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# 403 Wednesday, January 2, 2007 - Introducing Mark Pera, a Democratic candidate for Congress in Illinois' Dear friend of stem cell research, My name is Mark Pera and I'm a Democratic candidate for Congress in Illinois' 3rd district. I'm writing you today to ask you an important question. Have you, like me, wondered why a Democratically-controlled Congress cannot override President Bush's endless mistakes, including his opposition to stem cell research? Part of the blame belongs to a handful of Democrats, including Congressman Dan Lipinski, who have consistently voted with Bush on many issues important to Democrats, including the critical issue of stem-cell research. We have an opportunity on Feb. 5 to defeat Dan Lipinski in the Democrat primary. In a strong Democratic district like ours, if I win the primary, we are very confident we can win general election. When it comes to the issue of stem cell research, the differences between Lipinski and myself are clear. Lipinski has consistently voted against embryonic stem cell research. Even his support of HR 2807, the "Patients First Act" is misleading. His bill was crafted with the help of the anti-stem cell research Family Research Council and was supported by the Bush White House. It stacks the deck against embryonic stem cell research. Today, an estimated 100 million Americans suffer from incurable disease and disability, which might be alleviated or even cured by stem cell therapies. Health care costs are going through the roof, but stem cell research may vastly lower the medical costs that have affected so many families. Stem cell research offers new and well-paying jobs in the biomedical industry as well. Democrats in Illinois, like the majority of Americans, support the research because it can ease suffering, save lives, and provide well-paying jobs. Ideologues like President Bush and Lipinski have had their way too long. It is time for government to be on our side. We can fix this problem, but we have to fix Washington first. I need your help now so that I can be a spokesperson for change in Congress. Your contribution to our campaign will help us maintain our momentum and insure that we keep getting our message out to the voters in this district. To read about my views on this issue and others, please visit www.PERA08.com. Sincerely, Mark Pera Don Reed www.stemcellbattles.com Don C. Reed is co-chair (with Karen Miner) of Californians for Cures, and writes for their web blog, www.stemcellbattles.com. Reed was citizen-sponsor for California's Roman Reed Spinal Cord Injury Research Act of 1999, named after his paralyzed son; he worked as a grassroots advocate for California's Senator Deborah Ortiz's three stem cell regulatory laws, served as an executive board member for Proposition 71, the California Stem Cells for Research and Cures Act, and is director of policy outreach for Americans for Cures. The retired schoolteacher is the author of five books and thirty magazine articles, and has received the National Press Award. 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