ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Maryland lawmakers introduced a bill Monday to spend state money on science that the federal government refuses to fund.
Opponents are worried that proposed legislation to fund stem cell research would open the door in supporting human parts for profits, WBAL-TV 11 News reporter David Collins reported.
Scientists consider stem cell research the next frontier, and some state lawmakers support pumping $25 million a year on research.
They cited a lack of federal money and competition from other states for their inspiration. Maryland is home to two major research universities and some 300 biotech companies. Supporters said the money is needed to maintain an edge in the biotech field.
"The money in this bill is sufficient to make the important public statement that appropriate scientific research is welcomed and encouraged in the state of Maryland," Baltimore City Delegate Sandy Rosenberg, D-District 41, said.
The lawmakers invited several people who stand the most to gain from the bill to courageously share their personal stories at the Statehouse, Collins said.
"I can't write or do a lot of those things [I used to]. With stem cells, I really think I will get more of my functions back," said Van Brooks, who was paralyzed after an athletic injury.
"I'm hoping for a cure for Parkinson's through stem cell research to realize my dream of being able to dance at my daughter's weddings," said John Kellerman, who has Parkinson's disease.
"I can't raise my arms to change my clothes or wash my hair and it has gotten to the point where I can't squeeze shampoo bottles," said Anne Koble, who has rheumatoid arthritis.
"It could change my life in a great way and I could live life without having to worry or work so hard just to stay alive," said Brian Koble, who has juvenile diabetes.
The Maryland legislation would charge a commission with the responsibility to decide how to award the money. The bill's sponsors also emphasized what it would not do.
Baltimore County Sen. Paula Colodny Hollinger, D-District 11, said the bill would "emphatically ban human cloning, that is not an issue."
Currently, adult stem cells are legal to use. Scientists would like to tap into embryonic stem cells, which hold more promise to develop into many types of tissue. They also want to allow women to make the choice of donating embryos to science that otherwise would be destroyed, Collins reported.
But the bill's opponents remain unconvinced. A coalition of right to life groups contend that there is no difference between therapeutic cloning and reproductive cloning.
"There are only two ways to do embryonic stem cell research: clone them or use the very small number that are in IVF clinics," said Leigh Heller, a Maryland Right to Life lobbyist.
They cited a new poll that finds 69 percent of those surveyed oppose state government-sanctioned destruction of human embryos for research purposes, Collins reported.
Other bill supporters includes Comptroller William Donald Schaefer and former Gov. Harry Hughes, whose wife, Pat, has Parkinson's disease and his grandson has diabetes.
Gov. Bob Ehrlich has yet to take a public stand on this issue, but his press office said Ehrlich will take a close look at the bill. When he served as congressman, Ehrlich supported President George W. Bush's restriction on stem cell research, Collins reported.
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David Collins Reports: Md. Lawmakers Want To Compete For Research
