new pursuits in the next decade. The $800 million would include a mix of state financing and contributions from private philanthropists. This proposal marks another milestone in the region's efforts to remake the local economy around the life sciences, said Drue Jennings, chairman of the Advancement Board, a support organization for the medical center and the University of Kansas Hospital. Area leaders can help by supporting these initiatives as they continue trying to overcome geographical, political and other barriers that hinder cooperation, Jennings said. "Everyone has a big role to play," Jennings said. Gov. Kathleen Sebelius did not attend the Tuesday presentation but said later that she was encouraged by the vision and welcomed discussion about how to reach its goals. Nicole Corcoran, a Sebelius spokeswoman, said: "The University of Kansas Medical Center's desire to invest in this growing industry can create jobs, spur economic development and enhance the educational and research missions of the University of Kansas." Bob Page, incoming president and chief executive officer of KU Hospital, said he supported the medical center's aspirations for significant growth of its research operations. "I strongly believe that for success in life sciences, all three aspects of the academic medical center on this campus must thrive," Page said in a statement, referring to research, education and patient care. Some other top leaders offered a more mixed reaction. State legislators understand the importance of research and are willing to provide additional support, but any successful proposal probably will have to be more inclusive than the one presented Tuesday, said Melvin Neufeld, an Ingalls farmer who serves as speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives. Wichita State University researchers, for example, have such in-depth expertise in bioengineering that it makes little sense to establish or expand similar programs in Lawrence and at the medical center, Neufeld said. "The whole thing is driven toward Kansas City," Neufeld said. "I want a lot more emphasis statewide." Earlier, during the presentation, Atkinson said the proposal was designed to include active participation by researchers throughout the state and in the Kansas City area. "We are working hard to make sure the benefits of our programs extend across the state," Atkinson said." --Jason Gertzen, Kansas City Star, June 19th 2007. I predict victory. And this is how I choose to remember Wednesday, June 20th, 2007: not for another in the long line of Bush mistakes, but for glorious beginning. On this day, a new star was born, bringing light and hope to the world. Thank you, Kansas. Don C. Reed Rayilyn Brown Board Member AZNPF Arizona Chapter National Parkinson's Foundation [log in to unmask] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn