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Can state fund embryonic stem cell research?

Democrats say the GOP, while appearing to oppose the issue, is tacitly endorsing it in an Alzheimer's measure.

By JENNIFER LIBERTO
Published March 23, 2006

TALLAHASSEE - State dollars don't fund controversial embryonic stem cell research at the Johnnie B. Byrd Sr. Alzheimer's Center & Research Institute in Tampa.

But they could.

Florida lawmakers have yet to specifically ban the Alzheimer's center from using state dollars for human embryonic stem cell research. So Democrats say the omission is a de facto endorsement of such research.

The budget bill gives another $15-million to the center, directing 80 percent of the money to research. Versions of the bill detail the ways research dollars can be spent, mentioning adult stem cell research.

But there's no mention of state funding for "embryonic" research in any version of the bill. There's also no prohibition against human embryonic research.

Democrats, with their own bill advocating human embryonic stem cell research long stymied, are waving the Republicans' bill as a way to encourage debate on the topic.

"What this particular bill does, it can, under our interpretation, allow for embryonic stem cell research" at the Alzheimer's center, said Sen. Ron Klein, D-Boca Raton. Klein tried to offer an amendment Tuesday that would have added ethical oversight in the gathering of embryonic stem cell tissue, but Republicans on the committee voted it down to prevent the bill from getting clogged by the controversial issue.

The bill's House sponsor, Rep. Adam Hasner, R-Delray Beach, didn't want to talk about whether the bill would allow spending state dollars on embryonic stem cell research.

"This bill will not be used as a vehicle to have an ideological debate on stem cell research," Hasner said. "This bill is too important to hundreds of thousands of people fighting the war on cancer and the war on Alzheimer's."

Gov. Jeb Bush maintains that no public money should be spent on embryonic stem cell research, his press secretary, Alia Faraj, reiterated on Wednesday.

[Last modified March 23, 2006, 02:15:42]