ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The governor's office announced late Tuesday the administration intends to spend $20 million on stem cell research.

State-funded stem cell research promises to become an intensely-debated issue in the upcoming legislative session. As advocates argue for the potential of cures to an array of diseases, critics maintain concerns over ethics.

On Tuesday, lawmakers, scientists and patients vowed to push forward during this session with new legislation after a similar bill died in the state Senate last year.

WBAL-TV 11 News reporter Kate Amara reported the advocates begged Gov. Bob Ehrlich to fund $25 million a year for embryonic stem cell research.

Among the patients who spoke on behalf of the legislation included Loyola Blakefield Jesuit School senior Van Brooks Jr., who was paralyzed during a football game in September 2004 (Full Story).

"Too many people with life-altering injuries like mine, or with terrible diseases like Parkinson's or juvenile diabetes, are counting on winning this one," said Brooks, who's determined to walk again.

Researchers, like Dr. Doug Kerr, of Johns Hopkins Hospital, find themselves frustrated over the lack of funding.

"Projects that could be done, clinical trials that could be done are not," Kerr said.

The governor has consistently said he doesn't oppose research.

"You have to go about this in a thoughtful way, in as deliberate way, working with advocates and respecting the diversity of views that people bring to the issue," Ehrlich told 11 News on Tuesday.

The Associated Press published a report late Tuesday of governor's plans to include $20 million in next year's budget to pay for stem cell research. A gubernatorial representative is quoted as saying the proposal would not include state restrictions on how the funding can be spent.

Meanwhile, destroying a life in order to improve the quality of life of others is how opponents of embryonic stem cell research view the issue.

"No, we don't think human embryos should be destroyed for research. We think it is disrespectful of human life to treat a human embryo as a raw material for a science experiment," Nancy Fortier, of the Maryland Catholic Conference, told 11 News last May.

On Wednesday, Ehrlich is expected to announce state funding to build a facility for stem cell research.

The advocates who demonstrated Tuesday said that falls short of their goals.

"New buildings are nice, and I know administrators like them, but new buildings take years to build. That's not what we need right now," said former Gov. Harry Hughes. "We need money to pay researchers and get the research done."

Stay with TheWBALChannel.com and WBAL-TV 11 News for the latest Session 2006 updates.