Massachusetts Stem Cell Bill Gets Veto-Proof Vote

[paineinthearse]

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory?id=631226

Massachusetts Stem Cell Bill Gets Veto-Proof Vote
Reuters

Apr. 1, 2005 - A bill that would allow embryonic stem cell research in Massachusetts cleared its second big legislative hurdle on Thursday with enough support to withstand a near-certain veto by the state's governor. Following impassioned argument on both sides, the state House of Representatives voted 117-37 in favor of legislation that endorses stem cell research, including stem cells obtained from cloned human embryos. The House approval, coupled with the state Senate's overwhelming support for the bill on Wednesday, means the Democrat-controlled legislature has the two-thirds majority needed to override Republican Gov. Mitt Romney's expected veto of the measure.

Debate over the bill came as Massachusetts -- home to some of the leading academic and private researchers in the field -- tries to stay competitive as other states offer lucrative incentives for the new science. California voters last year approved a $3 billion initiative to fund stem cell research, while New Jersey's acting governor has said his state will spend about $150 million to build a stem cell research center there. Sal DiMasi, speaker of the Massachusetts House, said lawmakers had voted in favor of both helping those with debilitating illnesses and allowing the state's stem cell researchers to pursue their work in a moral, ethical manner.

The legislation will now head to a joint House-Senate conference committee before it is submitted to the governor. Romney, who supports some stem cell research but objects to cloning embryos, launched a media campaign this week aimed at blocking the measure. Stem cells are the body's master cells, used to generate new blood and tissue. They can come from a variety of sources but those taken from days-old human embryos seem to have the most flexibility, although scientists agree much more research is needed. Proponents say research using human embryonic stem cells, either from fertility clinic leftovers or using cloning technology, promises to transform medicine. Opponents said the science destroys a human life.

In August 2001, President Bush limited the use of federal funds for stem cell research to batches of cells, called lines, that existed at the time. He said taxpayers who oppose the research should not have to pay for it. Scientists said that severely limited what they could do.

[TaleWgnDg]

1. Indeed . . .

.
Indeed. Under Massachusetts House Speaker DiMasi and Massachusetts Senate President Travaglini, our Massachusetts legislature moves the Baystate into bio-medical scientific research of the 21st century, and away from rightwing religion-into-law politics (of Governor Mitt Romney (a Mormon), fundamentalists, and the Roman Catholic Church).

What's at issue is the potential medical cures of debilitating diseases such as spinal cord injuries, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, stroke, burns, heart disease, Type 1 (“insulin-dependent”) diabetes, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, muscular dystrophies and some liver and sight-loss diseases!

The legislature's vote is more than 2/3rds needed to over-come the promised Governor Mitt Romney veto.

This new Massachusetts law will allow restricted stem cell research to occur in Massachusetts.

One of the heated controversies of stem cell research is cloning. Cloning is where the religion-into-law rightwingers talk in circles of ambiguities, stir emotions, and thereby cloud rational thought. No one is a winner when clouds of smoke fail to clarify what's at issue.

However, therapeutic cloning is necessary in order to prevent rejection by the recipient of the end product-medicine. Therapeutic cloning contains the DNA of the recipient; therefore, not the rejection of another's DNA product. Presently, non-human DNA products (mouse products) are being used which may have unintended results to the recipient of the end product-medicine.

This law will allow therapeutic stem cell cloning research. On the other hand, this law PROHIBITS reproduction stem cell cloning research. To achieve this restriction, the new law prohibits any and all researched-stem-cell-blastocyst from being implanted into the uterus of a woman, where, as we all know, human growth must occur to develop the various stages of fetal growth to the birth of a viable human being.

What is Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT)?
What is Therapeutic Cloning?
What is Reproductive Cloning?

"Cloning is the creation of multiple copies of a single molecule, cell, or virus. There are many different kinds of cloning, most of which are now commonplace in science. Cloning has allowed scientists to develop powerful new drugs and to produce insulin and useful bacteria in the lab. It also allows researchers to track the origins of biological weapons, catch criminals and free innocent people, and produce new plants and livestock to feed an undernourished world population.

"Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT) or therapeutic cloning involves removing the nucleus of an unfertilized egg cell, replacing it with the material from the nucleus of a "somatic cell" (a skin, heart, or nerve cell, for example), and stimulating this cell to begin dividing. Once the cell begins dividing, stem cells can be extracted 5-6 days later and used for research. The AAMC supports on-going research into SCNT and has endorsed legislation that would allow such research to flourish.

"Reproductive cloning, on the other hand, is intended to create human beings by cloning human embryos. The AAMC and the National Academy of Sciences recommends a legally enforceable ban on all forms of this type of cloning."

http://www.aamc.org/advocacy/library/research/res0003.htm
(Association of American Medical Colleges)

__________________________________________________


Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (therapeutic cloning):


this graphic portrays therapeutic cloning for diabetes intervention

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See also: http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/03/31/house_debates_stem_cell_research_bill/
________________________________________________________

[paineinthearse]

2. Party Chair Phil Johnston on Today's Stem Cell Debate

http://www.massdems.org/hotissues/mdppr_46_johnsonstemcells.htm

Statement by Massachusetts Democratic Party Chair Phil Johnston on Today's Stem Cell Debate


March 30, 2005

“The stakes could not be higher for the citizens of Massachusetts : From a medical and scientific standpoint, stem cell research will pay enormous dividends for people with serious long-term illnesses. That has been clearly established by some of our most respected and distinguished scientists.

Beyond that, the economic benefits to Massachusetts will be significant. It is very important that the researchers in our top universities and medical research facilities not flee to other states which will be investing in stem cell research.

If Governor Mitt Romney's position were to succeed, Massachusetts would become the laughingstock of the country – at once reversing the long-held perception that our state is an international leader in science and medicine. We should all be grateful for the leadership of Senate President Robert Travaglini and House Speaker Sal DiMasi in opposing Governor Romney's absurd position that stem cell research represents a radical position. The only radical thing in this debate is Mitt Romney's policy of sabotaging the world-class medical community of Massachusetts .”

[TaleWgnDg]

8. kick

[paineinthearse]

3. See additional discussion in LBN

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1358936

Nominate it for greatest. Get this into the rethugs' face.

[Rockholm]

4. Great News for Massachusetts!

For news for once. Fuck you little Mitt. Damn, you don't even want this for your property (oops, I mean, your wife) One wonders how Ann feels about stem cell research.

[TayTay]

5. This is indeed great news

I am very happy to see that sanity has prevailed in this. I am feeling very hopeful lately for MA. My 76 year old Mother saw a news item on Gay Marriage going to yet another petition drive. To her everlasting credit she exclaimed with disgust, "Ferchrissakes, can't they just leave the gay people alone. Nothing happened when gay marriage came in. The sky didn't fall, the Red Sox won the World Series and nothing goddamned awful happened at all. Just leave it alone." Now this is what I call progress.

Hey, speaking of Mittens, did anyone catch the new Senate Web Site for Sen. Kerry. I love the tag line: Representing the Birthplace of America. (As opposed to Mittens who is either slamming the Birthplace of America or moving to take away it's future. Loved this.)

[paineinthearse]

6. Looking for the recorded vote

I searched the general court area of mass.gov and could find bills, but cannot locate an area of recorded votes.

Anyone know where to find this?

[siliconefreak]

7. Mitt's (dis)approval rating?

Has anyone seen any recent polls about his approval ratings?

(I hope his numbers are in the tank, of course.)

[shawmut]

9. here

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/03/11/poll_finds_support_low_for_romney_president_run/



Poll shows Romney bid for president faces hurdles

By Frank Phillips, Globe Staff | March 11, 2005

A majority of Massachusetts adults said Governor Mitt Romney should not run for president in 2008, according to a Boston Globe poll that also indicated Romney would face a tough battle if he seeks reelection to a second term as governor in 2006.

Only 28 percent of those surveyed said Romney should seek the presidency, while 53 percent said he should not, and 19 percent said they had no opinion. Forty-eight percent said he would not make a good president if elected, and 33 percent said he would.

The poll also found Romney facing some serious political problems at home if he seeks another term. Just 32 percent said he should be reelected governor if he runs in 2006, while 50 percent said someone else should be elected. Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly, a Democrat, was favored over Romney, 48 percent to 41 percent, in a matchup for governor.

Not surprisingly, Romney's support is strongest among Republicans. Sixty-nine percent of Republicans surveyed said he should be reelected, compared with just 12 percent of Democrats and 31 percent of independents. But his potential White House bid is not popular, even among many Massachusetts Republicans, with 39 percent of Republicans saying he should not run for president and 35 percent saying he should.

[paineinthearse]

10. Stem cell bill moves to conference committee

Received from my representative via email.

The conferees have been appointed, as State House News reported:

"STATE CAPITOL BRIEFS – FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 2005 STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE

BRANCHES QUICKLY APPOINT STEM CELL RESEARCH CONFEREES Sens. Jack Hart (D-South Boston), Cynthia Creem (D-Newton), and Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) will soon sit down soon with Reps. Daniel Bosley (D-North Adams), Lida Harkins (D-Needham), and Bradford Hill (R-Ipswich) to hash out a compromise bill sanctioning embryonic stem cell research. The conference committee members were appointed Friday by legislative leaders. There's no timetable for conferees to reach a resolution, but the legislative leaders they report to are hoping for one soon. Both branches meet again in informal sessions Monday at 11 am."